Clinical analysis of 27 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma treated at our institution

Objective. We reviewed the clinical outcomes of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) treated at our institution. Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 27 patients with MPM treated at our institution in the period from April 2005 to April 2013. Results. The patient characteristics were as follows: male/female = 26/1; age = 35-76 years (median, 62); histology: epithelioid/biphasic/sarcomatoid = 23/2/2; location, right/left = 14/13; clinical stage (IMIG) IA/IB/II/III/IV = 3/5/4/9/6. The initial treatment was surgery/ chemotherapy/best supportive care in 15/11/1 cases, including 14 patients treated with extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and one patient treated with tumor resection. After EPP, three patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, five received hemithoracic radiotherapy (H-RT) and two received both. The median survival time (MST) of all patients was 21.8 months overall, compared to 30.7 months in the patients who received EPP. The patients who received H-RT after EPP demonstrated a significantly longer MST than those who did not (37.3 months vs. 12.0 months; p = 0.04). Conclusions. The use of H-RT after EPP is associated with a better prognosis.