Randomized Trials of Systemic Medically-treated Malignant Mesothelioma: A Systematic Review

Anticancer Res. 2015 May;35(5):2493-501.

Abstract

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare but aggressive malignancy mainly localized to the pleura. Malignant mesothelioma grows highly invasive into surrounding tissue and has a low tendency to metastasize. The median overall survival (OS) of locally advanced or metastatic disease without treatment is 4-13 months but, during recent years, improvement in survival has been achieved since treatment for patients with mesothelioma has improved with better palliative care, systemic medical treatment, surgery and improved diagnostics methods. The present review aims at describing available data from randomized trials considering systemic medical treatment for this patient category.

Keywords: Malignant mesothelioma; randomized trials; review.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols* / administration & dosage
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mesothelioma / drug therapy*
  • Mesothelioma / pathology
  • Mesothelioma, Malignant
  • Palliative Care
  • Pleural Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pleural Neoplasms / pathology
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic