Mesothelioma: Treatment and Survival of a Patient Population and Review of the Literature

• Published in: Anticancer research 2005-09, Vol.25 (5), p.3671-3676
• Main Authors: STATHOPOULOS, John, ANTONIOU, Dimosthenis, STATHOPOULOS, George P, RIGATOS, Sotiris K, DIMITROULIS, John, KOUTANDOS, John, MICHALOPOULOU, Pinelopi, ATHANASIADES, Athanasios, VESLEMES, Marinos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Carboplatin - administration & dosage; Carboplatin - adverse effects; Cisplatin - administration & dosage; Cisplatin - adverse effects; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide - administration & dosage; Cyclophosphamide - adverse effects; Deoxycytidine - administration & dosage; Deoxycytidine - adverse effects; Deoxycytidine - analogs & derivatives; Doxorubicin - administration & dosage; Doxorubicin - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mesothelioma - therapy; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Peritoneal Neoplasms - therapy; Pleural Neoplasms - therapy; Survival Rate; Tumors
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

Background: Our purpose was to evaluate the survival of patients with pleural and intraperitoneal malignant mesothelioma and, particularly, to estimate the efficacy of chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy and surgery. A review of the literature with respect to these parameters is included. Patients and Methods: Thirty-five patients with malignant mesothelioma (28 with pleural and 7 with intraperitoneal) were enrolled. Twenty-eight patients underwent chemotherapy, 7/35 radiation and 9/35 surgery (2 with pleural and 7 with abdominal disease). Combination chemotherapy included cisplatin-gemcitabine, cisplatin (or carboplatin) with premetrexed and doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide. Results: In 2/28 patients with pleural mesothelioma the tumor was excised and in 7 with intraperitoneal disease, surgical therapy was palliative and there was survival prolongation. Radiotherapy was only palliative. Chemotherapy produced a very low response: 2/28 (7.14%) patients achieved a partial response. The median survival was 17 months, 4-year survival, 24.4% and 5-year survival, 12.12%. No serious toxicity was observed. Conclusion: Malignant mesothelioma of the pleura and intraperitoneum is a slow-growing disease which is indicated by the long survival, despite the failure of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.