Chemotherapy in malignant mesothelioma: a review

This review of malignant mesothelioma focuses on the activity of single-agent and combination chemotherapy, a field in which research has thus far been rather unsystematic and sparse. Available results neither accede to any substantial drug activity nor justify the use of standard therapy. Furthermore, even when pooled most findings do not fulfil the basic criteria for a phase II trial. Prospective (multicenter) phase II trials are recommended for the identification of new agents that show antineoplastic activity in malignant mesothelioma. The use of computed tomography scans can assist in the prediction of the extent of disease both before and during treatment. Tumor-biological systems using mice xenografts or cell lines of human mesothelioma should be further developed so as to improve the screening of new agents exhibiting potential antineoplastic activity that is especially directed against mesothelioma.