PURPOSE: A recent phase III study (PARAMOUNT) demonstrated that pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy is a new treatment paradigm for advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The majority of patients enrolled in PARAMOUNT were Caucasian (94%). We reviewed efficacy and safety data from two clinical trials, which enrolled East Asian (EA) patients, to supplement data from PARAMOUNT on pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in patients with nonsquamous NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study S110 was a phase II, multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label trial in never-smoker, chemonaive, EA patients (n=31) with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC (n=27). Study JMII was a multicenter, open-label, single-arm, post-marketing, clinical trial in Japanese patients (n=109) with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. PARAMOUNT was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. RESULTS: In EA patients with nonsquamous NSCLC, the median progression-free survival (PFS) for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy was 4.04 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.22 to 5.29 months) in study S110 and 3.9 months (95% CI, 3.2 to 5.2 months) in study JMII. The median PFS for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in PARAMOUNT was 4.1 months (95% CI, 3.2 to 4.6 months). Pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in EA patients in studies S110 and JMII did not lead to any unexpected safety events, and was consistent with PARAMOUNT's safety profile. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety data in the EA trials were similar to those in PARAMOUNT despite differences in patient populations and study designs. These data represent consistent evidence for pemetrexed continuation maintenance therapy in EA patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Far East ; Humans ; Maintenance Chemotherapy

We report four cases of anxiety disorder where psychiatric symptoms were effectively treated with combination therapy utilizing keishikaryukotsuboreito and kanbakutaisoto, which are two herbal formulas. The patients had common symptoms and experienced episodes leading to emotional stress. Moreover, in all four cases aggravation of psychiatric symptoms due to emotional stress, re-experience and memory retrieval were commonly observed. Additional treatment with kanbakutaisoto was effective for such aggravation. On the objective assessment, rapid pulse, deficient pulse, weak abdominal strength and brisk pulsation in the supraumbilical region were present. Yawning was not necessarily present. There are many patients with anxiety disorder or mental disorder associated with emotional stress, and Kampo treatment is often considered to be effective for these cases. However, a single administration of Kampo extract formulae does not often provide adequate results. When a single Kampo administration is ineffective, the combination of keishikaryukotsuboreito and kanbakutaisoto may be useful.

PURPOSE: Crizotinib has demonstrated superior progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rates (ORRs) versus chemotherapy in previously treated and untreated patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We report the safety and efficacy of crizotinib in Asian subpopulations of two global phase III trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This analysis evaluated previously treated and untreated patients in two randomized, open-label phase III trials of crizotinib versus chemotherapy in ALK-positive advanced NSCLC in second-line (PROFILE 1007) and first-line settings (PROFILE 1014). Efficacy and safety were analyzed by race in the intention-to-treat and “as-treated” populations for efficacy and safety endpoints, respectively. RESULTS: In previously treated (n=157) and untreated (n=157) Asian patients, PFS was statistically significantly longer with crizotinib versus chemotherapy (hazard ratio for PFS, 0.526; 95% confidence interval, 0.363 to 0.762; p < 0.001 and hazard ratio, 0.442; 95% confidence interval, 0.302 to 0.648; p < 0.001, respectively). Similar antitumor activity was seen in the non-Asian and overall populations. ORRs were statistically significantly higher with crizotinib versus chemotherapy in both Asian and non-Asian previously treated and untreated patients (p < 0.05). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (any grade)with crizotinib were vision disorder, diarrhea, and nausea, which were observed at a comparable incidence across Asian and non-Asian populations, irrespective of previous treatment status. Most adverse events were mild to moderate in severity. CONCLUSION: These data, currently the only analysis showing Asian and non-Asian populations in the same study, support the efficacy and safety of crizotinib in Asian patients with previously treated or untreated ALK-positive advanced NSCLC.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Carboplatin ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Cisplatin ; Continental Population Groups ; Diarrhea ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymphoma ; Nausea ; Pemetrexed ; Phosphotransferases ; Vision Disorders