Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Pemetrexed plus platinum followed by pemetrexed maintenance has been one of the standard first-line treatments in advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but little is known regarding its safety and efficacy for patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 24 patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC and preexisting ILD who received pemetrexed and platinum doublet therapy with and without pemetrexed maintenance in the first-line setting between December 2009 and June 2016, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The median progression-free survival time was 4.7 months, and the median overall survival time was 9.5 months. Of the 24 patients analyzed, six received pemetrexed maintenance. Acute exacerbation of ILD (AE-ILD) occurred in five (20.8 %) of 24 patients, including two fatal cases. CONCLUSION: The treatment with pemetrexed plus platinum has a high risk of AE-ILD in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC and preexisting ILD.