Treatment Information

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Lung Cancer treatment details. Chemotherapy.

Oncological Institute Ion Chiricuta, Cluj, Romania.

Survival: monthsCountry:Romania
Toxiciy Grade:4City/State/Province:Cluj
Treatments:ChemotherapyHospital:Oncological Institute Ion Chiricuta
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Oct 2009

Description:

Patients: This phase 3 study involved 663 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The median age was 60, ranging from 53 to 67 years. The majority (73%) were men.

Treatment: Patients received either the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed or placebo. Placebo is a substance that looks like pemetrexed but doesn’t have any activity. All patients received best supportive care, which provides comfort and symptom relief but does not have any anti-cancer activity.

Toxicity: The most common grade 3 or 4 toxicity in the group receiving pemetrexed was fatigue, which occurred in 5% of patients (compared with less than 1% in the placebo group). Other grade 3 or 4 toxicities reported in more of the patients receiving pemetrexed than placebo included neutropenia, anemia, leucopenia, fatigue, anorexia, infection, diarrhea, and sensory neuropathy.

Results: The median overall survival was 13.4 months for patients treated with pemetrexed, and 10.6 months for those receiving placebo.

Support: This study was supported by research funds from Eli Lilly, which markets pemetrexed as Alimta®.

Correspondence: Dr. Chandra P. Belani



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