Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Purpose The etiology, diagnosis, staging, and management of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) are reviewed, with an emphasis on clinical trials of newer approaches to first-line, second-line, and adjuvant chemotherapy.
Summary In the past decade, more effective chemotherapy regimens have been developed for patients with MPM, a rapidly progressing disease linked to a history of asbestos exposure in about 70% of cases. Patients with MPM often require multimodal treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, and adjuvant or neoadjuvant (presurgical) chemotherapy. The current standard of first-line chemotherapy for MPM is cisplatin or carboplatin in combination with pemetrexed, an antifolate compound that has been shown to increase the cytotoxic effects of platinum-based drugs. In Phase II and III clinical trials, combination therapy with pemetrexed and either cisplatin or carboplatin yielded some of the highest rates of tumor response (21–41%) and overall survival (about 12–14 months) reported to date. Dual-agent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin plus gemcitabine or pemetrexed) followed by radical surgery with or without radiotherapy has been reported to yield median survival of up to 23–29 months in small clinical trials, but larger randomized controlled studies are needed to better define the role of neoadjuvant therapy in MPM management. Other chemotherapeutic agents that have been used against MPM, with variable results, include gemcitabine, vinorelbine, taxanes, anthracyclines, and molecular-targeted agents.
Conclusion Treatment approaches for MPM include surgery, radiation, and systemic chemotherapy. MPM carries a poor prognosis, but recent studies of pemetrexed and platinum analogue combination therapies have demonstrated improved response rates over other treatments.
Malignant mesothelioma is a disease that presents many treatment challenges. It is often linked to a history of environmental or occupational exposure to carcinogens. The most commonly affected site is the pleura, although mesothelioma may also affect other serosal surfaces, such as the peritoneum, pericardium, and tunica vaginalis. Historically, few treatments for mesothelioma were available, but in the past decade more effective therapies have been developed.
This review focuses on malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Studies and other review articles were identified through a PubMed search for English-language publications using medical subject heading terms including mesothelioma, neoplasm staging, prognosis, and drug therapy.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Purpose The etiology, diagnosis, staging, and management of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) are reviewed, with an emphasis on clinical trials of newer approaches to first-line, second-line, and adjuvant chemotherapy.
Summary In the past decade, more effective chemotherapy regimens have been developed for patients with MPM, a rapidly progressing disease linked to a history of asbestos exposure in about 70% of cases. Patients with MPM often require multimodal treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, and adjuvant or neoadjuvant (presurgical) chemotherapy. The current standard of first-line chemotherapy for MPM is cisplatin or carboplatin in combination with pemetrexed, an antifolate compound that has been shown to increase the cytotoxic effects of platinum-based drugs. In Phase II and III clinical trials, combination therapy with pemetrexed and either cisplatin or carboplatin yielded some of the highest rates of tumor response (21–41%) and overall survival (about 12–14 months) reported to date. Dual-agent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin plus gemcitabine or pemetrexed) followed by radical surgery with or without radiotherapy has been reported to yield median survival of up to 23–29 months in small clinical trials, but larger randomized controlled studies are needed to better define the role of neoadjuvant therapy in MPM management. Other chemotherapeutic agents that have been used against MPM, with variable results, include gemcitabine, vinorelbine, taxanes, anthracyclines, and molecular-targeted agents.
Conclusion Treatment approaches for MPM include surgery, radiation, and systemic chemotherapy. MPM carries a poor prognosis, but recent studies of pemetrexed and platinum analogue combination therapies have demonstrated improved response rates over other treatments.
Introduction
Malignant mesothelioma is a disease that presents many treatment challenges. It is often linked to a history of environmental or occupational exposure to carcinogens. The most commonly affected site is the pleura, although mesothelioma may also affect other serosal surfaces, such as the peritoneum, pericardium, and tunica vaginalis. Historically, few treatments for mesothelioma were available, but in the past decade more effective therapies have been developed.
This review focuses on malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Studies and other review articles were identified through a PubMed search for English-language publications using medical subject heading terms including mesothelioma, neoplasm staging, prognosis, and drug therapy.
