Hyperthermia combined with intra-thoracic chemotherapy and radiotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma.
BACKGROUND
Prognosis for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) remains poor and such patients require intensive treatment. Few studies have examined hyperthermia for MPM. The present study investigated the feasibility of hyperthermia combined with weekly chemo-radiotherapy for patients with MPM and estimated the efficacy of this regimen.


METHODS
A total of 11 patients (median patient age was 67 and all had pleural effusion) with MPM were enrolled in this study. The treatment regimen comprised of weekly thermo-radiotherapy with intra-thoracic chemotherapy 2-5 times at initiation of treatment. Hyperthermia was performed once per week for approximately 60 min. Hemithorax external radiotherapy was administered once weekly on the same day as hyperthermia and just before thermochemotherapy. Median total radiation dose was 6 Gy (range, 2-10 Gy). Chemotherapy was administered into the thoracic cavity through a tube. Chemotherapeutic agents administered were CDDP for seven patients, carboplatinum (CBDCA) for three patients and both CDDP and CBDCA for one patient. Dose of CDDP was 50 mg/body and dose of CBDCA was 200-300 mg m-2. Response rate and median survival time (MST) and palliative effect were investigated.


RESULTS
Complete response was not achieved in any of the 11 patients. Partial response was achieved in three of 11 patients (27.3%), SD in six patients (54.5%) and PD in two patients (18.2%). There was no correlational relationship between thermal parameters and response. MST was 27.1 months. Pleural fluid decreased in all patients after therapy, while all patients displayed improved performance status and could be discharged from hospital. Patients with partial response had a relatively longer survival time than SD or PD. All patients underwent the complete course of treatment and only one of 11 patients developed grade 4 thrombocytopenia.


CONCLUSIONS
It was therefore concluded that hyperthermia combined with intra-thoracic chemotherapy using cisplatinum or carboplatinum may be tolerable. This approach appears effective and more acceptable for patients with MPM with pleural effusion than other multi-modality therapy.
Xia
Hongqiang
H
Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. chinakakoukyo@hotmail.com
Karasawa
Katsuyuki
K
Hanyu
Nahoko
N
Chang
Ta-Chen
TC
Okamoto
Masahiko
M
Kiguchi
Yurie
Y
Kawakami
Mutsumi
M
Itazawa
Tomoko
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D035423:Thoracic Cavity