Purpose: Human malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is characterized by dismal prognosis. Consequently, dissection of molecular mechanisms driving malignancy is of key importance. Here we investigate, whether activating mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene promoter are present in [malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)] and … [Read more...]
Malignant Diffuse Mesothelioma in Women — A Study of 354 Cases
We reviewed 354 cases of malignant diffuse mesothelioma (MM) in women from a database of 2858 histologically confirmed MM cases. There was a pleural predominance with 78% [ pleural malignant mesothelioma ] and 22% [ peritoneal malignant mesothelioma ]. The pleural tumors consisted of 72% epithelioid, 19% biphasic, and 9% sarcomatoid variant. The … [Read more...]
50 Patients with Malignant Mesothelioma of Both the Pleura and Peritoneum: A Single-Institution Experience
Background: The most common sites of malignant mesothelioma are the pleura and peritoneum, but little is known about the incidence, prognosis, or treatment of patients with disease in both cavities. Previous series suggest that multimodality treatment improves overall survival for pleural or peritoneal disease, but studies typically exclude [ … [Read more...]
Radical hemithoracic radiotherapy doubles survival among certain patients with mesothelioma
Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who underwent nonradical surgery and chemotherapy appeared twice as likely to achieve 2-year OS with radical hemithoracic radiotherapy vs. palliative radiotherapy, according to randomized phase 3 study results presented at European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology Congress. Based on these … [Read more...]
Diagnostic Value of Biopsy Sampling in Predicting Histology in Patients With Diffuse Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
BACKGROUND: The classification of diffuse malignant mesothelioma into epithelioid, biphasic, and sarcomatoid types is based on histologic patterns. The diagnosis is made on biopsies, and because of intratumoral heterogeneity, they may not be representative of the entire tumor. The number and volume of biopsies needed to reach diagnostic accuracy in … [Read more...]
Another Antiangiogenic Failure in Unresectable Mesothelioma
The addition of nintedanib (Ofev) to standard of care pemetrexed (Alimta) plus cisplatin failed to delay disease progression in patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, according to phase III results of the LUME-Meso study. After a median treatment duration of more than 5 months, median progression-free survival was 6.8 months … [Read more...]
50 Patients with Malignant Mesothelioma of Both the Pleura and Peritoneum: A Single-Institution Experience
Background: The most common sites of malignant mesothelioma are the pleura [ i.e., pleural mesothelioma ] and peritoneum [ i.e., peritoneal mesothelioma ], but little is known about the incidence, prognosis, or treatment of patients with disease in both cavities…. Despite limitations, this investigation is the only study to broadly examine … [Read more...]
Current treatments and trials in malignant pleural mesothelioma
Objectives This article aims to review the evidence from recent clinical trials in mesothelioma, and to provide an overview of relevant clinical trials that are currently in progress. Results Since the original trial that demonstrated the efficacy of pemetrexed and cisplatin in mesothelioma, multiple trials have been conducted that have … [Read more...]
Novel therapies for malignant pleural mesothelioma
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is typically associated with exposure to asbestos. Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma have poor outcomes with suboptimal therapeutic options and currently no treatment is curative. The standard frontline treatment, cisplatin plus pemetrexed chemotherapy, has only short and insufficient … [Read more...]
Management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Current Treatment Guidelines
Purpose: To provide evidence-based recommendations to practicing physicians and others on the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Methods: ASCO convened an Expert Panel of medical oncology, thoracic surgery, radiation oncology, pulmonary, pathology, imaging, and advocacy experts to conduct a literature search, which included systematic … [Read more...]