Pemetrexed (Alimta®) and gemcitabine in breast cancer patients previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes

Gemcitabine (2′,2′-difluorodeoxycytidine) is a pyrimidine antimetabolite with broad activity in a variety of solid tumors including breast cancer. Pemetrexed (Alimta®) is a novel, multitargeted antifolate that inhibits 3 folate-dependent enzymes, and is also broadly active in a wide variety of solid tumors. In breast cancer, pemetrexed has activity in patients previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes, and pemetrexed demonstrates pre-clinical and clinical cytotoxic synergy with gemcitabine. This drug combination is being evaluated in a phase II study for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients who have previously received a taxane and an anthracycline.