Systemic approach to malignant pleural mesothelioma: what news of chemotherapy, targeted agents and immunotherapy?
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer with a cause-effect relationship to asbestos exposure. The prognosis is poor and chemotherapy seems the best treatment option. In the last two decades a deeper understanding of mesothelioma carcinogenesis and invasiveness mechanisms has prompted research efforts to test new agents in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, but the results have been modest. Attractive preclinical data disappointed in subsequent experimental phases. Other promising agents failed to improve patient outcomes due to high toxicity. Interesting suggestions have come from preliminary data on immunotherapy. Several trials are ongoing and the results are eagerly awaited. The aim of this review is to discuss the most recent news on systemic therapy for advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Diego
D
Signorelli
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Marianna
M
Macerelli
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Claudia
C
Proto
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Milena
M
Vitali
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Maria Silvia
MS
Cona
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Francesco
F
Agustoni
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Nicoletta
N
Zilembo
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Marco
M
Platania
Department of Preventive and Predictive Medicine, Fondazione IRCSS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Annalisa
A
Trama
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Rosaria
R
Gallucci
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Monica
M
Ganzinelli
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Pelosi
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Ugo
U
Pastorino
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Filippo
F
de Braud
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Marina Chiara
MC
Garassino
Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Lo Russo
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000090204:Mesothelin; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D061988:Proteasome Inhibitors; D001194:Asbestos; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000090204:Mesothelin