Pemetrexed in treating patients with metastatic bladder cancer

Abstract

Background: This pooled analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based chemotherapy in treating patients with metastatic bladder cancer as salvage chemotherapy. Methods: Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based regimens on response and safety for patients with bladder cancer were identified by using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rate (RR) of treatment were calculated. Results: In pemetrexed based regimens, 3 clinical studies which including 105 patients with advanced transitional cell cancer of the urothelium were considered eligible for inclusion. Pooled analysis suggested that, in all patients, pooled RR was 26.7% (28/105) for pemetrexed based regimens. Major adverse effects were neutropenia, anorexia, fatigue, and anemia in pemetrexed based treatment. Two treatment related deaths occurred with pemetrexed based treatment. Conclusion: This pooled analysis suggests that pemetrexed based regimens are associated with mild activity and good tolerability in treating patients with metastatic bladder cancer.