A recent study addressing possible approaches to the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the lungs known as the pleura, has indicated that the use of cisplatin in conjunction with raltitrexed can improve the median survival rate of pleural mesothelioma sufferers when compared to treatment using cisplatin alone.
Mesothelioma is generally caused by long-term exposure to asbestos, and it is a cancer that can take decades to develop but is still very aggressive. Although this particular study focused on pleural mesothelioma, there are several different types of mesothelioma, including peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdomen, and pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the heart.
Experts attending a symposium at the 35th congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), in Milan, Italy, discussed the need for new and effective treatments for mesothelioma, such as the combination of cisplatin and raltitrexed, as the incidence rates of mesothelioma are projected to double in many countries over the next twenty years.
In relation to the study, Professor of Thoracic Oncology at Ghent University in Belgium JP van Meerbeeck has commented that mesothelioma “is a hard to treat, rare cancer with a poor prognosis. New treatment options such as a combination of cisplatin and raltitrexed, which improve patient outcomes with no detrimental effect on quality of life as compared to cisplatin alone are a welcome addition to our therapeutic portfolio.”
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