Chemotherapy and radiotherapy for mesothelioma

Recent Results Cancer Res. 2011:189:127-47. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-10862-4_8.

Abstract

Previously considered to be rare, malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive tumor with an increasing incidence linked to asbestos exposure, its main etiological factor. MPM is also a very important issue because patients have usually a short survival (median <12 months) despite current treatments. Moreover an optimal treatment for MPM is not defined yet, even if ERS/ESTS experts recently provided clear and up-to-date guidelines on MPM management. These guidelines on chemotherapy and radiotherapy for mesothelioma, as well as new therapeutic developments, are presented in this chapter.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Asbestos / toxicity
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Gefitinib
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Mesothelioma / chemically induced
  • Mesothelioma / radiotherapy
  • Mesothelioma / therapy*
  • Pleural Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Pleural Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Pleural Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Quinazolines / therapeutic use
  • Ribonucleases / therapeutic use
  • Thalidomide / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Quinazolines
  • Asbestos
  • Thalidomide
  • Ribonucleases
  • Gefitinib
  • ranpirnase