Objective   Pemetrexed(PEM) is a multi-targeted chemotherapeutic agent for antifolate drugs.PEM has become the standard agent for the second-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).This study aims to review and analyze the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of PEM combined with carboplatin with respect to NSCLC treatment.

  Methods   A total of 40 patients suffering from NSCLC were selected and confirmed by pathology.On the first day of treatment, the conventional 500 mg/m2 dose of pemetrexed disodium was infused intravenously.On the second day, a combined therapy with carboplatin was conducted based on the conventional dose for a 21-day cycle with at least two cycles for each patient.The therapeutic efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated and were compared with the proposed regimen of gemcitabine(GEM) combined with carboplatin.

  Results   After two cycles of the treatment, the curative effects of the PEM and GEM groups were 50% and 45%, respectively.The main adverse reactions are bone marrow suppression and gastrointestinal reactions.The incidence rates of bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal reactions, amisulpride/AST, urea nitrogen, rash, and hair loss were obviously lower in the PEM group than in the GEM group.Statistically significant differences in adverse reaction were found between the two groups(P < 0.05).

  Conclusion   The use of the combination regimen of PEM with carboplatin showed significantly more clinical effects and less adverse reactions for NSCLC treatment.