Abstract: We present the clinical case of a 58-year-old female patient, a smoker with occupational exposure to respiratory toxins, who was admitted to our clinic following evaluation in an emergency department, where she was diagnosed with a moderate right pleural effusion. Upon admission, the patient exhibited respiratory symptoms, including … [Read more...]
A Case Report of Peritoneal Mesothelioma as an Acute Abdomen Mimic: A Rare Presentation and Diagnostic Challenges
Abstract: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive cancer often linked to asbestos exposure. This case report presents a 60-year-old man with a history of asbestos exposure who developed MPM, initially presenting with acute abdominal pain, an uncommon mimic of the acute abdomen. Diagnosing MPM is challenging due to its … [Read more...]
Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline
Introduction The purpose of this guideline is to provide recommendations for the management of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. In the United States, about 3,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The median overall survival of patients with advanced surgically unresectable disease is … [Read more...]
Immunotherapy for Treatment of Pleural Mesothelioma: Current and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies
Pleural mesothelioma is a rare malignancy associated with asbestos exposure and very poor prognosis, with a 5-year overall survival of 12%. Outcomes may vary according to stage at time of diagnosis and histologic subtype. Most recently, clinical trials utilizing dual checkpoint inhibitor regimens and chemotherapy in combination with immune … [Read more...]
FDA Approves Pembrolizumab Plus Chemo for Unresectable Advanced or Metastatic Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
The FDA has approved [ Keytruda (pembrolizumab) ] plus pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy in the frontline treatment of patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma. Data from the phase 2/3 KEYNOTE-483 study (NCT02784171) showed that [ Keytruda (pembrolizumab) ] plus chemotherapy (n = 222) significantly … [Read more...]
Chemotherapy increases CDA expression and sensitizes malignant pleural mesothelioma cells to capecitabine treatment
Abstract: The combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed remains the gold standard chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), although resistance and poor response pose a significant challenge. Cytidine deaminase (CDA) is a key enzyme in the nucleotide salvage pathway and is involved in the adaptive stress response to chemotherapy. The … [Read more...]
Challenging the Norm: Occurrence of Synchronous Pleural and Peritoneal Mesothelioma in a Female Patient
Abstract: Here, we present a unique case involving a female patient in her 40s with synchronous malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, despite lacking a history of asbestos exposure. The patient's initial symptoms included dyspnoea, chest pain, cough, fever, appetite loss, and weight loss over a month. Clinical evaluation led to the … [Read more...]
Assessing trends and burden of occupational exposure to asbestos in the United States: a comprehensive analysis from 1990 to 2019
Background This study aimed to analyze the trends and burden of occupational exposure to asbestos in the United States (U.S.) from 1990 to 2019, focusing on mortality rates, geographic distribution, age and sex patterns, and causes of death. Methods Data on the number of deaths attributable to occupational exposure to asbestos were collected … [Read more...]
Integration of the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab and WT1/DC vaccination into standard-of-care first-line treatment for patients with epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma—Protocol of the Immuno-MESODEC study
Abstract Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer with a very poor prognosis. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has taken center stage in the currently ongoing revolution that is changing standard-of-care treatment for several malignancies, including MPM. As multiple arguments and accumulating lines of evidence are … [Read more...]
Extended pleurectomy decortication and chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for pleural mesothelioma (MARS 2): a phase 3 randomised controlled trial
Background: Extended pleurectomy decortication for complete macroscopic resection for pleural mesothelioma has never been evaluated in a randomised trial. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after extended pleurectomy decortication plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone. Methods: MARS 2 was a phase 3, national, multicentre, … [Read more...]