Malignant pleural mesothelioma: a new standard of care

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an asbestos-associated cancer that occurs most commonly in the pleural cavities and generally has a poor prognosis. A rise in the incidence of this fatal disease, which, in the past has been considered to be relatively refractory to therapy, is predicted over the next decade. The realisation that patients can benefit from systemic chemotherapy and more aggressive multimodal approaches, including extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in earlier stages of disease now provides the opportunity to offer more effective treatment for this disease.