title: Carboplatin and gemcitabine chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma: a phase II study of the GSTPV.
abstract: This study describes the therapeutic effect of carboplatin and gemcitabine in combination for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Twenty patients (14 males and 6 females) with a median age of 53 years entered the study. These patients had histologically proven MPM with no previous chemo- and/or radiotherapy and malignancies. A total of 91 cycles of treatment were administered to 20 patients with a median of 4 cycles per patient. A partial response was observed in 4 out of 20 patients (20%, 95% confidence interval: 6-43%). No complete responses were observed. Only 5 patients (25%) had progressive disease. The response duration ranged form 4+ and 21 months.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2 35218 Padova Italy. jhqa-018@mailbox.dsnet.it
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aversa
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Favaretto