Sequential Chemotherapy for Pleural Mesothelioma Patients Achieves Good Disease Control
Italian researchers have reported that sequential chemotherapy with Platinol (cisplatin) and Gemzar (gemcitabine) followed by Novantrone (mitoxantrone), methotrexate and Mutamycin (mitomycin) is an active regimen with good disease control for patients with un-resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma.
The details of this study appeared in the May 1, 2006, issue of Lung Cancer. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by chronic exposure to asbestos. Patients with this disease often have a decreased quality of life from symptoms caused by the cancer, such as shortness of breath, cough, pain, fatigue, and the inability to eat. This type of cancer is resistant to most therapies, which consist of surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. Furthermore, most people do not learn they have malignant pleural mesothelioma until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage when treatment with surgery or radiation is not an option. Therefore, identification of a chemotherapy regimen that can improve quality of life or survival is essential for improving care in this population. via
Filed under Cancer, Health, Mesothelioma
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