| Survival: | 10.0 months |
| Toxicity Grade: | 5 |
| Treatments: | Biologic therapy Surgery |
| Drugs: | |
| Country: | Netherlands |
| City/State/Province: | Amsterdam |
| Hospital: | The Netherlands Cancer Institute |
| Journal: | Link |
| Date: | 10/2001 |
| Description: |
| Patients: This Phase I/II study involved 28 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Treatment: The treatment consisted of surgery (pleuropneumonectomy) with intraoperative photodynamic therapy (the drug mTHPC). (Photodynamic therapy is a technique that uses non-thermal lasers to activate light-sensitive drugs.) Toxicity: Three patients died in the perioperative period (the period immediately preceding, during and after a surgical procedure.) One of the three deaths was directly related to photodynamic therapy. Results: The overall median survival time was 10 months. Support: The study was supported in part by Scotia Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. Scotia manufactures the drug, mTHPC. Correspondence: Paul Bass, MD, PhD |