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Mesothelioma

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International Manual of Oncology Practice

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Abstract

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer, linked to asbestos exposure. The median age at diagnosis is 70 years, however it can develop in younger patients. Poor prognostic factors include: pleural disease extent, high lactate dehydrogenase, poor performance status, high platelet count, non-epithelial histology, and old age. The key inactivated driver genes are CDKN2A, NF2 and BAP1. The most common symptom is dyspnea. Pleural effusion is present in most cases of MPM, revealed by a chest X-ray. Other diagnostic procedures include ultrasonography, computed tomgraphy, pleural effusion cytology, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. There are three major histological subtypes of MPM: epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Treatment of MPM includes surgery, radiotherapy and systemic therapy. Thoracoscopy aids in the diagnosis and management of MPM, especially in patients with large pleural effusions. Extrapleural pneumonectomy, pleurectomy and decortication, and palliative limited pleurectomy are the surgical operations used in the treatment of MPM. There is little benefit to adding radiotherapy to other treatments. The most common used systemic therapy regimens include a combination doublet of cisplatin, with an antifolate.

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Abbreviations

(c)Gy:

(Centi) Gray

ACS:

Active symptoms control

BAP-1:

BRCA-1 associated protein-1

CDKN2A/ARF:

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/alternative reading frame

CEA:

Carcinoembryonic antigen

CK:

Cytokeratin

CT:

Computer tomography

DVT:

Deep venous thrombosis

ECOG:

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

EF:

Ejection fraction

FDG-PET:

Fludeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography

FEV1:

Forced expiratory volume in the first second

IL-1β:

Interleukin-1β

IMRT:

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy

MPM:

Malignant pleural mesothelioma

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

MVP:

Mitomycin, vinblastin, cisplatin

NF-2:

Neurofibromatosis type-2

NSCLC:

Non-small cell lung cancer

ORR:

Overall response rate

OS:

Overall survival

P/D:

Pleurectomy and decortication

PPO:

Predicted postoperative

PS:

Performance status

RT:

Radiotherapy

SV-40:

Simian virus 40

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-α

TNM:

Tumor, nodal and metastasis

TTF-1:

Thyroid transcription factor-1

US:

Ultrasound

WT-1:

Wilm’s tumor gene product

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Oncology Department, University General Hospital of Evros, Alexandroupolis, Greece

    Vangelis Karamitrousis

  2. Oncology Clinic, 401 General Military Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Nikolaos Tsoukalas

Authors
  1. Vangelis Karamitrousis
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  2. Nikolaos Tsoukalas
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Oncology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) & Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    Ramon Andrade De Mello

  2. Oncology Department, Henry Dunant Hospital Center, Athens, Greece

    Giannis Mountzios

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    Álvaro A. Tavares

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Karamitrousis, V., Tsoukalas, N. (2019). Mesothelioma. In: De Mello, R., Mountzios, G., Tavares, Á. (eds) International Manual of Oncology Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16245-0_11

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