Maintenance pemetrexed after platinum pemetrexed chemotherapy and survival outcomes in malignant pleural mesothelioma in a multicenter real world study
Scientific Reports, cilt.16, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1038/s41598-026-61625-0
- Dergi Adı: Scientific Reports
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Zoological Record, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Malignant pleural mesothelioma, Maintenance therapy, Pemetrexed, Platinum-based chemotherapy, Real-world study
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis, and the role of maintenance therapy after first-line platinum–pemetrexed chemotherapy remains unclear. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study including 96 patients with metastatic or unresectable MPM treated across eight tertiary oncology centers. Eligible patients had received at least four cycles of first-line platinum–pemetrexed and achieved disease control, after which they were either administered maintenance pemetrexed (n = 54) or observed without further treatment (n = 42). Maintenance pemetrexed was associated with significantly prolonged median progression-free survival (15.5 vs. 7.9 months; p < 0.001) and overall survival (22.3 vs. 16.4 months; p = 0.002) compared with observation. Multivariate analyses confirmed maintenance pemetrexed as an independent predictor of improved progression-free survival (HR 2.92; 95% CI 1.81–4.72; p < 0.001) and overall survival (HR 2.10; 95% CI 1.24–3.55; p = 0.005). Non-epithelioid histology was independently associated with worse outcomes. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the survival benefit of maintenance pemetrexed persisted in patients achieving both partial response and stable disease after first-line chemotherapy. Importantly, maintenance therapy was well tolerated, with no discontinuations due to toxicity, highlighting its feasibility in routine practice. These real-world findings suggest that maintenance pemetrexed may be associated with improved survival outcomes in patients with MPM who achieve disease control after first-line therapy.