Abstract
Background. The standard chemotherapy regimen for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lungs has not yet been established, and treatment with pemetrexed has not been previously reported. Case. A 70-year-old female complaining of a cough lasting over six months was admitted to our hospital. She underwent right pneumonectomy and was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lungs. Twenty-two months after surgery, she exhibited recurrence of the disease. After four cycles of combination chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin followed by three cycles of maintenance chemotherapy with pemetrexed, the recurrent lesions remarkably diminished. She has been followed up at our outpatient clinic and thus far has shown no recurrence of the disease. Conclusions. Pemetrexed is a possible therapeutic option for treating adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lungs.
