Safety and efficacy of helical tomotherapy following lung-sparing surgery in locally advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Abstract

To assess the value of radiation therapy (RT) with helical tomotherapy (HT) in the management of locally advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) receiving no or lung-sparing surgery. Consecutive MPM cases not undergoing extrapleural pneumonectomy and receiving intensity-modulated (IM) HT were retrospectively evaluated for local control, distant control, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Impact of age, systemic treatment, RT dose, and recurrence patterns was analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. As asecondary endpoint, reported toxicity was assessed. Atotal of 34localized MPM cases undergoing IMHT were identified, of which follow-up data were available for 31patients. Grade3 side effects were experienced by 26.7% of patients and there were no grade4 or 5events observed. Median PFS was 19months. Median OS was 20months and the rates for 1‑ and 2‑year OS were 86.2 and 41.4%, respectively. OS was significantly superior for patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.008). IMHT of locally advanced MPM after lung-sparing surgery is safe and feasible, resulting in satisfactory local control and survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves OS. Randomized clinical trials incorporating modern RT techniques as acomponent of trimodal treatment are warranted to establish an evidence-based standard of care pattern for locally advanced MPM.