The University of Pennsylvania reports the latest results of a small study involving 28 patients with pleural mesothelioma.
This limited study compared combination treatment using photodynamic therapy along with a lesser lung surgery (14 patients) in comparison to extrapleural pneumonectomy alone (14 patients). 22 of the 28 patients also received chemotherapy.
Patient population: 28 patients – 12 /14 patients in either group with advanced (stage III/IV ) disease
Results: Extrapleural pneumonectomy group had a median survival of 8.9 months. The combination photodynamic/ surgery group median survival exceeded two years (when the study ended).
Take away message for readers: It’s too early, and the study groups are far too small for us to generalize these findings. However, these preliminary results are encouraging and should prompt more, larger scale studies / trials looking at photodynamic therapy as adjuvant therapy along with thoracic surgery for pleural mesothelioma.
Update: 06/15/2011:
the mesothelioma study from PA just got picked up by a major wire service, so expect to read and hear a lot more about it.
Update: 08/15/2014: Mesothelioma.net has asked that I link with their site. They offer some informational services for people facing mesothelioma. Please let me know if this site is spam-plagued or otherwise dubious and I will remove the link (the site is a bit ‘shiny’ and circular for my taste.)
Thoracic Surgery 
Mesothelioma is really terrible illness only early medical diagnosis can help to prolong sufferer’s life.