A trial looking at cisplatin with or without raltitrexed for people with mesothelioma (EORTC 08983)

Cancer type:

Mesothelioma

Status:

Results

Phase:

Phase 3

This trial looked at cisplatin with or without raltitrexed (Tomudex) for people with mesothelioma of the lung that could not be removed with an operation.

Mesothelioma of the lung (pleural mesothelioma) can be very difficult to treat. Doctors often use chemotherapy. One of the chemotherapy drugs they use is called cisplatin.

Tomudex is another chemotherapy drug used to treat other types of cancer. But earlier research showed that it might be a useful treatment for pleural mesothelioma.

The aims of this trial were to find out

If Tomudex and cisplatin works better than cisplatin alone for pleural mesothelioma
More about the side effects and quality of life

Summary of results

The researchers found that cisplatin and Tomudex together is better than cisplatin alone for people with pleural mesothelioma.

The trial recruited 250 people aged between 19 and 80 with pleural mesothelioma

Half the people had cisplatin alone
Half the people had cisplatin and Tomudex

The researchers analysed the results in 2004. They found that more people were alive a year after treatment in the group who had cisplatin and Tomudex (46%) compared to those who had cisplatin alone (39%). The researchers also looked at quality of life. They found that the addition of Tomudex did not worsen quality of life.

Side effects included a drop in white blood cells (neutropenia) and this was a bit worse for the people who had both drugs. They also had a little more sickness and tiredness than the group who had cisplatin alone.

We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (peer reviewed Open a glossary item ) and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.