Reading Room

What is Mesothelioma

• Shavelle R, Vavra-Musser K, Lee J, Brooks J. Life expectancy in pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. Lung Cancer International. 2017; 2017:1-8.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5292397/
  
• Musk AB, Klerk N, Brims FJ. Mesothelioma in Australia: A Review. Medical Journal of Australia. 2017;207(10):449-452.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3307510/
  
• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Mesothelioma in Australia 2020. Updated October 28 2021.
  https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/mesothelioma-in-australia-2020/summary

The Types of Mesothelioma

• Musk AW, Olsen N, Alfonso H, et al. Predicting survival in malignant mesothelioma. European Respiratory Journal. 2011;38(6):1420-1424.
  https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/6/1420
  
• Kim J, Bhagwandin S, Labow DM. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: A Review. Annals of Translational Medicine. 2017;5(11):236-236.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5497105/
  
• García-Fadrique A, Mehta A, Mohamed F, Dayal S, Cecil T, Moran BJ. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, classification and management of Peritoneal Mesothelioma: A Review. Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. 2017;8(5):915-924.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5674249/
  
• Godar M, Liu J, Zhang P, Xia Y, Yuan Q. Primary pericardial mesothelioma: a rare entity. Case Rep Oncol Med. 2013; 2013:283601.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3697233/
  
• Akin Y, Bassorgun I, Basara I, Yucel S. Malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis: an extremely rare case presenting without risk factors. Singapore Med J. 2015;56(3):e53-e55.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4371211/

The Cell Types of Mesothelioma

• Asciak, R, George, V, Rahman, NM. Update on biology and management of mesothelioma. European Respiratory Review. 2021:30(159).
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9489032/
  
• Clopton, B et al. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma: unusual findings and literature review. Journal of Surgical Case Reports. 2022;2022(11).
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9675762/
  
• Røe OD. Mesothelioma diagnosis and prognosis are we moving beyond histology and performance status towards circulating biomarkers?. Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2018;10: 1956-1961.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6036040/

Diagnosis

• Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Asbestos Diseases Research Institute; Sydney: 2013.
  https://adri.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Guidelines-for-the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-malignant-pleural-mesothelioma.pdf
  
• McLean J, McCaughan BC. Diagnosis and treatment: the journey of a patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Sydney: The Baird Institute; 2013. 79 p
  https://adri.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Diagnosis-Treatment-The-Journey-of-a-Patient-with-MPM.pdf

Treatment

• Nowak AK, Jackson A, Sidhu C. Management of advanced pleural mesothelioma—at the Crossroads. JCO Oncology Practice. 2022;18(2):116-124.
  https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP.21.00426?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
  
• Vogelzang N. J, Rusthoven J. J, Symanowski, J, et al. Phase III study of pemetrexed in combination with Cisplatin versus cisplatin alone in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2003;21(14): 2636-2644.
  https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2003.11.136?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
  
• Metaxas Y, et al. Pembrolizumab as Palliative Immunotherapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 2018;13(11): 1784-1791.
  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1556086418309651?via%3Dihub
  
• Gray SG, Mutti L. Immunotherapy for mesothelioma: A critical review of current clinical trials and future perspectives. Translational Lung Cancer Research. 2020;9(S1).
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7082257/
  
• Zalcman G, Mazieres J, Margery J, et al. Bevacizumab for newly diagnosed pleural mesothelioma in the mesothelioma Avastin Cisplatin Pemetrexed Study (MAPS): A randomised, controlled, open-label, phase 3 trial. The Lancet. 2016;387:1405-1414.
  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673615012386?via%3Dihub
  
• Davis A, Ke, H, Kao, S, Pavlakis, N. An Update on Emerging Therapeutic Options for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Lung Cancer: Targets and Therapy, 2022;13.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8900635/pdf/lctt-13-1.pdf
  
• McLean J, McCaughan BC. Diagnosis and treatment: the journey of a patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Sydney: The Baird Institute; 2013.
  https://adri.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Diagnosis-Treatment-The-Journey-of-a-Patient-with-MPM.pdf
  
• Mothoneos J, editor. Understanding Mesothelioma. A guide for people with cancer, their families and friends.: Cancer Council Australia; 2019.
  https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/understanding-mesothelioma-cancer-booklet

Surgical Procedures

• McLean J, McCaughan BC. Diagnosis and treatment: the journey of a patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Sydney: The Baird Institute; 2013.
  https://adri.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Diagnosis-Treatment-The-Journey-of-a-Patient-with-MPM.pdf
  
• Mothoneos J, editor. Understanding Mesothelioma. A guide for people with cancer, their families and friends.: Cancer Council Australia; 2019.
  https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/understanding-mesothelioma-cancer-booklet

Trimodality Therapy

• Treasure T, Lang-Lazdunski L, Waller D, et al. Extra-pleural pneumonectomy versus no extra-pleural pneumonectomy for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: Clinical outcomes of the mesothelioma and radical surgery (MARS) randomised feasibility study. The Lancet Oncology. 2011;12(8):763-772.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3148430/
  
• Lim E, Darlison L, Edwards J, et al. Mesothelioma and Radical Surgery 2 (MARS 2): protocol for a multicentre randomised trial comparing (extended) pleurectomy decortication versus no (extended) pleurectomy decortication for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. BMJ Open 2020;10.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7467531/

Symptom Management

• Cormie P, Atkinson M, Bucci L, Cust A, Eakin E, Hayes S, McCarthy S, Murnane A, Patchell S, Adams D. Clinical Oncology Society of Australia position statement on exercise in cancer care. The Medical Journal of Australia. 2018;209(4):184-187.
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29719196/

Integrated Palliative and Supportive Care

• Berry L, Danaher, TS, Chapman, RA, Awdish, RLA. Role of Kindness in Cancer Care. Journal of Oncology Practice. 2017;13(11):744-750.
  https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JOP.2017.026195?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
  
• Kain, DA, Eisenhauer, EA. Early integration of palliative acre into standard oncology care: evidence and overcoming barriers to implementation. Current Oncology. 2016;23(6):374-377.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5176369/
  
• Hannon B, Swami N, Rodin G, Pope A, Zimmermann C. Experiences of patients and caregivers with early palliative care: A qualitative study. Palliative Medicine, 2016; 31(1).
  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/0269216316649126

End of Life Care

• The Groundswell Project Australia, A BIG LIST of Death Literacy, Planning and Conversation Tools
  https://www.thegroundswellproject.com/the-big-list
• Lee JT, Mittal DL, Warby A, Kao S, Dhillon HM, Vardy JL. Dying of mesothelioma: A qualitative exploration of caregiver experiences. European Journal of Cancer Care, 2022;31 (5).
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9539703/

Providing Support

• Harrison M, Darlison L, Gardiner C. Understanding the experiences of end of life care for patients with mesothelioma from the perspective of bereaved family caregivers in the UK: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Palliative Care. 2022;37(2):197-203.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9676412/

Patient Stories

• Hear Warren’s Story
  https://www.icare.nsw.gov.au/news-and-stories/warrens-story#gref’
• Hear Janet’s Story
  https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/about-cancer/cancer-stories/janet-s-mesothelioma-story