Intrathecal Pemetrexed for Recurrent Leptomeningeal Metastases From Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Intrathecal Pemetrexed for Recurrent Leptomeningeal Metastasis From Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Prospective Pilot Clinical Trial

It has been proved that intrathecal chemotherapy is the main treatment strategy for leptomeningeal metastases. At present, the commonly used drugs for intrathecal chemotherapy include methotrexate, cytarabine, and liposomal cytarabine. In recent decades, no new effective drugs have been discovered for intrathecal chemotherapy. The recurrence of leptomeningeal metastases is inevitable even after aggressive treatment. There is no effective treatment for recurrent leptomeningeal metastases after comprehensive treatment which includes intrathecal methotrexate and/or cytarabine, central nervous system radiation therapy, systemic chemotherapy as well as tyrosine-kinase inhibitor drugs. The quality of life is extremely poor, and the patients always die in short time. Pemetrexed is a newer multitargeted antifolate which has shown activity in various tumors. It has higher effectiveness and safety, which has been used as the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. In animal studies, pemetrexed was demonstrated to suppress tumor growth completely in mice with two types of transplanted human colon xenografts resistant to methotrexate. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of intrathecal pemetrexed in patients with recurrent leptomeningeal metastases from non-small cell lung cancer.

This is a single arm clinical trial. The objective of the study is patients with recurrent or progressive leptomeningeal metastases from non-small cell lung cancer after leptomeningeal metastases-related treatment. The regimen of pemetrexed (Alimta, Eli Lilly and Company) is 10/15/20 mg, plus dexamethasone 5 mg, twice per week for 2 weeks, followed by once per week for 2-4 weeks. Pemetrexed and dexamethasone are administrated by intrathecal injection via lumbar puncture. Folic acid and vitamin B12 are administered to reduce the frequency of myelosuppression. Folic acid 200-400 μg is administered orally once daily, prior to the first intrathecal pemetrexed, until 21 days after the last intrathecal pemetrexed. A single dose of vitamin B12 1000 μg is administered by intramuscular injection before the first intrathecal pemetrexed，once per 3 weeks. To detect the pharmacokinetics of intrathecal pemetrexed, the serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples are collected. These samples would be analyzed by spectrometer for drug concentration.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients diagnosed as leptomeningeal metastases from non-small cell lung cancer had been received comprehensive treatment, including intrathecal methotrexate and/or cytarabine, central nervous system radiation therapy, systemic chemotherapy as well as tyrosine-kinase inhibitor drugs.
2. Patients diagnosed with recurrent leptomeningeal metastases by positive cerebrospinal fluid cytological examination and persist aggravate symptoms for more than 1 week, or increased intracranial pressure (>300 mmH2O).
3. No severe abnormal liver and kidney function; WBC≥2500/mm3, Plt≥60000/mm3;
4. No other severe chronic diseases;
5. No severe dyscrasia.
6. Signed informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with the clinical manifestation of nervous system failure including severe encephalopathy, grade III-IV white matter lesions confirmed by imaging examination, moderate or severe coma, and glasgow coma score less than 9 points;
2. Patients with severe nervous system injury related with treatment, such as chemical meningitis;
3. Patients who had accepted systemic chemotherapy within two weeks, or new molecular targeted therapeutic drug less than one months;
4. Patients with poor compliance, or for other reasons, the researchers considered unsuitable to participate in this clinical study.