New Concepts in the Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Annual Review of Medicine 2017 October [Epub ahead of print] [Link]

Wald O, Sugarbaker DJ

Abstract

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive and generally incurable cancer. Current anti-MPM chemotherapy-based treatments are only marginally effective, and long-term survival remains an unmet goal. Nonetheless, in selected cases, personalized surgery-based multimodality treatments (MMT) have been shown to significantly extend survival. The design of MMT and selection of patients are challenging, and optimal results require accurate presurgical diagnosis, staging, and risk stratification. Further, meticulous surgical techniques and advanced radiation protocols must be applied. We review key principles and evolving concepts in the care of MPM patients with a focus on the expanding role of MMT in MPM. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Medicine Volume 69 is January 29, 2018.