For decades, the HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) procedure has been delivering extended survival and improved quality of life for patients diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. Now, a systematic review published in the journal World Journal of Surgical Oncology reveals a benefit for pleural mesothelioma patients who undergo a similar procedure called HITOCH, or Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemotherapy.
Studies Show HITOCH Procedure Safe and Effective for Pleural Mesothelioma
Like the HIPEC procedure, HITOCH follows surgical resection of mesothelioma tumors, bathing the site from which the tumors were removed with a heated chemotherapy solution. The difference is that the medication is used in the thoracic cavity, where pleural mesothelioma develops, rather than the abdominal cavity, where peritoneal mesothelioma develops. This direct application of cancer-killing chemicals eliminates the adverse effects of systemic chemotherapy and facilitates the delivery of more concentrated doses.
Researchers from the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Ain Shams University Hospital in Cairo, Egypt, reviewed 21 studies, seven of which provided specific evidence for them to determine whether performing HITOCH after macroscopic complete resection (MCR) led to improved survival for pleural mesothelioma patients. Together, the studies showed a survival benefit that ranged from 13 to 35 months compared to 11 to 22.8 months for patients who did not receive HITOCH. Only one of the seven studies found unfavorable results — that study found survival of 29 months of survival with extrapleural pneumonectomy with radiation compared to 11 months with HITOCH.
Study Author Says HITOCH for Pleural Mesothelioma is Safe and Feasible
Reviewing the findings of their mesothelioma study, author Mohammed Abdel-gayed wrote, “Despite the heterogeneity, small number of cases, and lack of prospective randomized controlled trials, the body of evidence identified in this work demonstrates that HITHOC added to MCR in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma is safe and feasible.” He and his co-authors concluded, “Possible improvement in recurrence-free survival and overall survival warrant investigation in a randomized controlled trial.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, advances in treatment techniques offer hope for extended survival. For information on this and other help available to you, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
