There is a small but constant risk that mesothelioma will disappear and be replaced by another malignancy and the risks should therefore be weighed in the therapeutic choices, especially when the second malignancy is expected to have a dismal prognosis.
Mesothelioma is generally treatable with surgery followed by chemotherapy. Survival rates are dependent on a multitude of factors, including patient age, performance status, and stage at diagnosis. The role of chemotherapy remains controversial. Given the generally poor prognosis for this disease, palliative supportive interventions may be prioritized prior to chemotherapy.
Mesothelioma is a rare, fatal disease that is often associated with exposure to asbestos. It is the second-most common cause of cancer after breast cancer.\n
Symptoms such as ipsilateral abdominal pain, ipsilateral or bilateral pleural effusion, weight loss, and ipsilateral coughing up blood or pleural fluid should be remembered in patients with mesothelioma.
The seriousness of mesothelioma has been largely underestimated in the medical community, and some doctors and hospitals have been misinformed about the nature of the disease. However, it is important for the patient to be aware of his or her own prognosis. If the disease progresses too much, or metastasizes too widely, a surgical removal of the diseased pleura (lungs) may not be possible or advisable because of the patient's weakened state and may be a last resort option only. In any event, the disease is often fatal by late-stage, because many doctors have admitted that mesothelioma often can't be cured, rather than being cured at all.
A comprehensive review of mesothelioma research was carried out. A series of randomized controlled trials of pemetrexed-based protocols were undertaken at the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer. Results from a recent paper of these studies were reported. Additional studies were carried out. An update on the latest clinical trials in treatment, biomarker work, and translational research was also reviewed. A series of articles on the epidemiology of pleural mesothelioma were published. The best clinical presentation and staging systems for clinical and staging are discussed. A large series of studies of circulating biomarkers for mesothelioma have been reported.
Olaparib usually treats cancer arising in the lining of the heart; pericardial effusions, usually due to heart disease. However, we are unaware, as yet, whether olaparib treats other kinds of cancer.
Data from a recent study of this trial, combining the clinical and statistical information from the two trials, show that olaparib has a high safety profile, and tolerable toxicity profile, in a large population of people with gBRCAmes+ metastatic breast cancer. Olaparib should also be considered as safe for people with T790M mutations, particularly when given in combination with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.