Chemotherapie met een combinatie van de middelen pemetrexed (Alimta) en cisplatine kan de levensduur met ca. 3 maanden verlengen bij een selecte groep mesothelioompatiënten met een goede functionele capaciteit (performance status). Dit concluderen Green et al. na analyse van de resultaten van een studie van 448 patiënten die in 20 verschillende centra over de wereld behandeld waren. Bron: Green J. et al. (2007). Pemetrexed disodium in combination with cisplatin versus other cytotoxic agents or supportive care for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD005574. DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD005574.pub2.
Green J, Dundar Y, Dodd S, Dickson R, Walley T. Pemetrexed disodium in combination with cisplatin versus other cytotoxic agents or supportive care for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD005574. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005574.pub2.
A B S T R A C T
BackgroundMalignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive malignancy whose incidence is expected to increase in the United Kingdom,Western Europe, and Australia over the next 20 years as a result of occupational exposure to asbestosfibres. Surgery is feasible in only a small proportion of cases, and radiotherapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy are used in palliation. Pemetrexed is the first and only chemotherapy agent that has been granted a marketing approval for use in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of chemonaïve patients with unresectable MPM.
Objectives
To examine evidence on the clinical effectiveness of pemetrexed disodium used in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma in chemotherapy naïve patients compared with other cytotoxic agents used alone or in combination, or supportive care.
Search strategy
CENTRAL (Issue 2, 2005), EMBASE (1980-2005), MEDLINE (1980-2005), HTA database (1990-2005),Web of Knowledge (1990- 2005) and handsearching (including reference lists of retrieved articles and the pharmaceutical company submission to to NICE), up to October 2005.
Selection criteria
Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) where the use of pemetrexed disodium in combination with cisplatin is compared with other cytotoxic agents, or supportive care for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (or non-RCTs, in the absence of RCT data ).
Data collection and analysis
Outcomes included overall survival, tumour response, progression-free survival, toxicity and quality of life. Data extraction and quality assessment of included trials was completed independently. Trial data and quality assessment were tabulated and presented narratively.
Main results
One RCT involving 448 patients and comparing pemetrexed plus cisplatin versus cisplatin alone for the treatment of unresectable malignant mesothelioma was included in the review. In the intention-to-treat study population, the median survival was statistically significantly longer in the combination arm of pemetrexed plus cisplatin when compared with the cisplatin alone arm. (12.1 and 9.3 months, respectively, p=0.002). The incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities was higher in the combination arm compared with the cisplatin alone arm
Authors’ conclusionsPemetrexed disodium in combination with cisplatin and with folic acid and vitamin B12supplementation may improve survival when used in combination with cisplatin in good performance status patients. Further studies including patients with poor performance status are needed in order to generalise the treatment findings. Further studies are also needed into the optimum chemotherapy, and a clear definition of what constitutes best supportive care.