Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Intratumoral Injection of Cisplatin for the Treatment of Isolated Mediastinal Recurrence of Lung Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2017
Long-term follow-up after preoperative chemotherapy using pemetrexed (Alimta) in rectal cancer
Torbjörn Swartling1, Karl Kodeda, Bengt Gustavsson
1Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, 41685 Gothenburg, Sweden.
Aim:
To assess the long-term outcome in a cohort of patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy using pemetrexed (Alimta) for rectal cancer.
Patients And Methods:
A prospective phase I/II study on preoperative chemotherapy using Alimta was conducted during 2006-2008. The long-term outcome was assessed here for both the study group (n=37) and the reference group (n=87). The focus was on cancer recurrence and survival with consideration of initial tumour stage and treatment response.
Results:
There was one recurrence, each in stages I and II and three (23.1%) in stage III in the Alimta-treated group. One patient remains disease, free after surgery for metastasis. Patients with more symptoms remaining after treatment had a higher risk of recurrence.
Conclusion:
The initial Alimta study concluded that treatment was feasible in rectal cancer with significant reductions in tumour symptoms and size. The long-term outcome is acceptable and does not provide evidence against the concept of preoperative chemotherapy using Alimta.
