Radiation Therapy Can Double Two-Year Survival Rate for Malignant Mesothelioma Malignant Pleural Patients

New research suggests that the survival rate for two years or more for patients with mesothelioma is doubled by radiation treatment.

Presented at the ESTRO 38 conference, research shows that patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma are twice as likely to survive for two years or more with high-dose radiation therapy on the affected side of the trunk.

What is mesothelioma?

The NHS defines it as: "A type of cancer that develops in the lining that covers the outer surface of certain organs of the body. This is usually related to asbestos exposure …[and] mainly affects the lining of the lungs (mesothelioma of the pleura), but can also affect the lining of the belly (peritoneal mesothelioma), heart or testes. "

The need for effective treatments

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. "

Trovo continued, "Patients with mesothelioma sometimes receive radiation therapy to control their symptoms. However, radiotherapy has evolved considerably in recent years. We wanted to know if it could now be used to prevent cancer from spreading to nearby tissues, hopefully improving survival. "

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, added, "This result extremely positive brings good news to patients with this rare and difficult disease. to treat cancer. For these patients to benefit from this type of treatment, it is important to refer them to a specialized cancer center with the appropriate skills and equipment to carefully plan and administer the most effective radiotherapy treatment and manage any adverse effects. "