title: Clinical characteristics, treatment and survival outcomes in malignant mesothelioma: eighteen years' experience in Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an insidious tumor with poor prognosis, arising from mesothelial surfaces such as pleura, peritoneum and pericardium. We here aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and radiological features of patients with MM followed in our center as well as their survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 228 patients (131 male, 97 female) who were followed up in our institution between 1993 and 2010 with the diagnosis of MM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 59.1 years in men and 58.7 years in women and the sex ratio was 1.4:1 in favor of males. Environmental asbestos exposure was present in 86% of the patients for a mean duration of 40±20 years (range: 3-70). Pleural effusion and thoracic/abdominal pain were the most common presenting signs and symptoms (70.2% and 57.8%, respectively). One hundred-thirteen (66%) patients were treated with platinum-based combination chemotherapy (PBCT) plus supportive care (SC) and 67 (34%) patients received SC alone. The median follow-up time was 10.0 months. The median overall survival was significantly improved with PBCT plus SC compared to SC alone (11.4 vs. 5.1 months; p=0.005). The 6, 12, 18, and 24-month survival rates were significantly improved with PBCT plus SC compared to SC alone (72%, 43%, 19%, and 2% vs. 49%, 31%, 11%, and 1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survival of patients with MM improved in patients treated with PBCT. The survival advantage continued 12- and 24-month after the initial time of combination chemotherapy.
authors: Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey. serdar_berk@mynet.com
authors: Serdar
authors: S
authors: Berk
authors: Omer Tamer
authors: OT
authors: Dogan
authors: Saadettin
authors: S
authors: Kilickap
authors: Kursat
authors: K
authors: Epozturk
authors: Ibrahim
authors: I
authors: Akkurt
authors: Zehra
authors: Z
authors: Seyfikli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010166:Palliative Care; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds