title: Advances in the management of malignant mesothelioma.
abstract: Malignant mesotheliomas are very aggressive tumors that originate from mesothelial cells, which form the serosal lining of the pleura, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities. Finding effective chemotherapeutic treatment for malignant mesothelioma is a challenge. There is no standard treatment because this tumor is relatively resistant to therapy. A resurgence of interest has been expressed in novel therapies and conventional treatments used in different ways. Several treatment modalities have been studied, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. Chemotherapy can be administered systemically or directly into the pleura. This review presents the results of the most recent trials and highlights the most promising advances in the battle against this aggressive disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Cancer Pavilion, 5150 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
authors.forename: Mazen Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: Marissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mapa
authors.forename: Hyung Ju C
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Dong M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome