Clinicopathologic characteristics of malignant mesotheliomas arising in patients with a history of radiation for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Purpose: Studies have reported an association between pleural diffuse malignant mesothelioma (PDMM) and chest radiation for lymphoma. The clinicopathologic characteristics of malignant mesotheliomas arising in these patients have not been established.

Patients And Methods: We studied 1,618 consecutive patients diagnosed with pleural PDMM from July 1993 to February 2008 and identified patients with a history of radiation for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Circulating and tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells predict survival in human pleural mesothelioma.

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) tumor cells produce copious amounts of myeloid cell-stimulating factors. The current study examined the prognostic significance of circulating monocytes and tumor-infiltrating macrophages on overall survival in patients with MPM.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed 667 patients with MPM who underwent cytoreductive surgery at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts between 1989 and 2009.

Clinical and pathological features of three-year survivors of malignant pleural mesothelioma following extrapleural pneumonectomy.

Objective: Surgery-based multimodality therapy is associated with long-term survival in a significant number of pleural mesothelioma patients. We explored factors associated with 3-year survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy, to help refine patient selection criteria for surgery and other therapies.

Methods: With Institutional Review Board approval, we reviewed records in the International Mesothelioma Program Patient Data Registry to identify all patients, who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma between 1 January 1988 and 31 May 2007.

Characteristics of malignant pleural mesothelioma in women.

Background: The incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is higher in men than in women, likely due to increased occupational asbestos exposure among men. Women also appear to experience better long-term survival. This study evaluates the role of gender in relation to established prognostic factors in MPM.

Prevalence of in vitro chemotherapeutic drug resistance in primary malignant pleural mesothelioma: result in a cohort of 203 resection specimens.

Objective: Optimizing the multimodality treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma depends on many factors including an adequate chemotherapeutic response. Currently, chemotherapy regimens for patients with mesothelioma are empirically selected. In vitro chemotherapy resistance in human mesothelioma has not been reported.