Biology and management of malignant pleural mesothelioma

摘要: Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive tumour, with a poor prognosis and increasing incidence as result of widespread exposure to asbestos. The results the treatments available are poor. Surgery radiotherapy have limited role in highly selected patients systemic therapy only potential treatment option for majority patients. Despite some definite activity novel antifolates such pemetrexed raltitrexed, results, even combination platinating agents, still modest, median survival approximately one year. better understanding biology makes assessment number targeted agents particularly interesting. Unfortunately, imatinib, gefitinib, erlotinib thalidomide been shown be ineffective unselected Studies anti-angiogenesis ongoing. An improvement knowledge major molecular pathways involved malignant needed order define proper targets this disease.