Survival:11.2 months
Toxicity Grade:5
Treatments:Chemotherapy
Country:United States
City/State/Province:Atlanata, GA
Hospital:Emory University School of Medicine
Journal:Link
Date:5/2005
Description:
Patients: This Phase II study involved 33 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Twenty-nine patients were men, and four were women. The median age was 65 years. Twenty-four patients had not received treatment prior to the study while five had surgery and five had chemotherapy. Twenty-three patients had been exposed to asbestos.

Treatment: The treatment consisted of one chemotherapeutic agent liposome-entrapped cisplatin analog: L-NDDP. This drug is a platinum-based agent.

Toxicities: Three patients died during this study, which the authors considered to be a result of the treatment (grade-5 infections or peritonitis). Among the surviving patients, grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities included: leukopenia, granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Non-hematologic grade 1-3 toxicities included infection, fever, dyspnea, and anorexia.

Results: The median survival was 11.2 months for the overall population and 13.2 for the 33 patients who did not die during the study.

Support: Antigenics helped support the study. This company markets L-NDDP (Aroplatin).

Correspondence: Dong M. Shin, M.D.