Chemotherapy Treatment Details – The Netherlands Cancer Institute

Survival: 7.0 months
Toxicity Grade: 3
Treatments: Chemotherapy
Drugs:
Country: Netherlands
City/State/Province: Amsterdam
Hospital: The Netherlands Cancer Institute
Journal: Link
Date: 2/2003

 

Description:
Patients: This Phase II study involved 24 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma; 19 men and 5 women. The median age was 63 years.

Treatment: The treatment consisted of the drug raltitrexed (tomudex). This agent inhibits the enzyme thymidylate synthase which is involved in the synthesis of DNA.

Toxicity: Grade 3-4 toxicities included anorexia, shortness of breath/dyspnea, hematologic, febrile neutropenia, nausea/vomiting, neurological toxicity, chest pain, pleuritic pain, and cough.

Results: The overall median survival was 7 months.

Support: AstraZeneca provided the drug (Tomudex) free of charge.

Correspondence: P. Baas, MD

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