title: Chemotherapy of malignant diffuse mesothelioma.
abstract: The clinicopathologic features of six pleural and one peritoneal mesothelioma were analyzed. Six patients were treated with either adriamycin or a multiple drug regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (COMF). Of those who received COMF, one obtained a complete response lasting 19 months and two had partial responses lasting 3 and 7 months. Adriamycin was administered to five patients. Two obtained a complete response lasting 19 and 7 months. Three had partial responses lasting 2, 6, and 9 months. Grading of response was often difficult requiring serial review of chest x-rays. Survival from diagnosis ranged from 2 to 39 months, with a median of 9 months. We conclude that adriamycin or COMF treatment may offer worthwhile remissions in mesothelioma and that malignant diffuse mesothelioma is more responsive to chemotherapy than previously realized.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate