ABSTRACT
We report on clinical features of 113 cases of pathologically confirmed Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, observed in Genoa (Italy) between 1979 and 1985. Overall median survival was 10 months. Among the pretreatment variables studied (age, sex, asbestos exposure, pathological type, chest pain and dyspnea at the time of diagnosis), the only one of prognostic value in the univariate analysis was the histological subtype: median survivals were 12, 7 and 4 months for the patients in the epithelial, mixed, and fibrosarcomatous groups, respectively (p = 0.0012). A multivariate analysis confirmed the independent predictive power of the histotype (p = 0.0022). A review of literature data concerning prognostic factors in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma is presented.
Subject(s)
Mesothelioma/mortality , Pleural Neoplasms/mortality , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Asbestos/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Mesothelioma/pathology , Mesothelioma/therapy , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Pleural Neoplasms/pathology , Pleural Neoplasms/therapy , Prognosis , Sex Factors , Survival AnalysisABSTRACT
Effusion recurrence is a major problem in the palliative care of patients with disseminated cancer. Thirty-two patients with recurrent malignant pleural effusions were treated with intracavitary natural beta-interferon at increasing doses (5-20 million units) for a maximum of three administrations. Among 29 evaluable patients, 11 showed complete (27.6%) or partial (10.3%) remission. No difference in response rate was observed according to sex, age, and histological type. All the responses were observed in patients with an effusion volume less than 1,000 ml (11/16; 68.8%). No side effect was observed. In conclusion, intrapleural beta-interferon is promising as a palliative in the treatment of recurrent malignant effusions.
