Estimated Creatinine Clearance Rate Is Associated With the Treatment Effectiveness and Toxicity of Pemetrexed As Continuation Maintenance Therapy for Advanced Nonsquamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

The purpose of this study was to explore the predictive factors of the effectiveness and treatment toxicity for pemetrexed as continuation maintenance therapy in patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer. Patients with an estimated creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) < 60 mL/min had a significantly longer survival. However, a decrease in estimated Ccr was associated with a increased risk of Grade 3/4 neutropenia and anemia. Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the predictive factors of the effectiveness and treatment toxicity for pemetrexed as continuation maintenance therapy in patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods: Patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC treated with pemetrexed as continuation maintenance therapy were enrolled. The medical records were reviewed and analyzed, including data on basic characteristics, estimated creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), treatment responses, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related toxicities. Results: A total of 124 patients were included and all had adenocarcinoma. Patients with an estimated Ccr < 60 mL/min had a significantly longer PFS and OS (P = .045, and P = .006, respectively). Each 10 mL/min increase in estimated Ccr was associated with an increase of 9.8% in the risk of disease progression, and an increase of 9.2% in the risk of death. In contrast, an increase of 10 mL/min in estimated Ccr was associated with a decreased risk of Grade 3/4 neutropenia by 50.9% and anemia by 42.2%. Conclusion: Estimated Ccr is helpful in predicting the effectiveness and treatment toxicities of pemetrexed maintenance therapy.