Maintenance Treatment Following First-line Non-Pemetrexed Containing Platinum-Based Chemotherapy
In Study JMEN, the safety of pemetrexed was evaluated in a randomized (2:1), placebo-controlled, multicenter trial conducted in patients with non-progressive locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC following four cycles of a first-line, platinum-based chemotherapy regimen. Patients received either pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 or matching placebo intravenously every 21 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients in both study arms were fully supplemented with folic acid and vitamin B12
.
Study JMEN excluded patients with an ECOG PS of 2 or greater, uncontrolled third-space fluid retention, inadequate bone marrow reserve and organ function, or a calculated creatinine clearance less than 45 mL/min. Patients unable to stop using aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or unable to take folic acid, vitamin B12 or corticosteroids were also excluded from the study.
The data described below reflect exposure to pemetrexed in 438 patients in Study JMEN. Median age was 61 years (range 26–83 years), 73% of patients were men; 65% were White, 31% were Asian, 2.9% were Hispanic or Latino, and <2% were other ethnicities; 39% had an ECOG PS 0. Patients received a median of 5 cycles of pemetrexed and a relative dose intensity of pemetrexed of 96%. Approximately half the patients (48%) completed at least six, 21-day cycles and 23% completed ten or more 21-day cycles of pemetrexed.
Table 4 provides the frequency and severity of adverse reactions reported in ≥5% of the 438 pemetrexed-treated patients in Study JMEN.
Table 4: Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥5% of Patients Receiving Pemetrexed in Study JMEN| Adverse Reaction | Pemetrexed (N=438) | Placebo (N=218) |
|---|
All Grades (%) | Grade 3–4 (%) | All Grades (%) | Grade 3–4 (%) |
|---|
All adverse reactions | 66 | 16 | 37 | 4 |
Laboratory
|
Hematologic
|
Anemia | 15 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
Neutropenia | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Hepatic
|
Increased ALT | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Increased AST | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Clinical
|
Constitutional symptoms
|
Fatigue | 25 | 5 | 11 | 1 |
Gastrointestinal
|
Nausea | 19 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Anorexia | 19 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
Vomiting | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Mucositis/stomatitis | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Diarrhea | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Infection
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Neurology
|
Sensory neuropathy | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Dermatology/Skin
|
Rash/Desquamation | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
The requirement for transfusions (9.5% versus 3.2%), primarily red blood cell transfusions, and for erythropoiesis stimulating agents (5.9% versus 1.8%) were higher in the pemetrexed arm compared to the placebo arm.
The following additional adverse reactions were observed in patients who received pemetrexed.
Incidence 1% to <5%
Dermatology/Skin — alopecia, pruritus/itching
Gastrointestinal — constipation
General Disorders — edema, fever
Hematologic — thrombocytopenia
Eye Disorder — ocular surface disease (including conjunctivitis), increased lacrimation
Incidence <1%
Cardiovascular — supraventricular arrhythmia
Dermatology/Skin — erythema multiforme
General Disorders — febrile neutropenia, allergic reaction/hypersensitivity
Neurology — motor neuropathy
Renal — renal failure