Abstract | PURPOSE OF REVIEW:
Mesothelioma is an aggressive malignancy of the pleura with poor survival. There will be approximately 3000 cases of mesothelioma in the United States annually. Multimodality treatment including neoadjuvant chemotherapy in selected individuals followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy and radiation has been studied in recent trials for its effects on disease free and overall survival This review provides a general overview of malignant mesothelioma with a summary of the most significant articles from within the past year as well as from the past. RECENT FINDINGS: SUMMARY:
Malignant mesothelioma is a very difficult malignancy to treat. Patients with the disease usually have an occupational asbestos exposure, and in some, viral exposure with SV40. There have been many historical treatments including combinations of local control with surgery and radiation as well as attempts to prevent systemic failure with chemotherapy. Novel therapies including intrapleural chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy and hyperthermic perfusion have also been used with some success. Finally there are several attempts at immunomodulating and targeted treatments, which are in phase I/II trials.
|
Authors | Michael D Zervos, Costas Bizekis, Harvey I Pass |
Journal | Current opinion in pulmonary medicine
(Curr Opin Pulm Med)
Vol. 14
Issue 4
Pg. 303-9
(Jul 2008)
ISSN: 1531-6971 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 18520263
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
|
Chemical References |
|
Topics |
- Biomarkers, Tumor
(analysis)
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Humans
- Mesothelioma
(diagnosis, etiology, pathology, therapy)
- Neoplasm Staging
- Pleural Neoplasms
(diagnosis, etiology, pathology, therapy)
- Prognosis
|