Phase II Study of Pemetrexed as a Salvage Chemotherapy for Thymidylate Synthase–Low Squamous Cell Lung Cancer
- Author:
Mihong CHOI
1
;
Heung Tae KIM
;
Ji-Youn HAN
;
Geon Kook LEE
;
Soo-Hyun LEE
;
Kun Young LIM
;
Jungnam JOO
;
Hye Jin WON
;
Jin Soo LEE
;
Youngjoo LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Cancer Research and Treatment 2021;53(1):87-92
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:Squamous cell carcinomas (SqCC) of the lung often express high levels of thymidylate synthase (TS), which is associated with primary resistance to pemetrexed. We explored the efficacy of pemetrexed in a selected population of patients with lung SqCC with low TS expression.
Materials and Methods:In this single-arm phase II trial, we enrolled 32 previously-treated patients with advanced lung SqCC exhibiting low immunohistochemical staining for TS (i.e., in 10% or less of tumor cells). The primary endpoint was 12-week progression-free survival (PFS) rate.
Results:Of 32 patients, eight patients (25%) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2, and seven patients (22%) had previously received three or more lines of chemotherapy. The disease control rate from pemetrexed treatment was 30%, and no objective response was observed. The 12-week PFS rate was 24.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.0 to 46.1). Median PFS was 1.3 months (95% CI, 1.3 to 2.7), and median overall survival was 11.8 months (95% CI, 8.1 to not applicable). Most of adverse events were grade 1 or 2.
Conclusion:Pemetrexed demonstrated modest activity as a salvage chemotherapy in patients with advanced lung SqCC with low TS expression, although its toxicity was generally manageable.
