Advances in the management of malignant mesothelioma

• Published in: Current oncology reports Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 334 - 341
• Main Authors: Khalil, Mazen Y, Mapa, Marissa, Shin, Hyung Ju C, Shin, Dong M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01-08-2003
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - administration & dosage; Chemotherapy; Female; Genetic Therapy - methods; Humans; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy - methods; Lung Neoplasms - mortality; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - therapy; Male; Mediastinal Neoplasms - mortality; Mediastinal Neoplasms - pathology; Mediastinal Neoplasms - therapy; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma - mortality; Mesothelioma - pathology; Mesothelioma - therapy; Neoplasm Staging; Pleura; Pleural Neoplasms - mortality; Pleural Neoplasms - pathology; Pleural Neoplasms - therapy; Prognosis; Radiation therapy; Radiotherapy - methods; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Assessment; Survival Analysis; Thoracic Surgical Procedures - methods; Treatment Outcome; Tumors
• ISSN: 1523-3790; 1534-6269
• DOI: 10.1007/s11912-003-0076-9

Malignant mesotheliomas are very aggressive tumors that originate from mesothelial cells, which form the serosal lining of the pleura, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities. Finding effective chemotherapeutic treatment for malignant mesothelioma is a challenge. There is no standard treatment because this tumor is relatively resistant to therapy. A resurgence of interest has been expressed in novel therapies and conventional treatments used in different ways. Several treatment modalities have been studied, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. Chemotherapy can be administered systemically or directly into the pleura. This review presents the results of the most recent trials and highlights the most promising advances in the battle against this aggressive disease.