Multimodality Therapy for Mesothelioma Patients
Since 2004 the only FDA-approved treatment for mesothelioma has been a chemotherapeutic regimen of pemetrexed and cisplatin. However, the best treatment for surgery-eligible mesothelioma patients remains a multimodal treatment approach including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Click here to read the analysis by Dr. Robert Cameron (David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles) of multimodal treatment versus chemotherapy.
Other articles:
Phase II Trial of Ttrimodality Therapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (EORTC 08031) (6/2010)
EORTC 08031 phase II trial investigated the feasibility of trimodality therapy consisting of induction chemotherapy followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy and postoperative radiotherapy in patients with cT3N1M0 or less malignant pleural mesothelioma. Although feasible, trimodality therapy in patients with mesothelioma was not completed within the strictly defined timelines of this protocol and adjustments are necessary. More...
Multicenter Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Pemetrexed Plus Cisplatin Followed by Extrapleural Pneumonectomy and Radiation for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (7/30/2009)
Neoadjuvant pemetrexed plus cisplatin was administered, followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and hemithoracic radiation (RT), to assess the feasibility and efficacy of trimodality therapy in stage I to III malignant pleural mesothelioma. More...
Four-modality Therapy in Malignant Pleural Msothelioma: a Phase II Study (3/2007)
Treatment approaches in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients range from mere palliation to aggressive anticancer therapy, and there is currently no consensus on the optimal therapeutic strategy. In 1999, we began a phase II study to investigate four-modality treatment of advanced stage MPM. More...
Summary of Dr. Sugarbaker's Results Using Tri-Modal Therapy on 183 Patients from 1980 to 1997 (4/14/1998)
An abstract of an article authored by Dr. David Sugarbaker of the Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. Dr. Sugarbaker was kind enough to furnish us with a copy of the abstract in anticipation of his speech at the 78th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, which will take place on May 3-6, 1998 in Boston, Massachusetts. Note that the patients with epithelial tumors have a significantly longer mean survival than the patients with mixed type/sarcomatous tumor. --Roger Worthington. More...
Multimodality Management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (11/6/1998)
In this article, we explain the current trimodality approach used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. Our current approach employs extrapleural pneumonectomy as the cytoreductive procedure followed by combination chemoradiotherapy. More...
Dr. Vallieres Offers Tri-Modal Therapy in Seattle, Washington (11/5/1998)
Dear Mr. Worthington:
By this letter, I would like to introduce myself to you, as I understand you have a special interest in mesothelioma. I am the principal investigator and the thoracic surgeon in charge of the mesothelioma program her at the University of Washington Medical Center. Eighteen months ago, we initiated a Phase II Trial which is addressing the multi-modality approach to diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the pleura, combining induction chemotherapy followed by radical surgery which we then follow with adjuvant fast neutron radiation therapy. More...
Current Therapy for Mesothelioma, Sugarbaker et al, 1997 (6/17/1998)
Background: Diffuse malignant pleural mesotheliomas (DMPMs) are highly lethal tumors that are becoming more common. Standard management approaches have provided limited effectiveness. More...
Multi-Modality Management of Early Stage Diffuse Malignant Mesothelioma (4/8/1998)
DMM is an uncommon neoplasm which unfortunately remains usually lethal with a median survival of 4 to 18 months and for which there continues to be no accepted effective curative treatment. If anything, the enthusiasm that prompted many new approaches to the potential cure of the disease in the late 70's and early 80's seems to have waned and a nihilistic philosophy to the problem is now often observed, (Lewis, Faber). An overall palliative attitude to these patients is, with rare exceptions, the clinical rule. More...
Tri-Modal Therapy, Etc. (1995)
At Harvard Medical School between 1980 and 1994, 94 consecutive patients with mesothelioma underwent tri-modal treatment consisting of extra pleural pneumonectomy, postoperative chemotherapy with cytoxan, Adriamycin and cisplatin, and radiotherapy. The patients included 24 women and 70 men and the average age was 54. Overall survival was 48% at 2 years and 22% at 5 years (median 23 mos). More...