Pemetrexed with or without matuzumab as second-line treatment for patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction This randomized phase II study investigated pemetrexed in combination with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting monoclonal antibody matuzumab compared with pemetrexed alone as second-line therapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Methods Patients received pemetrexed 500 mg/m 2 every 3 weeks either alone ( n = 50) or in combination with matuzumab at either 800 mg weekly ( n = 51) or 1600 mg every 3 weeks ( n = 47). The primary end point was objective response, as assessed by an independent review committee. Results Tumor EGFR expression was detected in 87% of randomized patients. The objective response rate for the pooled matuzumab-treated a…