Multi-targeted antifolate therapy for non-small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma

Multi-targeted antifolate (MTA) is an anti-metabolite with useful activity in the treatment of non-operable patients presenting with non-small cell lu ng cancer. Its good efficacy and tolerability profile as first-line therapy was demonstrated in phase II studies of MTA as monotherapy. The use of MTA as second-line therapy with or without a platinum analog also provides goo d results. It should be observed that, in combination with cisplatin (C), d ocetaxel or gemcitabine (G), MTA presents synergistic efficacy: two phase I I protocols have shown that the MTA/C combination as first-line therapy pre sented high efficacy (objective response: 39-45%) and low toxicity. These r esults are promising and also seem to be observed in an ongoing phase II st udy evaluating MTA/G. In the treatment of mesothelioma, promising activity was observed for the MTA/C combination, and this activity is under evaluati on in ongoing phase II and phase III studies. [(C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.].