Pemetrexed and cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell and limited disease small cell lung cancer: Results from 2 phase I studies

Background: The objectives were to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of pemetrexed and cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy. Secondary objectives include incidence and nature of acute and late toxicities, tumor response and overall survival. Patients and methods: Treatment naïve patients received 1 cycle of cisplatin 80mg/m2in study I (stage III NSCLC), 75mg/m2in study II (LD-SCLC) and pemetrexed 500mg/m2before the phase I part. In study I, patients were treated in cohorts with escalating cisplatin doses (60-80mg/m2), pemetrexed doses (400-500mg/m2) and concurrent escalating radiotherapy doses (66Gy in 33-27 fractions). In study II, patients were treated with cisplatin 75mg/m2and escalating pemetrexed doses (400-500mg/m2) with concurrent escalating radiotherapy doses (50-62Gy). Results: The trials closed prematurely: study I because of poor accrual, study II because of sponsor decision. Thirteen patients were treated: 4 with NSCLC, 9 with LD-SCLC. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed. There was no grade 4 toxicity, grade 3 hematological toxicity was mild. One patient developed grade 3 acute esophagitis, but was able to complete radiotherapy without delay. Two patients experienced grade 2 late pulmonary toxicity, 1 complete response, 6 partial responses and 1 progressive disease were observed. Conclusions: Although the studies stopped too early to assess MTD, we have demonstrated that the combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed with concurrent radiotherapy up to 66. Gy (33 × 2. Gy) is well tolerated and this new combination shows activity in NSCLC. Pemetrexed is the first 3rd generation cytotoxic found to be tolerable at full dose with concurrent radiotherapy.

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