Mesothelioma Types

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2005 Apr 2;149(14):747-53.

Development in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma.

Bass P, Burgers JA.

Nederlands Kanker Instituut-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Ziekenhuis, afd Thorax-oncologie, Amsterdam.

For many years there has been a search for an effective treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Surgery is of limited applicability and is reserved for special cases, in which it is combined with radiation therapy. In the previous century, many cytostatic agents have been tested, alone or in combination, but the response was limited, the median survival time was unchanged and the toxicity was high. New drugs, including the new antifolates, are being used much more often in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma in combination with a platinum derivative. Cytostatics such as pemetrexed, an antifolate, and to a lesser extent raltitrexed, have shown good response rates and increased survival in phase III studies, but the survival benefit evaporates within 2 years. Inhibitors of angiogenesis and of epidermal growth factor are being tested, but they have shown only limited activity until now. The current studies focus on the use of chemotherapy and biological agents as part of a more complex treatment schedule.

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This website is sponsored by Jonathan David* of The David Law Firm. The David Law Firm is located in The Woodlands, Texas (Greater Houston Area) and can be reached toll free at 1-800-998-9729 for more information on mesothelioma. Jonathan David is not a medical doctor. The information on these pages is for the education of mesothelioma patients and their families regarding potential medical and legal options. Patients are advised to consult with a medical doctor. * Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas.