title: Mesothelioma: treatment and survival of a patient population and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our purpose was to evaluate the survival of patients with pleural and intraperitoneal malignant mesothelioma and, particularly, to estimate the efficacy of chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy and surgery. A review of the literature with respect to these parameters is included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients with malignant mesothelioma (28 with pleural and 7 with intraperitoneal) were enrolled. Twenty-eight patients underwent chemotherapy, 7/35 radiation and 9/35 surgery (2 with pleural and 7 with abdominal disease). Combination chemotherapy included cisplatin-gemcitabine, cisplatin (or carboplatin) with premetrexed and doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2/28 patients with pleural mesothelioma the tumor was excised and in 7 with intraperitoneal disease, surgical therapy was palliative and there was survival prolongation. Radiotherapy was only palliative. Chemotherapy produced a very low response: 2/28 (7.14%) patients achieved a partial response. The median survival was 17 months, 4-year survival, 24.4% and 5-year survival, 12.12%. No serious toxicity was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malignant mesothelioma of the pleura and intraperitoneum is a slow-growing disease which is indicated by the long survival, despite the failure of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.
authors.affiliation: SOLCA Study Group and First Department of Medical Oncology, Errikos Dunant Hospital, Athens, Greece. dr-gps@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: Sotiris K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rigatos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dimitroulis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koutandos
authors.forename: Pinelopi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michalopoulou
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanasiades
authors.forename: Marinos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veslemes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine