Systemic chemotherapy in combination with pericardial window has better outcomes in malignant pericardial effusions.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Our aim was to compare systemic chemotherapy (CT) with drainage and with pericardial window in the treatment of neoplastic pericarditis in patients with various malignancies included in the International Neoplastic Pericarditis Treatment study.

METHODS:

Patients treated with systemic CT alone (Group A), CT plus drainage (Group B), or CT plus pericardial window (Group C) were included. Treatment response was defined as complete response (ie, no more pericardial effusion or masses), partial response (ie, reduced total score, without requiring further treatments), stable disease (ie, unchanged total score), or progressive disease (ie, increased total score). Patients with partial or complete response were considered responders.

RESULTS:

This preliminary report included 175 patients (56.6% male) with a mean age of 54.21±14.26 years. Gender distribution, age, and follow-up duration was similar for all groups (P>.05). Prevalent cancer types were lung cancer (50.9%), breast cancer (14.9%), and lymphoma/leukemia (14.9%). Overall, 22.3%, 42.9%, and 34.9% of patients were in treatment group A, B, and C, respectively. There were 132 responders (75.3%). The rate of responders significantly differed between groups (P<.001); it was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (P<.05) and in Group C than in Group B (P=.006). The significant factors affecting response were therapy (P=.002) and extent of effusion (P=.037). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients in Group C had a significantly better survival rate than patients in the other groups (P=.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Systemic CT plus pericardial window is a more effective treatment option compared with systemic CT alone and systemic CT plus drainage in patients with malignant effusions.

• Authors: Sezai Çelik, Chiara Lestuzzi, Eugenio Cervesato, Didier Dequanter, Patrizia Piotti, Marzia De Biasio, Massimo Imazio
• Journal: The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg) Vol. 148 Issue 5 Pg. 2288-93 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 1097-685X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24836991 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Observational Study)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antineoplastic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Disease Progression
• Drainage
• Europe
• Female
• Humans
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy, mortality)
• Pericardial Effusion (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology, mortality, surgery)
• Pericardial Window Techniques (adverse effects, mortality)
• Remission Induction
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult