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Chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma
Sandra Tomek1, Christian Manegold
1Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Vienna, Austria.
Current Opinion in Oncology
|February 26, 2003
Summary
New chemotherapy drugs show improved response rates for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pemetrexed combined with platinum compounds achieved up to 45% response, offering new hope for this aggressive cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options.
- Conventional chemotherapy offers low response rates, typically below 30%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review outcomes of clinical trials for malignant pleural mesothelioma chemotherapy.
- To present recent phase II and III trial data on novel chemotherapeutic agents.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from previously conducted and recent clinical trials.
- Evaluation of response rates and quality of life improvements.
Main Results:
- Pemetrexed in combination with platinum compounds demonstrated response rates up to 45%.
- Raltitrexed-oxaliplatin showed promising activity.
- Gemcitabine improved quality of life in patients, alone or with cisplatin.
Conclusions:
- Novel chemotherapeutic agents and combinations are more effective than traditional cytotoxic drugs.
- Pemetrexed-cisplatin chemotherapy is a potential future standard for malignant pleural mesothelioma based on phase III results.