The Annals Holiday Offer - Save 50%
home help contact us subscription past issues search current issue
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


Published Online, 8 March 2005, www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1E329.
 The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 678-683. DOI 10.1345/aph.1E329
© 2005 Harvey Whitney Books Company.
This Article
Right arrow Résumé Freely available
Right arrow Extracto Freely available
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow PDF
Right arrow For Our Patients
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Articles Ahead of Print
Right arrow [Order Reprint]
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Puto, K.
Right arrow Articles by Garey, J. S
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Puto, K.
Right arrow Articles by Garey, J. S

NEW DRUG APPROVALS

Pemetrexed Therapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Katarzyna Puto, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacist, Inpatient Oncology/Hematology, Pharmacy Department, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL

Jody S Garey, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacist, Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, Division of Pharmacy, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Reprints: Dr. Garey, Clinical Pharmacist, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 90, Houston, TX 77030-4009, fax 713/563-9952, jgarey{at}mdanderson.org

OBJECTIVE: To review pemetrexed, a novel multi-targeted antifolate agent.

DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted (1985–September 2004) using MEDLINE and CANCERLIT. Recent abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology were also included, along with the manufacturer's information. Key words were pemetrexed, LY-231514, Alimta, multi-targeted antifolate, malignant pleural mesothelioma.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Relevant information on pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and safety and efficacy of pemetrexed from clinical trials was selected.

DATA SYNTHESIS: Pemetrexed inhibits folate metabolism and purine/pyrimidine synthesis. Based on Phase I and II trials, pemetrexed has antitumor activity in solid tumors such as lung, colorectal, and cervical. A pivotal Phase III study in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) demonstrated survival superiority of pemetrexed–cisplatin regimen versus cisplatin.

CONCLUSIONS: Pemetrexed is a promising new drug for the treatment of solid malignancies, most notably MPM.

Key Words: malignant pleural mesothelioma, pemetrexed

Published Online, March 8, 2005. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1E329

THIS ARTICLE IS APPROVED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
ACPE UNIVERSAL PROGRAM NUMBER: 407-000-05-013-H01




homecopy help contact us subscription past issues search current issue
Copyright © 2005 by Harvey Whitney Books Company.