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Insights from European Mesothelioma Databases

ByHolly Zink
Insights from European Mesothelioma Databases

An international team of researchers analyzed data from two mesothelioma databases. They discovered trends about mesothelioma in Europe. These trends can help doctors make better treatment decisions for their patients.

Improving Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is both rare and aggressive. It is caused by exposure to a toxic mineral called asbestos. Asbestos is a fiber-like material that can be used in building and manufacturing materials.

The two most common types of mesothelioma are pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma is found in the lining of the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma grows in the abdominal cavity. There are about 2,000 cases of pleural mesothelioma and 1,000 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma each year.

There are also three different cell types of mesothelioma. About half of mesotheliomas are epithelioid and have the best prognosis. Ten percent of mesotheliomas are sarcomatoid and usually have the worst prognosis. The rest of mesothelioma cases are a mix of both cell types.

When a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, their doctor will try to figure out what cell type they have before figuring out a treatment plan. The treatment plan usually includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Lessons Learned from European Data Analysis

For this study, researchers looked at two mesothelioma databases in European populations. They used the European Thoracic Oncology Platform Mesoscape and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons databases. They wanted to learn more about the characteristics of mesothelioma, how it spreads, and how it is treated.

The researchers found that most patients had the epithelioid cell type of mesothelioma. Many were in the advanced stages of the disease.

The researchers followed up with a group of patients for an average of about four years and found that the average survival time was about 17 months. They also discovered that certain factors were associated with longer survival times. These included being a woman, having the epithelioid subtype, and being in a lower stage of the disease.

Patients who received a combination of treatments, including surgery, tended to have longer survival times compared to those who received palliative care. This was especially true for patients who had surgery to remove the tumor completely.

This study shares important information about the characteristics and treatment options for mesothelioma, and it can help doctors make better decisions for their patients.

Source

Opitz I, Bille A, Dafni U, et al. European Epidemiology of Pleural Mesothelioma – Real-life data from a joint analysis of the Mesoscape database of the European Thoracic Oncology Platform and the European Society of Thoracic Surgery Mesothelioma database [published online ahead of print, 2023 Jun 23]. J Thorac Oncol. 2023;S1556-0864(23)00632-9. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2023.06.011. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37356802/

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