Survival: 10.0 months     Toxicity Grade: 5     Treatments: Biologic therapy Surgery     Drugs:

Country: Netherlands     City/State/Province: Amsterdam     Hospital: The Netherlands Cancer Institute     Journal: Link     Date: 10/2001

Description:

Patients: This Phase I/II study involved 28 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Treatment: The treatment consisted of surgery (pleuropneumonectomy) with intraoperative photodynamic therapy (the drug mTHPC). (Photodynamic therapy is a technique that uses non-thermal lasers to activate light-sensitive drugs.) Toxicity: Three patients died in the perioperative period (the period immediately preceding, during and after a surgical procedure.) One of the three deaths was directly related to photodynamic therapy. Results: The overall median survival time was 10 months. Support: The study was supported in part by Scotia Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. Scotia manufactures the drug, mTHPC. Correspondence: Paul Bass, MD, PhD