PURPOSE: Despite becoming the preferred surgical technique for malignant pleural mesothelioma, pleurectomy/decortication has received few prospective clinical trials. Therefore, the Japan Mesothelioma Interest Group conducted a prospective multi-institutional study to evaluate the feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by pleurectomy/decortication.
METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed, resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy comprising pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 for three cycles, followed by pleurectomy/decortication. The primary endpoint was macroscopic complete resection rate regardless of the surgical technique used.
RESULTS: Among the 24 patients enrolled, 20 received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while 18 proceeded to surgery, all of whom achieved macroscopic complete resection. Pleurectomy/decortication was performed in 15 patients. The trial satisfied the primary endpoint, with a macroscopic complete resection rate of 90% (18/20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68.3%–98.8%). No treatment-related 30- and 90-day mortality occurred. The overall survival rate after 1 and 2 years and median overall survival after registration were 95.0% (95% CI, 69.5–99.3), 70.0% (95% CI, 45.1–85.3), and 3.45 years (95% CI, 1.64 to NA), respectively. The cumulative incidence of progression after 1 and 2 years and median time to progression were 33.3% (95% CI, 17.3–64.1), 61.1% (95% CI, 42.3–88.3), and 1.71 years (95% CI, 1.00–2.99), respectively. The best postoperative value for forced expiratory volume was 78.0% of preoperative values.
CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by pleurectomy/decortication was feasible with acceptable survival and mortality/morbidity. Postoperative pulmonary function was approximately 80% of the preoperative pulmonary function
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