Mesothelioma Treatment Guidelines: Prognosis and survival for mesothelioma

What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma starts in the cells of the mesothelium. A cancerous (malignant) tumor is a cluster of cancer cells that can invade and destroy the tissue around it. It can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs. It is made up of 2 layers. The inner layer envelops various organs, including the lungs, heart and stomach. The outer layer forms a bag that surrounds the inner layer. There is a little liquid between the 2 layers, which facilitates the movement of the organs.

The mesothelium has different names depending on where in the body it is located. The mesothelium that forms a protective cushion around the lungs is called the pleura. The inner layer, which covers the lungs, is called the visceral pleura. The outer layer, which lines the inner wall of the chest, is called the parietal pleura.

The mesothelium that covers the abdominal organs and that lines the walls of the abdomen and pelvis is called the peritoneum. The inner layer, which envelops and supports most of the internal abdominal organs, is called the visceral peritoneum. The outer layer, which lines the walls of the abdomen and pelvis, is called the parietal peritoneum.

The mesothelium is made up of mesothelial cells. These cells sometimes undergo changes that make their growth pattern or behavior abnormal. These changes can lead to the formation of non-cancerous (benign) tumors, such as the fibrous tumor of the pleura and multicystic mesothelioma. However, in some cases, changes in mesothelial cells can cause malignant mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a very rare type of cancer. It usually appears in the pleura. In this case, it is called pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer accounts for 70 to 80% of all cases of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can also arise in the peritoneum; it is then called peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of cancer accounts for about 25% of all cases of mesothelioma.

Rare types of mesothelioma can also occur. One of them is pericardial mesothelioma, which occurs in the membrane surrounding the heart (pericardium). Another rare type is mesothelioma of the vaginal lining, which appears in the outer lining of the testes.

Also read: Mesothelioma Compensation for Family Members

Mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor of the mesothelium that can invade and destroy nearby tissue. It can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. The mesothelium is the coating that lines the outer surface of most internal organs. Depending on the organ it covers, it can have different names.

Pleural mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma starts in the pleura, the membrane that covers the lungs. It is the most common type of mesothelioma. More men than women are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma begins in the peritoneum, which lines the inside of the abdomen and covers many abdominal organs. It is the second most common type of mesothelioma. It occurs in both men and women.

Rare mesotheliomas

The following cancerous mesothelium tumors are very rare.

The pericardial mesothelioma starts in the pericardium, the casing that surrounds the heart. The most common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are heart problems caused by the tumor or an accumulation of fluid around the heart. These include chest pain, chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough, breathing problems, anxiety, or restlessness. Another symptom of this type of cancer is palpitations (a feeling that the heart is beating hard, very quickly, or irregularly). Treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Pericardial mesothelioma is associated with a very poor prognosis (expected outcome).

The mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis originates in the tunica vaginalis, the casing that covers the testicles. Its most common symptoms are pain and swelling of the testicles. It is treated with surgery during which the testicles, scrotum and lymph nodes present in this region are removed. Radiation therapy may be offered after surgery. As this disease is very rare, the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of mesothelioma of the vaginal coat remains unknown.

Also read: What is Mesothelioma Prognosis

Cell types of mesothelioma

Mesothelioma can also be described according to the cell structure of the tumor, which is determined by examining samples under a microscope. Mesothelioma can be of 3 main cell types.

Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common cell type. It has a more favorable prognosis than other cell types.

The second most common cell type is sarcomatoid , or fibrous, mesothelioma . It spreads faster than epithelioid mesothelioma.

Mixed, or biphasic, mesothelioma is made up of tumors that contain both epithelioid and sarcomatoid regions. Tumors that contain more epithelioid cells have a better prognosis than those that contain more sarcomatoid cells.

Benign mesothelioma

Non-cancerous, or benign, mesothelioma is a mass that appears in the mesothelium and does not spread to other parts of the body (no metastasis). Tumors of benign mesothelioma are not usually life threatening. Usually, they are removed by surgery and they do not reappear (no recurrence). There are a few types of benign mesothelioma.

Fibrous tumor of the pleura

This tumor can arise in the thin tissue that covers the lungs (visceral pleura), or in the tissue that lines the chest cavity and that surrounds the lungs (parietal pleura). Many of the symptoms caused by fibrous tumors of the pleura are the same as those of malignant mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath.

This type of tumor can reappear after surgery. In some cases, a localized fibrous tumor of the pleura is actually cancerous.

Multicystic mesothelioma

Multicystic mesothelioma forms many benign cysts in the thin covering that lines the inside of the abdomen (called the peritoneum). This type of mesothelioma occurs more often in women. It is sometimes also called benign cystic mesothelioma.

Adenomatoid mesothelioma

This type of benign mesothelioma can arise in the mesothelium that covers the reproductive organs. In women, it can form in the fallopian tubes. In men, it can appear in the epididymal ducts, which carry sperm out of the testicles.

Prognosis and survival for mesothelioma

If you have mesothelioma, you may have questions about your prognosis. Prognosis is the act by which the doctor best assesses how cancer will affect a person and how he will react to treatment. Prognosis and survival depend on many factors. Only a doctor who knows your medical history, the type, stage and characteristics of the cancer you have, the treatments chosen and the reaction to treatment can review all of this data in conjunction with survival statistics to arrive at a prognosis.

A prognostic factor is an aspect of cancer or a characteristic of the person that the doctor considers when making a prognosis. The following are prognostic factors for mesothelioma.

Cell subtype

The cell subtype is an important prognostic factor for mesothelioma. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common subtype of mesothelioma and has a better prognosis than the sarcomatoid or mixed types. Mixed tumors that contain more epithelioid cells have a better prognosis than those that contain more sarcomatoid cells. The sarcomatoid subtype produces the least favorable prognosis regardless of the treatment administered.

Stadium

The stadium plays a role in the prognosis of people who are going to have surgery. In general, the prognosis for people with stage 1 or 2 mesothelioma is better than that for people with stage 3 mesothelioma.

The prognosis for mesothelioma that has spread to the lymph nodes (stage 3 or 4) is less favorable.

Surgical removal and surgical margins

If one can completely remove the mesothelioma by surgery, the prognosis is more favorable than if one cannot remove it entirely.

A negative surgical margin means that there are no cancer cells in the edges of the tissue that was removed during surgery, while a positive surgical margin means that it has been detected. In the presence of positive margins, the risk of recurrence is higher and the prognosis is less favorable than in the presence of negative margins.

Chest pain

The prognosis for someone diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma with chest pain is bleak, as it may indicate that the cancer is so advanced that it cannot be removed by surgery.

Functional index

The functional index is used to assess how well a person is able to perform everyday tasks and daily activities. The prognosis for a person with a low functional index is less favorable than that for a person with a good or acceptable functional index.

Weightloss

The prognosis for a person who has lost a lot of weight before being diagnosed is less favorable than that for a person who has lost little.

Age

People over the age of 60 who are diagnosed with mesothelioma survive less than those who are diagnosed with it at a younger age.

Sex

Men who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have a poorer prognosis than women who have it.

Increased number of platelets and white blood cells

The prognosis for a person with mesothelioma whose platelet count is higher than normal (thrombocytosis) is less favorable than that of a person whose platelet count is normal.

In addition, the prognosis for a person with a high white blood cell count (hyperleukocytosis) is less favorable than that for a person with a normal white blood cell count.

Above normal lacticodehydrogenase (LDH) level

Lacticodehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme found in almost every cell in the body. When cells are damaged or destroyed, they release LDH into the blood. A higher than normal LDH level therefore means that cells or tissues are damaged somewhere in the body.

The prognosis for a person with mesothelioma whose LDH level is higher than normal is less favorable than that of a person whose LDH level is normal or low.

Treatments for mesothelioma

If you have mesothelioma, your healthcare team will develop a treatment plan specifically for you. This plan will be based on your health and cancer-specific information. When your healthcare team decides which treatments to offer you for mesothelioma, they take into consideration the following:

• where mesothelioma originated
• the mesothelioma subtype
• if mesothelioma can be removed by surgery
• your overall health
• your personal preferences
• You may be offered one or more of the following treatments for mesothelioma.

Surgery

If you are healthy enough to have an operation, you may be offered surgery to treat a mesothelioma that can be removed.

Pleural mesothelioma

The following types of surgery are used to treat pleural mesothelioma.

During an extrapleural pneumonectomy , the parietal and visceral pleura are removed, the lung on the side where the mesothelioma originated, part of the diaphragm and the lymph nodes of the thorax. You may also want to remove the envelope that surrounds the heart (called the pericardium).

During a pleurectomy / decortication , the parietal and visceral pleura and the tumor are removed, but the lung is not removed.

The palliative surgeries designed to relieve symptoms such as pain or difficulty breathing.

• When shrinking, as much of the mesothelioma is removed as possible, but the portion removed is smaller than in the case of pleurectomy / decortication.
• During thoracentesis, the fluid that surrounds the lungs is removed.
• During pleurodesis, the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura are sealed together to prevent fluid buildup between them.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

In general, it is not possible to operate on people with peritoneal mesothelioma because this cancer has usually spread too much to be able to completely remove it. Surgery is often used to relieve symptoms caused by peritoneal mesothelioma. The following types of surgery can be offered.

During tumor reduction , all or as much of the mesothelioma is removed as possible. We remove the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and the layer of fatty tissue that covers the organs of the abdomen (omentum). Other tissues and organs may need to be removed, such as part of the intestines, the gallbladder, or the appendix.

During a paracentesis , the fluid that has accumulated in the abdomen (ascites) is removed. A hollow needle or tube (catheter) is used to remove fluid from the abdominal cavity.

Chemotherapy

Most people with mesothelioma receive chemotherapy.

Pleural mesothelioma

In the presence of pleural mesothelioma, chemotherapy is used after surgery; if surgery cannot be performed, it can also be used as the main treatment.

The most common chemotherapy combinations used to treat pleural mesothelioma are:

• cisplatin and pemetrexed (Alimta)
• cisplatin and raltitrexed (Tomudex)
• pemetrexed and carboplatin (Paraplatin, Paraplatin AQ) - may be offered to people with other health conditions who cannot receive cisplatin
• cisplatin and gemcitabine (Gemzar)

The most common chemotherapy drugs used alone to treat mesothelioma are:

• pemetrexed
• vinorelbine (Navelbine)
• gemcitabine

Peritoneal mesothelioma

In the presence of peritoneal mesothelioma, chemotherapy constitutes a regional treatment, that is to say that it is administered directly into the peritoneal cavity. This is called intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

The most common chemotherapeutic agents used as intraperitoneal chemotherapy to treat peritoneal mesothelioma are:

• cisplatin
• mitomycin (Mutamycin)
• doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
• Radiotherapy
• External radiation therapy is used to treat mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma

After extrapleural pneumonectomy, radiation therapy can be given to the side of the chest from which a lung has been removed. Radiation therapy is not offered after pleurectomy / decortication, as it may damage the lung.

Radiation therapy can also be used to relieve symptoms caused by pleural mesothelioma, such as coughing or shortness of breath.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

Radiation therapy is not used as the primary treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma because the organs in the abdomen are sensitive to radiation. It can be used to relieve pain and other symptoms caused by advanced peritoneal mesothelioma.

If you cannot or do not want cancer treatment

You may want to consider care that makes you feel better without treating the cancer itself, perhaps because cancer treatments are no longer working, or are more likely to improve your condition, or their side effects are difficult to tolerate. There are other reasons why you cannot or do not want cancer treatment.

Talk to members of your healthcare team. They can help you choose the care and treatment for advanced cancer .

Monitoring

Post-treatment follow-up is an important part of caring for people with cancer. You will need to have regular follow-up visits after treatment is finished. These visits will allow the healthcare team to monitor your progress and find out how you are recovering from treatment. The follow-up of mesothelioma varies depending on the treatments you have received and your overall health.

Clinical tests

Clinical trials on mesothelioma may be underway in Canada and accept participants. Clinical trials aim to find new methods of preventing, detecting and treating cancer. Learn more about clinical trials .

Questions to ask about treatment

To make the right decisions for you, ask questions about the treatment your health care team.

Risk factors for mesothelioma

A risk factor is something, such as a behavior, substance or condition that increases the risk of developing cancer. Most cancers are caused by many risk factors. Exposure to asbestos is the most important risk factor for mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma affects men much more often than women. This is probably because humans are more likely to be exposed to asbestos at work.

Mesothelioma occurs 15 to 40 years after the person has been exposed to asbestos. Therefore, mesothelioma is uncommon in people under the age of 50 and its incidence increases with age.

Risk factors are usually ranked from most important to least important. But in most cases, it is impossible to classify them with absolute certainty. Research shows that there is no link between smoking and a higher risk of mesothelioma.

Known risk factors
There is convincing evidence to suggest that the following factors increase your risk for mesothelioma.

Asbestos
Asbestos is the name given to a group of natural minerals. These minerals can be separated into long, thin fibers that are very fine. When a person inhales these fibers, they can reach the smallest airways of the lung as well as the mesothelium . The fibers thus reach the pleura, where they can eventually cause pleural mesothelioma. If they are expelled by coughing and then swallowed, the asbestos fibers can also seep into the peritoneum. It is the most likely cause of peritoneal mesothelioma.

The link between asbestos and mesothelioma has been well known for many years. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US National Toxicology Program, all forms of asbestos cause cancer. Most people with mesothelioma have already been exposed to asbestos.

Occupational exposure to asbestos is the most important and common risk factor for mesothelioma. The risk is related to the amount of asbestos to which you have been exposed and the duration of the exposure. Mesothelioma is more likely to occur in people who have been exposed to it for a long time when they were young, and to a large amount of asbestos.

Asbestos has been widely used in building materials and in many industries. Among the people who can come into contact with asbestos at work are:

Workers in mines or asbestos defibration factories
Construction workers, carpenters and painters
Shipyard workers
Cement workers
Insulators
Electricians
Plumbing and heating workers
Demolition workers
Auto workers, including brake and clutch repairers

People working in buildings where the asbestos therein was moved during renovations
People living near an asbestos factory or mine are also exposed to asbestos or asbestos dust in the air. Family members of an asbestos worker may also be exposed to asbestos through asbestos fibers which may be found on the worker's clothing.

Mesothelioma can, however, occasionally appear in people who have never been exposed to asbestos.

Erionite
Erionitis is known to be carcinogenic to humans, and it is linked to the onset of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. Erionite is a natural mineral substance that belongs to the group of minerals called zeolites. Zeolites are chemically similar to asbestos and erionite contains fibers similar to those of asbestos.

Erionite is commonly found in the soil of certain regions of Turkey where it is used in building materials. Consequently, there is a high rate of mesothelioma in these regions due to exposure to erionite.

Fluoroedenite, a fibrous amphibole
Fluoroedenite, a fibrous amphibole, is a naturally occurring mineral that looks like asbestos, with fibers similar to asbestos (asbestiform). It is found in lava flowing on the sides of volcanoes, in particular at Mount Etna in Italy. Exposure to this mineral increases the risk of mesothelioma.