Therapeutic options in malignant pleural mesothelioma
Sunday, May 1st, 2005.
Pneumologie. 2005 May;59(5):337-48. [Link]
Serke M, Loddenkemper R.
HELIOS Klinikum Emil von Behring, Lungenklinik Heckeshorn, Zentrum fur Pneumologie und Thoraxchirurgie.
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma may be treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In most patients, the treatment remains palliative with symptom relief and a moderate survival gain. Only a minority of patients with early stage mesothelioma may be cured by a multimodal approach including radical surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. We discuss the role of surgery with either radical extrapleural pleuropneumonectomy or less invasive palliative pleurectomy and decortication, and the role of radiotherapy, in which the main problem is how to deliver sufficient doses to the pleural surface, sparing radiosensitive structures such as the lung, heart, liver, and kidneys. Chemotherapeutic options are discussed with ‘older’ mono- and combination regimens and the new promising combination cisplatinum/pemetrexed, now the ’standard regimen’ for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Experimental approaches such as hyperthermia, interferons or interleukins, and ’small molecules’ or antibodies inhibiting the EGFR oder VEGF receptor are under clinical evaluation. For the majority of our patients we recommend talcum pleurodesis either by medical thoracoscopy or VATS, followed by chemotherapy with platinum/pemetrexed. Radiotherapy may be applied in case of local tumour growth. The individual therapeutic decision will depend on tumour stage, concomitant diseases, performance status, and on the patient’s preference.
Glossary
- regimen
- (rej-uh-men) a strict, regulated plan (such as diet, exercise, or other activity) designed to reach certain goals. In cancer treatment, a plan to treat cancer.
- chemotherapy
- (key-mo-THER-uh-pee) treatment with drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often used with surgery or radiation to treat cancer when the cancer has spread, when it has come back (recurred), or when there is a strong chance that it could recur.
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
- pemetrexed
- chemotheraputic agent that interferes with a crucial process that allows cancer cells to reproduce and spread. Specifically, pemetrexed stops the production of three enzymes that are required to feed the cancer cell. Often used in combination with cisplatin. Marketed under the name ALIMTA. See: Alimta.
