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Milan, Italy: According to a study presented at the ESTRO 38 conference, mesothelioma patients are twice as likely to survive two years or more if they are treated with a high dose of radiation on the affected side of the trunk.
Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive form of cancer that develops in the tissue layers surrounding the lungs. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Patients usually live only a year or two after diagnosis and treatment options are very limited.
The study focused on patients whose cancer could not be completely eliminated by surgery and the researchers say their findings could potentially change the treatment and outcomes for this group of patients.
The study was led by Dr. Marco Trovo, head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University Hospital of Udine, Italy. He said: "There is an urgent need for more effective treatments for mesothelioma, surgery can be given to these patients, but it is often impossible to remove the entire tumor.
"Mesothelioma patients sometimes receive radiation therapy to help control their symptoms, but radiation therapy has evolved significantly in recent years, so we wanted to know if it could now be used to prevent cancer from spreading to tissues. neighbors, bringing improvements to survival. "
The study involved 108 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma treated at the National Cancer Institute in Aviano, Italy, between 2014 and 2018. All had undergone surgery to remove tumor tissue, followed by chemotherapy.
Half of the patients were randomized to receive radical hemi-thoracic radiotherapy, which means that radiation was delivered to the left or right side of their trunk, depending on the location of the tumor. There were 25 treatments giving a total dose of 50 Gy to the left or right side of the trunk, as well as an additional dose of 60 Gy at the precise location of the tumor. The other patients received a more typical form of palliative radiotherapy. This involved five to ten treatments delivering a total dose of 20 to 30 Gy at the precise location of the tumor.
Of the patients who received aggressive radiotherapy, 58% were still alive two years later. Of the patients who received palliative radiotherapy, 28% were still alive two years later.
Approximately 20% of patients receiving radical hemi-thoracic radiotherapy presented with radiation pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung). Other side effects included weakness, nausea and mild inflammation of the esophagus.
Dr. Trovo said, "This research shows that the use of this type of radiotherapy is clearly beneficial for the survival of mesothelioma patients whose tumors can only be partially removed by surgery." We believe this should be considered the new standard of care for these patients. "
He hopes that even greater progress in terms of survival could be achieved by treating patients with radiotherapy followed by targeted immunotherapy (the body's immune system being encouraged to fight cancer cells).
Professor Umberto Ricardi, President of ESTRO and Head of the Department of Oncology at the University of Turin, Italy, who did not participate in the research, said: "C & # This is an extremely positive result that brings good news to patients with this rare and difficult disease.To ensure that these patients benefit from this type of treatment, it is important to refer them to a specialized oncology center that has the right to treat it. adequate expertise and equipment to carefully plan and administer the most effective radiotherapy treatment and manage any side effects that occur. "
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