The identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath is a promising opportunity for noninvasive detection and prediction of treatment outcomes in patients with mesothelioma, according to data from a pilot study presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer, held … [Read more...]
Study Questions Use of Aggressive Surgery in Early Mesothelioma
Extended pleurectomy/decortication combined with platinum and pemetrexed chemotherapy was associated with worse outcomes in patients with resectable mesothelioma compared with chemotherapy alone, according to a randomized trial. "As a surgeon, you have no idea how much it pains me to conclude that extended pleurectomy/decortication -- an … [Read more...]
Feladilimab by GSK for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Likelihood of Approval
[Feladilimab] is under development [by the pharmaceutical company GSK] for the treatment of [malignant pleural mesothelioma], advanced solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer, squamous non-small cell lung cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, esophageal, urothelial cancer, clear renal cell carcinoma, head and neck cancer squamous cell … [Read more...]
Occupational exposure to cosmetic talc and mesothelioma in barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists: A systematic review of the epidemiology
Inhalation exposure to cosmetic talc has generated much scientific debate regarding its potential as a risk factor for mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal cancer. Barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists have regularly used cosmetic talc-containing products, but the collective epidemiological evidence for mesothelioma in these occupations has yet to … [Read more...]
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) Presenting as Hydropneumothorax
An 86-year-old man presented with bilateral lower limb edema and was found to have hydropneumothorax on chest radiography. CT revealed a substantial pleural effusion and plaques. The patient had a history of working in a stone workshop, but the extent of asbestos exposure remained unknown. Thoracic drainage and subsequent thoracoscopic surgery … [Read more...]
Merck reports positive data from malignant pleural mesothelioma trial
Merck and the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) have reported positive data from the Phase II/III CCTG IND.227/KEYNOTE-483 trial of Keytruda, along with chemotherapy, as first-line treatment for advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma patients. The open-label, randomised Phase II/III trial has been designed for assessing the combination of … [Read more...]
Incidence of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Decreased in the United States During 2004 to 2019
Despite a rising global incidence, long-term data reveal the U.S. [ incidence rate of pleural mesothelioma ] has decreased and overall survival for patients with mesothelioma is improving, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the European Lung Cancer Congress, held from March 29 to April 1 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Mohamed … [Read more...]
A Gelatinous Pleural Effusion as a Diagnostic Clue
Pleural effusion is a common presentation of several pathologies, and the determination of its cause is facilitated by macroscopic, biochemical, microbiological, and cellular analysis. A systematic approach to analyzing the fluid allows for a reduction in clinical diagnoses. Only a select number of diagnoses can be established definitively by … [Read more...]
Pleural Mesothelioma: A Rapid Evolution of an Indolent Disease
Mesothelioma is a rare and insidious neoplasm and is characterized by its highly malignant and aggressive nature. The most common etiology is asbestos exposure, but there are some reports without known asbestos exposure and other factors leading to malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Here, we present the case of a 58-year-old woman with … [Read more...]
Avon Hit With $40 Million Verdict in California Talc Lawsuit
Avon Products Inc. was ordered by a California jury to pay $10.3 million in punitive damages to a woman who blamed her cancer on talc in its cosmetics, in the first such case the company has lost in US litigation. The Los Angeles Superior Court jury that punished Avon Friday for hiding the risks that some of its talc-based powders can cause … [Read more...]