Radiation May Prevent Metastases at Thoracoscopy Sites in Mesothelioma Patients
I enjoyed the review of malignant mesothelioma by Drs. Sean Grondin and David J. Sugarbaker that appeared in the July 1999 issue of oncology. On page 920, the authors mention that mesothelioma will recur locally at sites of pleuroscopy or thoracoscopy. From a radiation therapy standpoint, it is worth bringing to the readers’ attention that a small, prospective trial published by Boutin et al in Chest (108[3]:754-758, 1995) showed that radiotherapy to these sites prevents entry tract metastases. A radiation dose of 21 Gy in three fractions given 10 to 15 days after thoracoscopy decreased the incidence of entry tract metastases from 40% to 0%. This regimen should be considered for patients who will not receive a more definitive surgical procedure and adjuvant radiotherapy.
I enjoyed the review of malignant mesothelioma by Drs. Sean Grondin and David J. Sugarbaker that appeared in the July 1999 issue of oncology. On page 920, the authors mention that mesothelioma will recur locally at sites of pleuroscopy or thoracoscopy. From a radiation therapy standpoint, it is worth bringing to the readers attention that a small, prospective trial published by Boutin et al in Chest (108[3]:754-758, 1995) showed that radiotherapy to these sites prevents entry tract metastases. A radiation dose of 21 Gy in three fractions given 10 to 15 days after thoracoscopy decreased the incidence of entry tract metastases from 40% to 0%. This regimen should be considered for patients who will not receive a more definitive surgical procedure and adjuvant radiotherapy.
VOLKER W. STIEBER, MD
FellowAdvanced Radiation OncologyMayo ClinicJacksonville, Florida
Eric Ko on Combining Radiation Therapy With Immunotherapy to Treat Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
September 18th 2018ONCOLOGY spoke with Eric Ko, MD, PhD, who recently published a review article with his colleagues on strategies for combining radiation therapy with immunotherapy for the treatment of non–small-cell lung cancer.
Adjuvant Pembrolizumab Earns European Approval for High-Risk NSCLC
October 26th 2023Data from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-091 trial supported the European Commission’s approval of pembrolizumab as an adjuvant treatment for adults with non–small cell lung cancer at high risk of recurrence following complete resection and platinum-based chemotherapy.
Pembrolizumab/Chemo Appears to Improve Survival in Advanced Mesothelioma
March 13th 2023The final analysis of the phase 2/3 CCTG IND.227/KEYNOTE-483 trial identifies a statistically significant survival benefit with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone in the first-line setting for patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma.
