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Published on: December 21, 2019
Advanced diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma responding to palliative chemotherapy
Koji Nakashima1, Haruhiko Inatsu2, Kazuo Kitamura2
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki Hospital, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan. kojinaka@fc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp.
Systemic chemotherapy, including pemetrexed, cisplatin, gemcitabine, vinorelbine, and CPT-11, offered prolonged survival and improved quality of life for a patient with advanced malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Despite tumor progression, chemotherapy demonstrated palliative benefits.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Oncology
- Mesothelioma Research
Background:
- Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer.
- Treatment options for advanced stages are limited, often focusing on palliative care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of multi-line systemic chemotherapy in prolonging survival and improving quality of life for a patient with advanced malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.
Main Methods:
- A 64-year-old male patient with advanced malignant peritoneal mesothelioma underwent laparoscopic biopsy for diagnosis.
- The patient received sequential systemic chemotherapy regimens: first-line (pemetrexed plus cisplatin), second-line (gemcitabine plus vinorelbine), and third-line (CPT-11).
Main Results:
- Chemotherapy was administered for a total of 21 months across three lines.
- Despite eventual tumor progression and death 24 months after treatment initiation, chemotherapy demonstrated palliative benefits.
- The treatment regimen appeared to prolong survival and enhance the patient's quality of life.
Conclusions:
- Systemic chemotherapy can offer survival benefits and improve quality of life in select patients with advanced malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, even in the palliative setting.
- Multi-line chemotherapy regimens should be considered for managing advanced malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.
