Platinum–based Chemotherapy Drugs Helped Mesothelioma Patients

Mesothelioma News

Early Chemotherapy Benefits Mesothelioma Patients

LONDON, UK — February 24, 2006 — The early use of chemotherapy in mesothelioma patients helps control symptoms and improves their quality of life and survival, a recent British study suggests (Ann Oncol., 2006 Feb; 17(2): 270–5). Mesothelioma is a fatal, aggressive cancer that mainly attacks the membranes surrounding the lungs. It is caused by exposure to asbestos.

Forty–three patients took part in the study. At the start of the study, they either were asymptomatic or their symptoms had been stable for at least four weeks. Twenty–one patients (the “early group”) immediately received chemotherapy consisting of a standard platinum–based drug combination known as MVP (mitomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin or carboplatin). The other group of 22 patients (the “delayed group”) received basic supportive care and then MVP chemotherapy once their symptoms worsened. Symptoms included pain, shortness of breath, labored breathing, coughing, and fatigue. Quality of life was measured using a standard questionnaire assessing these conditions and lung problems. A nurse and oncologist analyzed symptoms. Patients also kept diaries about their visits to doctors and hospitals.

The researchers found:

• » In the early group, symptoms worsened after about 25 weeks (median time), but in the delayed chemotherapy group, symptoms increased after only 11 weeks (median time).
• » Median survival was 14 months for those who received immediate chemotherapy, and 10 months in the delayed chemotherapy group.
• » Sixty–six percent of the early group was alive after one year compared with 36% of the group that received delayed chemotherapy.
• » The quality of life was better in the early chemotherapy group.
• » The number of doctor and hospital visits was about the same for both groups.

Mesothelioma patients generally survive from just over a month to 13.9 months from the date of diagnosis, according to the researchers. Surgery is one mesothelioma treatment option, but many patients are too weak to withstand its rigors. The researchers concluded that the early use of chemotherapy can provide an extended period of symptom control and a survival advantage.

For further details about mesothelioma treatment, see Pleural Mesothelioma: Choosing a Treatment that Is Right for You. Also see Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy and New Drug Research.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please feel free to contact us at Brayton Purcell to learn about your legal choices. We have been handling cases involving mesothelioma and asbestos exposure for over 20 years and can provide support, information, and excellent advocacy.