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Mesothelioma treatment details. Chemotherapy.

Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN, United States.

Survival: monthsCountry:United States
Toxiciy Grade:5City/State/Province:Rochester, MN
Treatments:ChemotherapyHospital:Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Apr 2008

Description:

Patients:
In this study, malignant pleural mesothelioma patients were separated into 2 treatment groups. Group 1 consisted of 23 patients with a median age of 71 years; 96% were male. There were 45 patients in group 2 (78% male) and the median age was 67 years.

Treatment:
Patients in both treatment groups received a combination of two chemotherapy drugs, gemcitabine and epirubicin. Group 1 received a high dose of both drugs, while Group 2 received a lower dose of the drugs.

Toxicities:
There were four treatment-related deaths reported in this study, one from Group 1 and three from Group 2. Causes included heart problems, inflammation of the lungs, and capillary leak syndrome (fluid leakage leading to drop in blood pressure). Other reported symptoms included neutropenia, leucopenia, and shortness of breath.

Results:
The median overall survival for Group 1 and Group 2 of this study was 9.3 and 5.7 months, respectively.

Correspondence: Dr. Scott H. Okuno; email:[email protected]



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