Malignant pleural mesothelioma and radiation therapy research suggestions

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare but aggressive form of abnormal growth of cells/tissues from the mesothelial surfaces of the pleura. This is a form of cancer with poor prognosis and is a therapeutic challenge for researchers as it always recurs locally.

Surgery such as pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) or extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) is a well accepted form of therapeutic strategy for MPM.

Radiotherapy is also widely used to treat MPM but this needs more research. Moreover, postoperative radiation therapy is also a matter of further research. Research is also required on the thinking that radiation therapy is palliative therapy for MPM. Further research is also needed on the role of prophylactic radiation therapy as interventionist treatment.

“At present, advances in radiation techniques have allowed the exploration of high-dose radiation therapy after P/D; pleural IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) at a radical dose with intact lung is still under clinical evaluation and should preferably be considered, in our opinion, in the context of clinical trials,” Researchers wrote.

Proton-beam radiation (Proton therapy [PT]) can be used for MPM. You can also work on this phenomenon.

“In the literature only few papers are dedicated to this issue and some address the possible application of proton therapy in the case of MPM, suggesting that the role of PT is promising both from the point of view of the coverage of the tumor and for the sparing of OAR (organs at risk),” Researchers wrote.

Reference:

Maurizio Amichetti, Stefano Lorentini, Sandro Tonoli, Stefano Maria Magrini (2013). Role of new radiation techniques in the treatment of pleural mesothelioma Thoracic Cancer DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.12008