The feasibility and efficacy of trimodality therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) are still controversial mainly due to the lack of clinical evidence. Although three major clinical trials on this therapy have been recently reported from North America and Europe, it remains unclear whether results in Caucasian populations may be directly applicable to Asian populations. In this context, as a project of the “Comprehensive approach on asbestos-related diseases” supported by the “Special Coordination Fund for Promoting Science and Technology of MEXT, Japan”, a prospective multi-institutional study has been planned to evaluate the feasibility of induction chemotherapy using pemetrexed plus cisplatin, followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and postoperative hemithoracic radiation in patients with resectable MPM. Primary endpoints are macroscopic complete resection rate by EPP and treatment-related mortality for trimodality therapy. The study was initiated in May 2008 and patient enrollment was finished in November 2010.
