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Photodynamic therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma
1Thoracic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. friedberg@uphs.upenn.edu
Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN
|October 12, 2012
Summary
Surgery combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) shows promising results for malignant pleural mesothelioma. This multimodal approach may improve quality of life and prolong remission in patients with this rare cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Photodynamic Therapy
Background:
- Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare, incurable cancer.
- Surgery offers the best chance for prolonged remission but is investigational.
- Microscopic disease often remains after aggressive surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate lung-sparing surgical procedures combined with intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT).
- To assess improvements in quality of life for mesothelioma patients.
- To investigate the survival outcomes of this combined treatment.
Main Methods:
- Lung-sparing surgical procedures.
- Intraoperative use of photodynamic therapy (PDT).
- Multidisciplinary team collaboration.
Main Results:
- Encouraging survival results observed with surgery and PDT combination.
- Potential for improved quality of life in select patients.
- Highlights the need for collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts.
Conclusions:
- Surgery combined with PDT is a promising multimodal treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma.
- Further multi-institutional trials are needed to validate findings.
- Investigating the tumor-directed immune response is crucial.
