For patients diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, the best outcomes and longest survival times are achieved through a combination of surgical removal of the tumor followed by HIPEC, a heated bath of chemotherapy administered directly into the surgical site. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of patients are diagnosed in time for this procedure to be an option. For most, by the time of diagnosis their disease is too far advanced and the tumors too large to be removed. Now French researchers believe that using a chemotherapy spray can counter this problem, allowing more patients to undergo surgery and enjoy longer survival times.
French Researchers Test PIPAC Procedure in Patients with Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Scientists from the University of Lyon published the results of their mesothelioma study in the journal Annals of Surgical Oncology. They found that anticancer drugs converted to a spray version and applied topically successfully shrunk peritoneal mesothelioma tumors previously thought to be unresectable, to the point where they could be completely removed. The technique is known as pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy, or PIPAC, and researchers had previously seen patients benefit from its use.
In studying 26 patients on whom the procedure had been used, the researchers found it led to extended periods of progression-free survival compared to patients who were not eligible for surgery and who did not have the procedure. In most cases, these patients are treated with systemic chemotherapy, which impacts the tumors systemically. By using PIPAC, the tumors are treated both systemically and topically. The result is that tumors shrink enough for surgery to become possible for some.
Surgery Plus PIPAC Offers Greatest Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survival
According to the study’s lead author, Vahan Kepenekian, the median survival experienced by patients who had both chemotherapy and PIPAC was 12 months, but that number jumped substantially for those who were able to have surgery after the two procedures. Of those, Dr. Kepenekian wrote, “For patients with initially non-resectable DMPM [peritoneal mesothelioma], PIPAC is feasible for treatment with neoadjuvant intent and could facilitate complete secondary resection.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, innovative treatment is the greatest cause for hope. For information, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
