Mesothelioma Drugs Alimta Pemetrexed

Alimta / Pemetrexed
Alimta is a new cancer drug used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. Alimta is given with cisplatin, another anti-cancer medicine. Alimta works by blocking specific enzymes thought to play a role in the rapid growth of these lung tumors. While Alimta is not a cure for malignant pleural mesothelioma in clinical trials patients who were treated with Alimta and cisplatin had a median survival of 12.1 months compared to 9.3 months for patients treated with cisplatin alone.
Alimta is given intravenously (into a vein), about every 21 days. Cisplatin is then infused about 30 minutes after Alimta treatment. To lower the chances of side effects with Alimta, it is necessary to take folic acid and vitamin B12 before, during, and after treatment.

To help your doctor decide if Alimta is right for you, tell your doctor if you:

plan to become pregnant, or if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, or do not use effective birth control, because Alimta may harm your unborn baby. have kidney problems. are taking other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tell your doctor or health care provider if you are taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure, because there are many NSAID medicines. Most patients treated with Alimta will experience some side effects.

The most common side effects of Alimta are:
stomach upset, including nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea a drop in white blood cells, increasing the risk of infection a drop in red blood cells (anemia), causing tiredness or shortness of breath a drop in platelets that results in bruising or bleeding tiredness mouth, throat, or lip sores loss of appetite rash You should contact your doctor if you have signs of infection such as fever (temperature above 100.4F) chills, diarrhea, or mouth sores.

Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with Alimta because Alimta may cause harm to an unborn baby. Avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for at least 5 days before Alimta treatment, during the day of treatment, and for two days after treatment. If you are not sure if a drug you take is a NSAID, ask your doctor or pharmacist. There are many NSAID medicines that are prescription and over-the-counter.

Alimta®/Cisplatin Combination Approved for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Alimta® (pemetrexed) in combination with cisplatin (Platinol®) was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of inoperable malignant mesothelioma. Alimta®/cisplatin is the first and only drug regimen proven to improve the duration of survival for patients with advanced malignant mesothelioma.

The trial that prompted FDA approval of the Alimta®/cisplatin regimen for patients with malignant mesothelioma who are not eligible for surgery involved the direct comparison of the addition of Alimta® to cisplatin, versus cisplatin alone. Patients treated with Alimta® also received daily vitamin B12 injections and folic acid supplements, in order to reduce side effects. The trial included nearly 450 patients from 19 countries who had inoperable mesothelioma and were treated with either Alimta®/cisplatin or cisplatin alone. Overall survival was increased by 30% in the group of patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin (21.1 months), compared to the group treated with cisplatin alone (9.3 months). Furthermore, one-year survival rates were 50.3% for patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin, compared with only 38% of patients treated with cisplatin alone. Lung function was also improved with in the group of patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin compared to those treated with cisplatin alone. Side effects associated with Alimta® included low levels of blood cells, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, skin rash and fatigue.

Onconase

Onconase is a new chemotherapy drug that is being tested for efficacy in the treatment of mesothelioma. The drug with widespread acceptance for use in treatment is Doxorubicin. The benefit of Onconase over Doxorubicin is that Onconase is relatively free of the crippling side effects of traditional chemotherapy. The clinical trials for this drug are being held at several sites around the country.

Gemcitabine

Gemcitabine is a new chemotherapy drug for the treatment of mesothelioma. It is currently in clinical trials with many mesothelioma patients in combination with Cisplatin, Alimta and

Epirubicin.

It is believed to be the most effective drug in treatment of pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma patients have shown good responses. Gemcitabine is a clear liquid administered by an infusion that usually takes no longer than half an hour. It may also be given through a central line into a vein near the collarbone.

The method and schedule by which this drug is administration is determined by the type and extent of the cancer and is a decision made by the medical oncologist. Generally, it is given once a week for as long as the patient responds to the drug. The degree and severity of the side effects depend largely on the dosage administered.