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Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Offers Safe Treatment for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Offers Safe Treatment for Mesothelioma

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a safe treatment option for patients with mesothelioma.

That is the finding of a study from a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. The researchers analyzed the records of 47 patients between 2009 and 2019. All patients were treated at the University of Pennsylvania Health System

Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer that affects an estimated 2,500 Americans each year. All forms of mesothelioma have been linked to asbestos exposure.

Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) is a rare form of malignant mesothelioma. Up to 15% of malignant mesothelioma cases are DMPM.

DMPM is usually treated with surgery and chemotherapy. This study looked at the role and timing of chemotherapy for patients with DMPM.

Timing of Chemotherapy

The team compared patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, or no chemotherapy.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is chemotherapy that is administered before surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy is administered after surgery.

Twelve patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and eight patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Seven patients only had surgery with no chemotherapy.

The study showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not have any negative effects on survival after surgery. There were also fewer side effects in the group who received chemotherapy before surgery.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may also increase the number of patients eligible for effective chemotherapy.

We need more research to further clarify the timing of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Researchers can also explore how it can be combined with treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Source

Wang X, Katz S, Miura J, Karakousis G, Roshkovan L, Walker S, McNulty S, Ciunci C, Cengel K, Langer CJ, Marmarelis ME. A single-center retrospective cohort study of perioperative systemic chemotherapy in diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. PLoS One. 2022 Sep 29;17(9):e0275187. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275187. PMID: 36174024; PMCID: PMC9521908. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9521908/

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