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Thoracic Surgery Clinics Nov 2020Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive, deadly cancer often requiring input from multiple medical disciplines. Treatment has evolved over the last several... (Review)
Review
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive, deadly cancer often requiring input from multiple medical disciplines. Treatment has evolved over the last several decades with increasing evidence and ongoing advances in chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy; however, no standard treatment regimen has yet been defined. Regardless of the overall strategy, surgery remains the foundation of treatment to remove macroscopic disease, and preservation of lung parenchyma via extended pleurectomy/decortication may be preferable to extrapleural pneumonectomy.
Topics: Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Combined Modality Therapy; Humans; Immunotherapy; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Pleura; Pleural Neoplasms; Pneumonectomy; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Thoracic Surgical Procedures; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33012435
DOI: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2020.08.002 -
Current Drug Targets 2020Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a remarkably aggressive thoracic malignancy with a limited survival of only 5-12 months. However, MPM still remains unresponsive... (Review)
Review
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a remarkably aggressive thoracic malignancy with a limited survival of only 5-12 months. However, MPM still remains unresponsive to conventional standards of treatment, including pleurectomy and decortication, extrapleural pneumonectomy for resectable disease with or without chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. The mechanism of carcinogenesis has not been fully elucidated, although approximately 80% of cases can still be linked to asbestos exposure. The tumor immune microenvironment (TME) has been proven to play an important role in MPM pathogenesis and treatment outcomes. Several molecular pathways have been implicated in the MPM tumor microenvironment, such as angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and stromal processes. Immunotherapy has already shown promising results in other thoracic solid tumors, such as non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, immunotherapy has shown less convincing results in MPM than in melanoma and NSCLC. A multicenter, randomized trial (DETERMINE) proved that immune checkpoint inhibition using tremelimumab, an anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyteassociated protein 4 (CTLA-4) antibody, failed to improve median overall survival. Therefore, it is important to explore the relationship between the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy. Here, we review the heterogeneity of the TME and the progress in the understanding of the immune microenvironment and immunotherapy in MPM to explore the mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy.
Topics: Animals; B7-H1 Antigen; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts; Dendritic Cells; Humans; Immunotherapy; Killer Cells, Natural; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells; T-Lymphocytes; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumor-Associated Macrophages
PubMed: 32682370
DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666200719011234 -
Cancers Oct 2022Stage IVa thymoma is a rare disease without a standard of care. Subtotal pleurectomy and HITHOC introduced in highly selected patients may provide interesting oncologic...
INTRODUCTION
Stage IVa thymoma is a rare disease without a standard of care. Subtotal pleurectomy and HITHOC introduced in highly selected patients may provide interesting oncologic results. The purpose of this study was to distinguish de novo stage IVa tumors (DNT) from distant relapse (DR) with respect to post-operative and long-term outcomes to provide the procedure efficacy.
METHODS
From July 1997-December 2021, 40 patients with IVa pleural involvement were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical procedure was subtotal pleurectomy and HITHOC (cisplatin 50 mg/m, mitomycin 25 mg/m, 42 °C, 90 min). The post-operative outcome, disease-free interval (DFI) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.
RESULTS
Mean age was 52 ± 12 years. B2 and B3 thymomas were preponderant (27; 67.5%). The median number of pleural nodes were nine (4-81) vs. five (1-36); = 0.004 * in DNT and DR, respectively. Hospital mortality rate was 2.5%. There were four specific HITHOC complications (10%). DFI were 49 and 85 months ( = 0.02 *), OS were 94 and 118 months (NS), in DNT and DR, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Subtotal pleurectomy with HITHOC in IVa offers satisfying results in highly selected patients, for both DNT and DR. Due to the disease rarity, multicentric studies are needed to define HITHOC as a standard of care.
PubMed: 36291819
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14205035 -
Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular... Dec 2022The best treatment strategy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax is controversial and varies widely in practice. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
The best treatment strategy for primary spontaneous pneumothorax is controversial and varies widely in practice.
METHODS
Literatures were searched from databases till 24 August 2021. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the outcomes of various treatments with the following endpoints: recurrence rate, postoperative chest tube duration, postoperative air leakage duration, length of hospital stay, and complications rate.
RESULTS
In all, 7210 patients of 20 randomized controlled trials and 17 cohort studies were included. Surgery had a significantly lower recurrence rate compared to other treatments. Besides, bullectomy (BT) combined with chemical pleurodesis (CP), mechanical pleurodesis, or staple line coverage (SLC) can reduce the recurrence rate compared to BT alone, but none of them were statistically significant. In terms of reducing chest tube duration, BT with tubular Neoveil outperformed BT + pleural abrasion (mean difference [MD], 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.5 [-4.63, -0.35]) and BT + apical pleurectomy (MD, 95% CI: -2.72 [-5.16, -0.27]).
CONCLUSIONS
Surgical methods were superior to manual aspiration (MA), chest tube drainage (CTD), and conservative treatment in terms of recurrence reduction. There was no significant difference between MA and CTD in reducing the recurrence rate. Among surgical methods, CP is more effective than mechanical pleurodesis and SLC among the additional procedures based on BT.
Topics: Humans; Pneumothorax; Network Meta-Analysis; Bayes Theorem; Treatment Outcome; Recurrence; Pleurodesis; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
PubMed: 36002271
DOI: 10.5761/atcs.oa.22-00113 -
Northern Clinics of Istanbul 2023The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of hemithoracic radiotherapy implemented with helical tomotherapy (HTT) in malignant pleural...
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of hemithoracic radiotherapy implemented with helical tomotherapy (HTT) in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients.
METHODS
Between October 2018 and December 2020, data from 11 MPM patients who received trimodality therapy, including lung-sparing surgery (pleurectomy-decortication, P/D), adjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin+ pemetrexed), and radiotherapy, were retrospectively reviewed. HTT was used to deliver a total of 30 Gy, 50-54 Gy or 59.4-60 Gy to R2 disease with 1.8-2 Gy daily doses. Descriptive data are presented in number (percentage) or median (minimum- maximum). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival data. In patients with toxicities, the risk organ doses were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test.
RESULTS
The median follow-up was 20.5 (12-30) months. Two-year local control, disease-free, and overall survival rates were 48.5%, 49%, and 77.9%, respectively. The median prescribed dose for planning target volume (PTV) was 50.4±8.7 (30-60) Gy. Mean dose (D) of total lung was 19.9±6 (10.4-26) Gy; the V20 (%) of ipsilateral and contralateral lungs were 89.±11.2 (62.7-100) and 0.7±2.1 (0.49-5.9), respectively. Esophageal D and maximum doses (D) were found as 21.7±8.4 (7.4-34) and 53.1±10.4 (25.4-64.4) Gy, respectively. V30 (%) and Dmean of heart were 22.3%±13.4% (3.9-47) and 21±5.7 (10.8-29.3) Gy, respectively. D of medulla spinalis (MS) was 38.6± 1.3 (13.7-48) Gy. Grade 1-2 radiation pneumonitis (RP) developed in 4 (36.4%) and esophagitis in 2 (18.2%) patients. RP was found to be associated with MS and esophageal doses (p<0.05). Myelitis was diagnosed in 1 (9.1%) patient (MS D: 29 Gy).
CONCLUSION
HTT can be used as part of trimodality therapy for MPM patients with acceptable toxicities. MS and esophageal doses should be considered for radiation pneumonitis risk, and new dose constraints for these organs should be defined.
PubMed: 37181055
DOI: 10.14744/nci.2023.53896 -
Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic... Oct 2021Impact of pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) on quality of life (QOL) is not widely reported. We investigated QOL and lung function after P/D.
OBJECTIVES
Impact of pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) on quality of life (QOL) is not widely reported. We investigated QOL and lung function after P/D.
METHODS
A single-centre, retrospective cohort study was performed among patients who underwent P/D for malignant mesothelioma between June 2014 and June 2018 at Hyogo College of Medicine. Data at 4 points before and 3, 6 and 12 months on QOL and lung function were evaluated with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and pulmonary function tests.
RESULTS
Forty-five out of 65 patients completed SF-36. Physical function and role physical decreased from 78 to 65 and 69 to 41 and did not recover. Body pain decreased from 74 to 52. It increased to 62 at 12 months but was lower than before. General health perceptions, vitality and social function decreased from 56 to 49, 50 to 47 and 63 to 50, respectively, but returned to baseline. Role emotional decreased from 75 to 54, then once increased to 63, but decreased again to 58. Mental health tended to improve from 58 to 70. Thirty-eight patients out of 45 completed pulmonary function tests. Forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s decreased from 98% to 61% and 93% to 67% and did not increase. Right-sided surgery or complications was the risk factors of poor lung function but no significant risk factors in QOL.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that P/D had an impact on QOL. Despite the lack of recovery in lung function QOL in mental aspects tended to improve, suggesting that pulmonary function tests alone are limited in assessing QOL.
Topics: Humans; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Pleural Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33963844
DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivab139 -
Cureus Mar 2024The presented case describes a 56-year-old male with adult-onset Still's disease, exhibiting polyserositis in 2019, who underwent pleurectomy and pericardiectomy....
The presented case describes a 56-year-old male with adult-onset Still's disease, exhibiting polyserositis in 2019, who underwent pleurectomy and pericardiectomy. Despite treatment with tocilizumab and methylprednisolone, the patient developed deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in 2022, managed with apixaban. A contrast-enhanced chest tomography revealed no recurrent thromboembolic events. Over a year, the patient experienced progressive dyspnea, correlating with signs of constriction on transthoracic echocardiogram. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed cardiac herniation, prompting pericardiectomy. Surgery led to complete resolution of anatomical alterations without heart failure or new abnormalities, although exertional dyspnea persists post-discharge. The pathophysiology of cardiac herniation involves complex mechanisms influenced by congenital or acquired factors, resulting in abnormal heart protrusion. Medical literature highlights varied presentations, with acute cases typically post-thoracic surgeries, while late-onset cases are less common. Imaging modalities like computed tomography (CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) aid diagnosis, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Despite challenges posed by its rarity, timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial for favourable outcomes, demonstrating the importance of considering this entity in clinical practice.
PubMed: 38633964
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56339 -
Indian Journal of Surgical Oncology Jun 2023Pleural spread occurs in pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) in less than 10% of the patients and is treated by thoracic cytoreductive surgery with or without hyperthermic...
Pleural spread occurs in pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) in less than 10% of the patients and is treated by thoracic cytoreductive surgery with or without hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITOC). It is performed both for symptom palliation and disease control and includes pleurectomy and decortication and wedge and segmental lung resections. So far, only unilateral spread treated with a thoracic cytoreductive surgery (CRS) has been reported in literature. We report a patient with bilateral thoracic PMP following a complete abdominal CRS and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) who was treated with bilateral staged thoracic CRS and subsequently had a 4th CRS for abdominal disease. The staged procedure was performed as she was symptomatic due to the thoracic disease and there was disease on all pleural surfaces. HITOC was not performed. Both procedures were uneventful with no major morbidity. The patient is currently disease free nearly 84 months after the first abdominal CRS and 60 months after the second thoracic CRS. Thus, an aggressive CRS in the thorax in patients with PMP can result in a prolongation of survival while preserving the quality of life if the abdominal disease is controlled. A thorough understanding of the disease biology and surgical expertise are both essential for selecting the right patients for these complex procedures and achieving good short- and long-term outcomes.
PubMed: 37359933
DOI: 10.1007/s13193-023-01745-5 -
Thoracic Cancer Oct 2022Surgery is part of a multimodal therapeutic approach to malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) although its real beneficial effect is still controversial. The optimal...
Surgery is part of a multimodal therapeutic approach to malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) although its real beneficial effect is still controversial. The optimal precise sequence of treatments within the trimodality is unclear, and should be decided upon a multidisciplinary consensus for each individual patient. Here, we analyzed the perioperative data of 19 MPM patients who underwent extended pleurectomy/decortication (EPD) with curative intent. The mean age at diagnosis was 67 years; 11 males and eight females. Ten patients were diagnosed with MPM via medical thoracoscopy (MT), and nine via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The vast majority of cases harbored epitheliod forms. We compared neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) followed by surgery (11 cases) versus surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT, 8 cases) within a 3-year period. All patients had extended pleurectomy/decortication and none had an extended pneumonectomy. Analysis of survival curves suggested that the short-term outcomes are better with upfront EDP followed by ACT if compared to EDP preceded by NCT. Although limited, the data highlighted the safety and feasibility of EPD, with manageable postoperative complications and no major burden for the patients.
Topics: Aged; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Pleural Neoplasms; Pneumonectomy; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36052736
DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.14627 -
Respiration; International Review of... 2021Lung-sparing cytoreductive surgery by extended pleurectomy and decortication (EPD) in combination with hyperthermic intrathoracic chemoperfusion (HITOC) forms a...
BACKGROUND
Lung-sparing cytoreductive surgery by extended pleurectomy and decortication (EPD) in combination with hyperthermic intrathoracic chemoperfusion (HITOC) forms a promising treatment strategy for malignant pleural mesothelioma and recurrent pleural thymic malignancies.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to scrutinize the surgical procedure and perioperative patient management with emphasis on perioperative morbidity and local tumor control.
METHODS
In 2014, a standardized EPD and HITOC procedure was implemented at the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg. This retrospective analysis included clinical data of consecutive patients with pleural mesothelioma and pleural metastasized malignancies treated by EPD and HITOC. The surgical procedure, perioperative management, lung function data, and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed.
RESULTS
In the time range between April 2, 2014 and July 2018, 76 patients with pleural malignancies have been treated with EPD and HITOC, and were analyzed retrospectively. It included 61 patients with pleural mesothelioma and 15 patients with pleural metastases of thymic malignancies (12), non-small cell lung cancer (1), colorectal carcinoma (1), and sarcoma (1). Perioperative morbidity following EPD and HITOC treatments represented 23.7% of overall malignancies, while 30- and 90-day mortality were 0 and 1.3%, respectively. Median PFS lasted 18.4 months for mesothelioma and 72.2 months for thymic malignancies.
CONCLUSION
Combining EPD with HITOC can be performed in patients with either pleural mesothelioma or pleural metastases resulting in low perioperative morbidity and mortality as well as remarkable local tumor control.
Topics: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Combined Modality Therapy; Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures; Humans; Hyperthermia, Induced; Lung Neoplasms; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Pleural Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Thoracic Surgery; Thymus Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34384085
DOI: 10.1159/000517334