SEOUL, Sept. 21 -- Some malignant mesothelioma patients may have a prognosis that's not as grim as once widely believed, said a Nordic collaborative group.
Patients diagnosed with epithelial subtype mesothelioma and treated solely with chemotherapy had a median survival of 15 months, while some patients survived beyond three years. This was reported at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer meeting by Gunnar Hillerdal, M.D., of the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm and colleagues.
The Nordic group experience contrasts with a clinical perception that mesothelioma patients usually die within a year, the investigators noted. A large multicenter trial based in the U.S. demonstrated a 12 month survival rate when using cisplatin with or without pemetrexed versus nine months with cisplatin alone. Other trials have yielded similar results.
Dr. Hillerdal said, "The Nordic Mesothelioma Group experience is different."
Surgery is used sparingly in treating mesothelioma in the Nordic countries. Dr. Hillerdal said, elsewhere in the world, patients with the most favorable characteristics (such as good performance status and lower-stage disease) often are recommended for surgery, leaving patients with the worst prognosis for chemotherapy treatment.
Data on 147 mesothelioma patients treated with chemotherapy alone and followed until death or for a minimum of 18 months were analyzed by Nordic investigators. All the patients were given gemcitabine, carboplatin, and liposomal doxorubicin.
In analyzing survival by histologic subtype it was seen that the epithelial subtype represented 108 patients (73%), 21 patients (14%) for the mixed subtype, and 18 patients (12%) for the sarcomatous subtype.
44% of epithelial subtype mesothelioma patients survived at least 18 months, 25% survived for two years, 9% lived three years or longer, and two patients remained alive after five years of follow-up. Those diagnosed with epithelial stage IV disease (distant metastases) had a median survival rate of 11 months, two lived for at least two years, and one patient was still living at 61 months.
Dr. Hillerdal remarked, "This is more favorable than stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer".
Patients with mixed subtype mesothelioma or sarcomatous disease had a less favorable outlook. This was demonstrated in a median survival rate of eight months and four months, respectively. There were no patients in either group that lived as long as two years.
"The key message from this study is that the survival rate for people diagnosed with mesothelioma is not as bad as many would believe," said Dr. Hillerdal. "Survival with chemotherapy can be just as good as with surgery or even better with proper patient selection. Patient selection is the important thing to consider. Stage is less important than subtype, and that should be kept in mind when evaluating results of surgical remedies."
Source
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Monday, November 5, 2007
Mesothelioma Treatment News; Medical, Legal and Legislative Stories
As advocates for asbestos victims, the attorneys at Brayton Purcell keep up–to–date on medical, legal, and legislative issues that affect mesothelioma patients and their families. Bookmark this page for the latest information about mesothelioma treatment and diagnosis, asbestos in the home and workplace, funding for mesothelioma centers, and halting asbestos exposure. For earlier news articles, see Mesothelioma News Archive.
Medical Articles:
September 28, 2007
Certain Mesothelioma Patients Living Longer with Chemotherapy
August 17, 2007
School of Public Health Heads Study on Iron Range Miners and Mesothelioma
June 29, 2007
Six More Minnesota Iron Range Miners Have Mesothelioma
June 15, 2007
Study Confirms Usefulness of Pemetrexed (Alimta®) As Mesothelioma Treatment
April 20, 2007
Minnesota Iron Miners Developed Mesothelioma
March 30, 2007
Measuring Mesothelin in Effusions May Be Useful in Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Study Suggests
March 16, 2007
Asbestos More Likely to Cause Mesothelioma in Men Than in Women, Study Suggests
February 23, 2007
FDA Approves MESOMARK® Assay Test for Detecting Mesothelioma
February 16, 2007
Combination of Pemetrexed and Cisplatin Improves the Survival Rate of Mesothelioma Patients
February 9, 2007
Onconase® Granted Orphan Drug Status for Mesothelioma Treatment
January 5, 2007
Pemetrexed May Be Helpful in the Treatment of Peritoneal Mesothelioma, Case Study Suggests
November 22, 2006
Alimta® (Pemetrexed) Study Indicated Drug’s Effectiveness in Treating Pleural Mesothelioma
July 28, 2006
Statins May Help Pleural Mesothelioma Cells Respond to Chemotherapy Drug Doxorubicin
June 2, 2006
Surgery Plus Chemotherapy May Help Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients
April 21, 2006
Sequential Chemotherapy Regime Showed Promise in Treating Mesothelioma Patients, According to New Study
March 31, 2006
Clinical Trial Looks at Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment with Pemetrexed (Alimta®) Plus Carboplatin (Paraplatin®)
March 24, 2006
Study Pinpoints Distribution of Mesothelioma in US
February 24, 2006
Early Chemotherapy Benefits Mesothelioma Patients
December 16, 2005
Montana Study Shows Mesothelioma Cases Follow Railroad Lines
October 21, 2005
Osteopontin Shows Promise as Marker for Detecting Pleural Mesothelioma
October 14, 2005
Study Shows Improvement in Pleural Mesothelioma Patients Treated with Cisplatin Plus Raltitrexed
September 30, 2005
MARF To Hold Second International Symposium On Malignant Mesothelioma
August 5, 2005
Mesothelioma Patients Being Recruited for Sorafenib Study
July 8, 2005
Naturally Occurring Asbestos May Increase Mesothelioma Risk, Study Suggests
May 11, 2005
New Mesothelioma Blood Test Now Available
April 01, 2005
Effect of IMRT Radiation Following the Mesothelioma Surgery Known as “Extrapleural Pneumonectomy”
April 01, 2005
Onconase® Granted Orphan Drug Status for Mesothelioma Treatment in Australia
December 03, 2004
Mesothelioma Treatment Using A Combination of Surgery and Chemotherapy
October 1, 2004
Gemcitabine and Cisplatin May Improve Outcome of Surgery for Mesothelioma Patients, Study Suggests
August 6, 2004
Australian Researchers Report on New Mesothelioma Drug, SBP002
July 16, 2004
Study Reviews Complications of Mesothelioma Surgery
June 25, 2004
Clinical Trial Shows Promise for Veglin In Fighting Tumors
May 28, 2004
Research on Surgery in Treating Mesothelioma
April 9, 2004
Cancer Center to Treat Mesothelioma Patients Exposed to Vermiculite
March 26, 2004
Newly Approved Colorectal Cancer Drug Now in Clinical Trial for Mesothelioma Patients
February 13, 2004
FDA Approves Sale of Mesothelioma Drug Alimta®
December 12, 2003
Distinguishing Mesothelioma From Lung Adenocarcinoma Through MUC4 Analysis
November 21, 2003
Scientists Working on Blood Test to Detect Mesothelioma
October 3, 2003
Positron Emission Tomography Indicated Spread of Pleural Mesothelioma
September 12, 2003
EPA Downplayed Post–9/11 Asbestos and Other Safety Hazards in NYC, Report Says
September 5, 2003
Radiotherapy and Surgery in Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment
August 22, 2003
Pemetrexed (Alimta®) Plus Cisplatin Shows Continuing Promise in Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment
July 3, 2003
Use of Mediastinoscopy to Determine Whether Mesothelioma Tumors Have Spread
June 13, 2003
Gemcitabine and Carboplatin May Prove Helpful in Mesothelioma Treatment
May 5, 2003
New Ways to Approach Mesothelioma Diagnosis
April 18, 2003
Foscan–Mediated PDT and Surgery May Prove Helpful for Mesothelioma Patients
March 7, 2003
Growth Factors in Mesothelioma Cell Lines Studied
February 14, 2003
Study Shows Raltitrexed Alone May Be Helpful in Mesothelioma Treatment
January 24, 2003
Raltitrexed and Oxaliplatin Evaluated in Mesothelioma Treatment
Legal
February 18, 2005
W.R. Grace Accused of Hiding Asbestos Health Problems
May 30, 2003
EPA Issues Vermiculite Insulation Warning
March 10, 2003
Asbestos Victims Can Sue for Stress Due to Cancer Fears
Legislative
January 14, 2005
Specter Wants To Finish Asbestos Bill By Early February
July 23, 2004
Update on Asbestos Legislation
May 14, 2004
Talks on Frist/Hatch Asbestos Bill End Without Agreement
April 27, 2004
Hatch/Frist Asbestos Bailout Bill Stalled in Senate
September 5, 2003
Hatch Asbestos Bill to Go Before Senate; Annotated Text of Bill Provided
August 22 2003
Asbestos Bill, S.B. 1125, Is a Sham, Construction Worker Says
August 15, 2003
S.B. 1125 Deprives Asbestos Victims of Due Process, Asbestos Claimants’ Committee Says
July 31, 2003
Texas Bills Harmful to Asbestos Victims
July 7, 2003
Hatch Bill Provides Inadequate Protection for Asbestos Victims
June 6, 2003
Bill Reintroduced to Ban Asbestos, Set Up Mesothelioma Registry
Source
Medical Articles:
September 28, 2007
Certain Mesothelioma Patients Living Longer with Chemotherapy
August 17, 2007
School of Public Health Heads Study on Iron Range Miners and Mesothelioma
June 29, 2007
Six More Minnesota Iron Range Miners Have Mesothelioma
June 15, 2007
Study Confirms Usefulness of Pemetrexed (Alimta®) As Mesothelioma Treatment
April 20, 2007
Minnesota Iron Miners Developed Mesothelioma
March 30, 2007
Measuring Mesothelin in Effusions May Be Useful in Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Study Suggests
March 16, 2007
Asbestos More Likely to Cause Mesothelioma in Men Than in Women, Study Suggests
February 23, 2007
FDA Approves MESOMARK® Assay Test for Detecting Mesothelioma
February 16, 2007
Combination of Pemetrexed and Cisplatin Improves the Survival Rate of Mesothelioma Patients
February 9, 2007
Onconase® Granted Orphan Drug Status for Mesothelioma Treatment
January 5, 2007
Pemetrexed May Be Helpful in the Treatment of Peritoneal Mesothelioma, Case Study Suggests
November 22, 2006
Alimta® (Pemetrexed) Study Indicated Drug’s Effectiveness in Treating Pleural Mesothelioma
July 28, 2006
Statins May Help Pleural Mesothelioma Cells Respond to Chemotherapy Drug Doxorubicin
June 2, 2006
Surgery Plus Chemotherapy May Help Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients
April 21, 2006
Sequential Chemotherapy Regime Showed Promise in Treating Mesothelioma Patients, According to New Study
March 31, 2006
Clinical Trial Looks at Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment with Pemetrexed (Alimta®) Plus Carboplatin (Paraplatin®)
March 24, 2006
Study Pinpoints Distribution of Mesothelioma in US
February 24, 2006
Early Chemotherapy Benefits Mesothelioma Patients
December 16, 2005
Montana Study Shows Mesothelioma Cases Follow Railroad Lines
October 21, 2005
Osteopontin Shows Promise as Marker for Detecting Pleural Mesothelioma
October 14, 2005
Study Shows Improvement in Pleural Mesothelioma Patients Treated with Cisplatin Plus Raltitrexed
September 30, 2005
MARF To Hold Second International Symposium On Malignant Mesothelioma
August 5, 2005
Mesothelioma Patients Being Recruited for Sorafenib Study
July 8, 2005
Naturally Occurring Asbestos May Increase Mesothelioma Risk, Study Suggests
May 11, 2005
New Mesothelioma Blood Test Now Available
April 01, 2005
Effect of IMRT Radiation Following the Mesothelioma Surgery Known as “Extrapleural Pneumonectomy”
April 01, 2005
Onconase® Granted Orphan Drug Status for Mesothelioma Treatment in Australia
December 03, 2004
Mesothelioma Treatment Using A Combination of Surgery and Chemotherapy
October 1, 2004
Gemcitabine and Cisplatin May Improve Outcome of Surgery for Mesothelioma Patients, Study Suggests
August 6, 2004
Australian Researchers Report on New Mesothelioma Drug, SBP002
July 16, 2004
Study Reviews Complications of Mesothelioma Surgery
June 25, 2004
Clinical Trial Shows Promise for Veglin In Fighting Tumors
May 28, 2004
Research on Surgery in Treating Mesothelioma
April 9, 2004
Cancer Center to Treat Mesothelioma Patients Exposed to Vermiculite
March 26, 2004
Newly Approved Colorectal Cancer Drug Now in Clinical Trial for Mesothelioma Patients
February 13, 2004
FDA Approves Sale of Mesothelioma Drug Alimta®
December 12, 2003
Distinguishing Mesothelioma From Lung Adenocarcinoma Through MUC4 Analysis
November 21, 2003
Scientists Working on Blood Test to Detect Mesothelioma
October 3, 2003
Positron Emission Tomography Indicated Spread of Pleural Mesothelioma
September 12, 2003
EPA Downplayed Post–9/11 Asbestos and Other Safety Hazards in NYC, Report Says
September 5, 2003
Radiotherapy and Surgery in Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment
August 22, 2003
Pemetrexed (Alimta®) Plus Cisplatin Shows Continuing Promise in Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment
July 3, 2003
Use of Mediastinoscopy to Determine Whether Mesothelioma Tumors Have Spread
June 13, 2003
Gemcitabine and Carboplatin May Prove Helpful in Mesothelioma Treatment
May 5, 2003
New Ways to Approach Mesothelioma Diagnosis
April 18, 2003
Foscan–Mediated PDT and Surgery May Prove Helpful for Mesothelioma Patients
March 7, 2003
Growth Factors in Mesothelioma Cell Lines Studied
February 14, 2003
Study Shows Raltitrexed Alone May Be Helpful in Mesothelioma Treatment
January 24, 2003
Raltitrexed and Oxaliplatin Evaluated in Mesothelioma Treatment
Legal
February 18, 2005
W.R. Grace Accused of Hiding Asbestos Health Problems
May 30, 2003
EPA Issues Vermiculite Insulation Warning
March 10, 2003
Asbestos Victims Can Sue for Stress Due to Cancer Fears
Legislative
January 14, 2005
Specter Wants To Finish Asbestos Bill By Early February
July 23, 2004
Update on Asbestos Legislation
May 14, 2004
Talks on Frist/Hatch Asbestos Bill End Without Agreement
April 27, 2004
Hatch/Frist Asbestos Bailout Bill Stalled in Senate
September 5, 2003
Hatch Asbestos Bill to Go Before Senate; Annotated Text of Bill Provided
August 22 2003
Asbestos Bill, S.B. 1125, Is a Sham, Construction Worker Says
August 15, 2003
S.B. 1125 Deprives Asbestos Victims of Due Process, Asbestos Claimants’ Committee Says
July 31, 2003
Texas Bills Harmful to Asbestos Victims
July 7, 2003
Hatch Bill Provides Inadequate Protection for Asbestos Victims
June 6, 2003
Bill Reintroduced to Ban Asbestos, Set Up Mesothelioma Registry
Source
Learning About Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
A clinical trial is a research study using volunteers. Its purpose is to find cures or treatments for diseases such as mesothelioma or other serious health conditions. Researchers must conduct animal or laboratory studies that produce positive results before they try a new procedure or drug on human subjects in a clinical trial. A typical mesothelioma clinical trial determines whether a treatment is safe and effective, the best way to administer a drug, and the proper dosage. Any side effects are observed and noted.
Some mesothelioma patients choose to participate in clinical trials in order to have a greater sense of control over their health, and renewed hope for an improved quality of life. Pemetrexed or Alimta® is an example of a drug originally tested in a mesothelioma clinical trial. It has been approved as a pleural mesothelioma treatment when combined with a standard chemotherapy agent, cisplatin.
The downside of clinical trials is that patients are participating in an experimental study. Results may be positive and helpful, inconclusive, or negative. There are no guarantees. You should carefully consult with your physician before you decide to participate in a mesothelioma clinical trial. Consider your own needs and desires, as well as your health status.
Types of Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are conducted in segments or phases. A phase I clinical trial determines how a drug works, and its side effects at various doses. It may give some preliminary evidence of effectiveness. Usually, only a small number of people take part in a phase I clinical trial. A phase II clinical trial involves more participants. Its purpose is to further evaluate the drug’s effectiveness, its safety, and side effects.
A phase III trial gathers even more information about the overall benefits and risks of a drug or treatment. For example, the effects of a new drug or procedure are compared to a current standard treatment. This is done by randomly assigning participants to receive the standard or new treatment. Phase III trials often enroll large numbers of people and may be conducted at several clinics or cancer centers at once.
Who Conducts Mesothelioma Clinical Trials?
The federal National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institute of Health sponsors many of the clinical trials in the United States. The studies may be funded by the NCI and run by a network of doctors, hospitals, and cancer centers. Other sponsors include drug manufacturers, biotechnology companies, nonprofit groups, or even private physicians.
Finding Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
Your doctor or cancer center may recommend a particular mesothelioma clinical trial. You may also read about a clinical trial that is recruiting volunteers through a newspaper or magazine. Some patients actively look for clinical trials. If you are in the later category, you may want to consult the web sites listed below. They provide current lists of clinical trials, including eligibility requirements, geographic location, and medical background.
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Clinical Trial Search
This database may be accessed by type of treatment and geographical location. Also see the NCI’s advanced search, which allows you to locate clinical trials by drug or procedure name, your cancer stage, sponsor name, as well as by geographic area and other factors.
National Institute of Health Clinical Trial Search
You can indicate type of treatment or drug, stage of cancer, clinical study phase, or sponsor in accessing this database.
Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups, Inc.
Provides a 9–step questionnaire before you may access the database. This may be somewhat burdensome.
In addition, you can check the web sites of major cancer centers near you. They usually have information about current mesothelioma clinical trials.
Questions to Ask About Mesothelioma Treatment and Clinical Trials
The American Cancer Society suggests asking these questions of your medical team before participating in a mesothelioma clinical trial.
* » Why is this study being done?
* » What is likely to happen in my case if I decide to participate or not participate?
* » What are my other options (standard treatments, other studies)?
* » What are their advantages and disadvantages?
* » What were the results in previous studies of this treatment?
* » What kinds of tests and treatments does the study involve? How often are they done, and how much time it required?
* » How could the study affect my daily life?
* » What are the possible side effects?
* » Will I have to be hospitalized? Will I still be seeing my regular doctor?
* » What are my costs, if any?
* » How long is the study?
* » Is long–term follow–up care part of the study?
* » Are there others participating in the study whom I could speak to?
Again, you will need to look at the risks versus the benefits of taking part in any clinical trial. Factors to consider include your own health, your expectations, your family relationships, and your present quality of life.
Source
Some mesothelioma patients choose to participate in clinical trials in order to have a greater sense of control over their health, and renewed hope for an improved quality of life. Pemetrexed or Alimta® is an example of a drug originally tested in a mesothelioma clinical trial. It has been approved as a pleural mesothelioma treatment when combined with a standard chemotherapy agent, cisplatin.
The downside of clinical trials is that patients are participating in an experimental study. Results may be positive and helpful, inconclusive, or negative. There are no guarantees. You should carefully consult with your physician before you decide to participate in a mesothelioma clinical trial. Consider your own needs and desires, as well as your health status.
Types of Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are conducted in segments or phases. A phase I clinical trial determines how a drug works, and its side effects at various doses. It may give some preliminary evidence of effectiveness. Usually, only a small number of people take part in a phase I clinical trial. A phase II clinical trial involves more participants. Its purpose is to further evaluate the drug’s effectiveness, its safety, and side effects.
A phase III trial gathers even more information about the overall benefits and risks of a drug or treatment. For example, the effects of a new drug or procedure are compared to a current standard treatment. This is done by randomly assigning participants to receive the standard or new treatment. Phase III trials often enroll large numbers of people and may be conducted at several clinics or cancer centers at once.
Who Conducts Mesothelioma Clinical Trials?
The federal National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institute of Health sponsors many of the clinical trials in the United States. The studies may be funded by the NCI and run by a network of doctors, hospitals, and cancer centers. Other sponsors include drug manufacturers, biotechnology companies, nonprofit groups, or even private physicians.
Finding Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
Your doctor or cancer center may recommend a particular mesothelioma clinical trial. You may also read about a clinical trial that is recruiting volunteers through a newspaper or magazine. Some patients actively look for clinical trials. If you are in the later category, you may want to consult the web sites listed below. They provide current lists of clinical trials, including eligibility requirements, geographic location, and medical background.
National Cancer Institute (NCI) Clinical Trial Search
This database may be accessed by type of treatment and geographical location. Also see the NCI’s advanced search, which allows you to locate clinical trials by drug or procedure name, your cancer stage, sponsor name, as well as by geographic area and other factors.
National Institute of Health Clinical Trial Search
You can indicate type of treatment or drug, stage of cancer, clinical study phase, or sponsor in accessing this database.
Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups, Inc.
Provides a 9–step questionnaire before you may access the database. This may be somewhat burdensome.
In addition, you can check the web sites of major cancer centers near you. They usually have information about current mesothelioma clinical trials.
Questions to Ask About Mesothelioma Treatment and Clinical Trials
The American Cancer Society suggests asking these questions of your medical team before participating in a mesothelioma clinical trial.
* » Why is this study being done?
* » What is likely to happen in my case if I decide to participate or not participate?
* » What are my other options (standard treatments, other studies)?
* » What are their advantages and disadvantages?
* » What were the results in previous studies of this treatment?
* » What kinds of tests and treatments does the study involve? How often are they done, and how much time it required?
* » How could the study affect my daily life?
* » What are the possible side effects?
* » Will I have to be hospitalized? Will I still be seeing my regular doctor?
* » What are my costs, if any?
* » How long is the study?
* » Is long–term follow–up care part of the study?
* » Are there others participating in the study whom I could speak to?
Again, you will need to look at the risks versus the benefits of taking part in any clinical trial. Factors to consider include your own health, your expectations, your family relationships, and your present quality of life.
Source
Surgery Plus Chemotherapy May Help Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients
WASHINGTON, DC — June 2, 2006 — The length of survival for peritoneal mesothelioma patients who have undergone surgery as well as chemotherapy may be several years, according to a recent study at the Washington Cancer Institute (Eur J Surg Oncol., 2006 Apr 15). This is in contrast to those patients with peritoneal mesothelioma who have been treated with chemotherapy only or with radiation and who generally survive for one year or less.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that first attacks the membranes surrounding the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma). Peritoneal mesothelioma is the rarer form of the cancer, making up about one–quarter of mesothelioma cases.
Surgery involving the abdominal membranes was performed on 65 patients at the Washington Hospital Center in order to remove mesothelioma cancer cells. This is called cytoreductive or debulking surgery, a procedure that can last several hours. Sometimes it is necessary to also remove segments of the stomach.
During surgery, the patients received the standard chemotherapy drugs cisplatin and doxorubicin. The drug solution was warmed and administered into their abdominal cavities, a procedure known as “hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy” or HIIC.
After surgery, the mesothelioma patients were treated for five days with paclitaxel (TAXOL®), a chemotherapy drug that is generally used by breast cancer patients. Cisplatin and doxorubicin are platinum–based compounds that are thought to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. TAXOL® also slows or stops cancer cell growth.
Survival Time Increased for Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients
The median length of survival among the 65 peritoneal mesothelioma patients was 79 months, and they were also freed from the build–up of excess fluid in their stomach cavities. When surgeons were able to remove most of a mesothelioma tumor (“adequate cytoreduction”), the patient had a better chance of survival than did a patient who had a larger remaining tumor after surgery (“suboptimal cytoreduction”). The researchers pointed out that a patient with a mesothelioma tumor greater than five centimeters in the upper abdominal area would not be a good candidate for surgery, as the result would likely be suboptimal cytoreduction. They suggested using CT scans to determine tumor size when selecting patients for the surgery/chemotherapy treatment procedure.
The Washington Cancer Institute researchers also reviewed other peritoneal mesothelioma reports from Maryland, New York, Italy and France. In these studies, about half the patients with peritoneal mesothelioma were alive after five years if they were treated with surgery as well as chemotherapy using HIIC techniques.
Learning More About Surgery and Peritoneal Mesothelioma
For more detailed information about peritoneal mesothelioma surgery, see the web site, Peritonectomy.com. In addition, an article by Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, one of the authors of the Washington Cancer Institute study, describes cytoreductive surgery and provides illustrations.
Please feel free to contact us at Brayton Purcell if you have mesothelioma and would like legal information. We have been handling cases involving mesothelioma and asbestos exposure for over 20 years and can provide support, information, and excellent advocacy.
Source
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that first attacks the membranes surrounding the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma). Peritoneal mesothelioma is the rarer form of the cancer, making up about one–quarter of mesothelioma cases.
Surgery involving the abdominal membranes was performed on 65 patients at the Washington Hospital Center in order to remove mesothelioma cancer cells. This is called cytoreductive or debulking surgery, a procedure that can last several hours. Sometimes it is necessary to also remove segments of the stomach.
During surgery, the patients received the standard chemotherapy drugs cisplatin and doxorubicin. The drug solution was warmed and administered into their abdominal cavities, a procedure known as “hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy” or HIIC.
After surgery, the mesothelioma patients were treated for five days with paclitaxel (TAXOL®), a chemotherapy drug that is generally used by breast cancer patients. Cisplatin and doxorubicin are platinum–based compounds that are thought to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. TAXOL® also slows or stops cancer cell growth.
Survival Time Increased for Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients
The median length of survival among the 65 peritoneal mesothelioma patients was 79 months, and they were also freed from the build–up of excess fluid in their stomach cavities. When surgeons were able to remove most of a mesothelioma tumor (“adequate cytoreduction”), the patient had a better chance of survival than did a patient who had a larger remaining tumor after surgery (“suboptimal cytoreduction”). The researchers pointed out that a patient with a mesothelioma tumor greater than five centimeters in the upper abdominal area would not be a good candidate for surgery, as the result would likely be suboptimal cytoreduction. They suggested using CT scans to determine tumor size when selecting patients for the surgery/chemotherapy treatment procedure.
The Washington Cancer Institute researchers also reviewed other peritoneal mesothelioma reports from Maryland, New York, Italy and France. In these studies, about half the patients with peritoneal mesothelioma were alive after five years if they were treated with surgery as well as chemotherapy using HIIC techniques.
Learning More About Surgery and Peritoneal Mesothelioma
For more detailed information about peritoneal mesothelioma surgery, see the web site, Peritonectomy.com. In addition, an article by Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, one of the authors of the Washington Cancer Institute study, describes cytoreductive surgery and provides illustrations.
Please feel free to contact us at Brayton Purcell if you have mesothelioma and would like legal information. We have been handling cases involving mesothelioma and asbestos exposure for over 20 years and can provide support, information, and excellent advocacy.
Source
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