Mesothelioma Study Finds Optimal Treatment Approach for Peritoneal Mesothelioma
A study recently published in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology found cytoreductive surgery followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy to be most effective at treating peritoneal mesothelioma.
Caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure, peritoneal mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer that is very resistant to most cancer treatments. The disease exhibits a long latency period of 20 to 50 years after the initial exposure to asbestos, which can complicate both the diagnostic and treatment process. Affecting the lining of the abdomen, symptoms typically include abdominal pain or swelling, change in bowel habits, weight loss, nausea, fatigue and development of lumps under the skin around the abdomen.
Of the 2,000 to 3,000 cases of malignant mesothelioma diagnosed annually, peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for 10 to 20 percent. Because more than 75 percent of mesothelioma cases are pleural in origin (starting in the lungs), the majority of mesothelioma clinical trials involve pleural patients and not peritoneal patients. As such, any study on peritoneal mesothelioma is of great importance since it can be difficult to attain funding to research such a rare condition.
In this study, British researchers analyzed clinicopathological features, operative procedures, early outcomes and survival rates among 17 patients who underwent surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
Upon analyzing the results, the researchers found that “Cytoreductive surgery combined with intraperitoneal chemotherapy appears to be the optimal treatment for selected patients with peritoneal mesothelioma.” The researchers also noted that “Increased familiarity with this condition’s presentation and natural history, and knowledge of available treatment options, will hopefully facilitate treatment of these patients.”
Current treatment options for peritoneal mesothelioma patients include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Treatment with any one therapy has not improved survival rates, but combining therapies have appeared to improve survival rates in select patients.
Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
