title: Treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with cisplatin, mitomycin C and alpha interferon.
abstract: From October 1990 to September 1991, 20 consecutive patients with histologically proven malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), secondary to environmental exposure to asbestos or erionite, were treated with cisplatin, mitomycin C and alpha interferon (cisplatin 50 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 of a 21-day cycle; mitomycin C 10 mg/m2 i.v. day 1 of cycles 1,3 and 5; alpha-2b-interferon 10 x 10(6) units i.m., 4 h prior to cisplatin and 10 x 10(6) units i.v. immediately prior to cisplatin day 1 of each cycle). Eighty-two treatment cycles were administered to 19 evaluable patients. Two patients attained a partial response. Eleven patients had stable disease and 6 had disease progression. Toxicities included interferon-related fever and flu-like symptoms, and vomiting. Actuarial median survival was 15 months. Three patients are alive at 20+, 21+ and 27+ months. We conclude that while the addition of alpha interferon to cisplatin and mitomycin C did not result in an objective response higher than previously reported with the cytotoxic agents alone, the trend towards an improvement in median survival as compared to a well-matched historical group suggests some benefit from the inclusion of interferon.
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Oncology, Evans Memorial Department of Clinical Research, Boston University Medical Center, Mass.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tansan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Emri
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Selçuk
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koç
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hesketh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heeren
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: McCaffrey
authors.forename: Y I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Bariş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D001194:Asbestos; D016685:Mitomycin; D002945:Cisplatin