Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2010 Apr 7:1:1-7.
doi: 10.2147/lctt.s7105. eCollection 2010.

Maintenance therapy for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer - the role of pemetrexed

Youval Katz  1 , Robert A Somer  1
Affiliations
Review

Maintenance therapy for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer - the role of pemetrexed

Youval Katz et al. Lung Cancer (Auckl). .

Abstract

Over the last several years, we have greatly enhanced our understanding of tumor biology and have now integrated novel and molecular-targeted therapies into front-line treatment for locally advanced and metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite all the recent advances, the improvement in survival outcomes for these patients has been measured in weeks compared to historical controls. Clinical researchers continue to search for the silver bullet that will allow oncologists to treat lung cancer as a chronic illness and prolong life well beyond the statistical barrier of 1 year for these patients. In that vein, maintenance therapy is emerging as a new treatment option in the metastatic setting. However, there is much controversy over the validity and cost-effectiveness of this modality. Recently, a phase III trial of pemetrexed maintenance versus best supportive care in the setting of metastatic NSCLC following non-progression after 4 cycles of platinum-based doublet therapy showed significant survival outcomes of the treatment group. This article will review the current available treatment options in metastatic NSCLC, including maintenance regimens, with particular attention paid to the recent pemetrexed study.

Keywords: maintenance therapy; non-small-cell lung cancer; pemetrexed.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

    1. Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, Hao Y, Xu J, Thun MJ. Cancer Statistics, 2009. CA Cancer J Clin. 2009;59:225–249. - PubMed
    1. Heron M, Hoyert DL, Murphy SL. Division of Vital Statistics. Deaths: Final Data for 2006. National Vital Statistics Reports. 2009;57(14) - PubMed
    1. National Cancer Institute Cancer Trends Progress Report – 2007 Update. http://progressreport.cancer.gov/doc_detail.asp?pid=1&did=2007&chid=76&c....
    1. Horner MJ, Ries LAG, Krapcho M, et al., editors. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975–2006. National Cancer Institute; Bethesda, MD: http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2006/, based on November 2008 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site 2009.
    1. Groome PA, Bolejack V, Crowley JJ, et al. IASLC International Staging Committee. Cancer Research and Biostatistics. Observers to the Committee. Participating Institutions The IASLC Lung Cancer Staging Project: validation of the proposals for revision of the T, N, and M descriptors and consequent stage groupings in the forthcoming (seventh) edition of the TNM classification of malignant tumours. J Thorac Oncol. 2007;2:694–705. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources