Genomic profiling of tissue and blood predicts survival outcomes in patients with resected pleural mesothelioma.

Purpose: Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is an aggressive tumor still considered incurable, in part due to the lack of predictive biomarkers. Little is known about the clinical implications of molecular alterations in resectable PM tissues and blood. Here, we characterized genetic alterations to identify prognostic and predictive biomarkers in patients with resected PM.

Laying the Foundation for a Mesothelioma Patient Registry: Development of Data Collection Tools.

Mesothelioma, a cancer of mesothelial cells that line the chest, lungs, heart, and abdomen, is a relatively rare disease. In the United States, approximately 3000 individuals are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually. The primary risk factor for mesothelioma is occupational asbestos exposure which can occur decades prior to disease development, though in approximately 20% of cases, known asbestos exposure is lacking.

Examining the impact of physical function performance in predicting patient outcomes after lung-sparing surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of physical function performance and pulmonary function on patient outcomes after lung-sparing surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of 54 patients with MPM from 2015 to 2020 was performed. The primary objective was to assess whether physical function, as measured by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG), and pulmonary function tests were predictive of postoperative patient outcomes (ventilator days, chest tube days, hospital length of stay).

Nursing and Allied Health Research Priorities in the Care of Patients With Thoracic Malignancies: An International Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: There is currently no evidence of research priorities from nurses and allied health professionals working in the field of thoracic malignancies, which could provide strategic directions for funders, policy makers, and researchers.

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the priorities for lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies research and practice in nurses and allied health professionals.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional web-based international survey conducted through international societies' membership lists.

Posterior Intercostal Lymph Nodes Double Recurrence and Death Risk in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Background: Posterior intercostal lymph nodes, previously undescribed for cancer staging, are part of the lymphatic drainage of the pleural space. This study assessed the impact of posterior intercostal lymph nodes on survival in patients undergoing extended pleurectomy/decortication for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Methods: As part of the thoracic lymphadenectomy, posterior intercostal lymph nodes were accessed by incising the endothoracic fascia at the level of the rib heads.

A Proposed System Toward Standardizing Surgical-Based Treatments for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, From the Joint National Cancer Institute-International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer-Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Taskforce.

This article is a joint effort arising from a task force formed at a National Cancer Institute-International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer-Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Mesothelioma Clinical Trials Planning Meeting, held at the NIH in March 2017. Malignant pleural mesothelioma remains one of the most virulent and recalcitrant malignancies, still considered incurable, and in desperate need of clinical trials in order to make progress for our patients. Although not standard of care, there is compelling evidence that a select subgroup of mesothelioma patients benefit from a surgery-based multimodal approach.

Lymphangitic carcinomatosis: A common radiographic manifestation of local failure following extended pleurectomy/decortication in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Introduction: The lymphangitic carcinomatosis (LC) pattern of metastatic malignancy is associated with a poor prognosis but is currently not well defined in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Here, we report the incidence and prognostic significance of the radiographic development of LC in MPM following extended pleurectomy/decortication (EPD).

Methods: Consecutive patients with biopsy-proven MPM undergoing EPD with intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT) at our institution from 2008 to 2014 were included in this retrospective study.

Survival by Histologic Subtype of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma and the Impact of Surgical Resection on Overall Survival.

Introduction: For the 3 histologic subtypes of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)-epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and biphasic-the magnitude of benefit with surgical management remains underdefined.

Materials And Methods: The National Cancer Data Base was queried for newly diagnosed nonmetastatic MPM with known histology. Patients in each histologic group were dichotomized into those receiving gross macroscopic resection versus lack thereof/no surgery.

A preclinical model to investigate the role of surgically-induced inflammation in tumor responses to intraoperative photodynamic therapy.

Objective: Inflammation is a well-known consequence of surgery. Although surgical debulking of tumor is beneficial to patients, the onset of inflammation in injured tissue may impede the success of adjuvant therapies. One marker for postoperative inflammation is IL-6, which is released as a consequence of surgical injuries.

Facility volume and postoperative outcomes for malignant pleural mesothelioma: A National Cancer Data Base analysis.

Purpose: This study of a large, contemporary national database evaluated postoperative outcomes and overall survival (OS) for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) by facility volume.

Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for newly-diagnosed non-metastatic MPM undergoing definitive surgery (extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) or pleurectomy/decortication (P/D)). Patients were dichotomized into those receiving therapy at a high-volume facility (HVF), defined a priori at the 90th percentile of case volume, with all others categorized as lower-volume facilities (LVFs).

National Cancer Database Report on Pneumonectomy Versus Lung-Sparing Surgery for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Introduction: Controversy exists regarding the optimal surgical technique for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). We evaluated national practice patterns and outcomes of MPM treated with extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) versus lung-sparing extended pleurectomy/decortication (P/D).

Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with newly diagnosed MPM undergoing EPP or P/D.

Immunotherapy and radiation therapy for operable early stage and locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common cause of cancer mortality. Although a significant proportion of patients can be cured with surgery, with or without adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation, a significant proportion of patients will fail, particularly distantly. Over fifty percent of patients present with stage IV disease.

Extended Pleurectomy-Decortication-Based Treatment for Advanced Stage Epithelial Mesothelioma Yielding a Median Survival of Nearly Three Years.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess survival for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), epithelial subtype, utilizing extended pleurectomy-decortication combined with intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT) and adjuvant pemetrexed-based chemotherapy.

Methods: From 2005 to 2013, 90 patients underwent lung-sparing surgery and PDT for MPM. All patients had a preoperative diagnosis of epithelial subtype, of which 17 proved to be of mixed histology.

Pilot and Feasibility Trial Evaluating Immuno-Gene Therapy of Malignant Mesothelioma Using Intrapleural Delivery of Adenovirus-IFNα Combined with Chemotherapy.

Purpose: "In situ vaccination" using immunogene therapy has the ability to induce polyclonal antitumor responses directed by the patient's immune system.

Experimental Design: Patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) received two intrapleural doses of a replication-defective adenoviral vector containing the human IFNα2b gene (Ad.IFN) concomitant with a 14-day course of celecoxib followed by chemotherapy.

Radical pleurectomy and intraoperative photodynamic therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Background: Radical pleurectomy (RP) for mesothelioma is often considered either technically unfeasible or an operation limited to patients who would not tolerate a pneumonectomy. The purpose of this study was to review our experience using RP and intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT) for mesothelioma.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients (42-81 years) underwent RP-PDT.

A trial of intrapleural adenoviral-mediated Interferon-α2b gene transfer for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

New therapeutic strategies are needed for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). We conducted a single-center, open-label, nonrandomized, pilot and feasibility trial using two intrapleural doses of an adenoviral vector encoding human IFN-α (Ad.IFN-α2b).

Photodynamic therapy and the evolution of a lung-sparing surgical treatment for mesothelioma.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a light-based cancer treatment that acts to a depth of several millimeters into tissue. This study reviewed the results of patients who underwent a macroscopic complete resection, by two different surgical techniques, and intraoperative PDT as a treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Methods: From 2004 to 2008, 28 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma underwent macroscopic complete resection, 14 by modified extrapleural pneumonectomy (MEPP) and 14 by radical pleurectomy (RP) and intraoperative PDT.

Phase II trial of pleural photodynamic therapy and surgery for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer with pleural spread.

Purpose: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with pleural spread is incurable, with median survival rates ranging from 6 to 9 months. Surgery alone fails to locally control this disease or extend survival beyond the accepted treatment, palliative chemotherapy.

Methods: We conducted a phase II trial to evaluate the effects on local control and survival of combining surgery with intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT), a light-based cancer treatment, in patients with NSCLC with pleural spread.