2017 Volume 39 Issue 3 Pages 210-214
Background. Despite worldwide increase of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, few definitive treatment strategies have been developed in the last decade. The effects of chemotherapy reach its ceiling and multi-modal therapy candidates are strictly selected due to the stress of treatment. Purpose. We need a concise review that summarizes the results of clinical trials with each therapy in the past decade. Methods. The reports of clinical trials with any medicine for malignant pleural mesothelioma were searched and summarized. We also showed the on-going clinical trials that have been presented at annual meetings. Results and Conclusion. In contrast to non-small cell lung cancer, no specific genetic mutations or driver-oncogenes have been identified which has resulted in the failure of molecular target therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. However clinical trials with other promising medicine such as anti-angiogenic inhibitors, gene therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors are still on-going.
