title: Malignant pleural mesothelioma: update on treatment options with a focus on novel therapies.
abstract: There is evidence that improved treatments of malignant pleural mesothelioma are increasing the quality and quantity of life for patients with mesothelioma. Multimodality treatment programs that combine maximal surgical cytoreduction with novel forms of radiation therapy and more effective chemotherapy combinations may offer significant increases in survival for certain subgroups of patients with mesothelioma. Lung-sparing surgery may allow improvements in pulmonary function after surgery-based multimodality therapy, and potential longer overall survival than that seen with extrapleural pneumonectomy. Experimental treatments provide hope for all patients with mesothelioma, and in the future may be combined with standard therapy in multimodality protocols.
authors: Section of Interventional Pulmonology and Thoracic Oncology, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Division, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 833 West Gates Building, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283, USA.
authors: Andrew R
authors: AR
authors: Haas
authors: Daniel H
authors: DH
authors: Sterman
mesh_terms: D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000628:therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic