Pemetrexed Followed by Docetaxel or in Reverse Sequence

Docetaxel was the first third-generation anti-cancer drug found to have activity in second-line chemotherapy for NSCLC, with a prolongation of patient survival in phase III randomized trials comparing docetaxel with vinorelbine or ifosfamide, or with the best supportive care, for NSCLC patients who have failed previous chemotherapy; thus, it has been recommended for the second-line treatment of NSCLC. Four years after these trials, pemetrexed showed similar activity with less toxicity, when compared with docetaxel treatment in a phase III randomized trial of NSCLC patients previously treated with chemotherapy. Pemetrexed is a multitargeted antifolate which exhibits clinical activity in a variety of solid tumors, especially malignant mesothelioma and NSCLC. It inhibits thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate reductase and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyl transferase. Pemetrexed has confirmed activity against previously chemotherapy-treated NSCLC and has a better toxicity profile than docetaxel, in which study docetaxel dosage used was 75 mg/m2 intravenous infusion (IV) every 3 weeks. However, docetaxel dosage used in Japan and Taiwan is usually 60 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Whether or not toxicity profiles of these two different drugs in same individual patients is similar to findings of patients who received specific drug only is unknown, so is unknown of toxicity profiles of docetaxel 60 mg/m2 every 3 weeks comparing alimta 500 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Present phase II randomized clinical trial is designed to answer these questions, with addition of information about whether or not sequential therapy can prolong disease-free and overall survival.