Phase I to II study of pleurectomy/decortication and intraoperative intracavitary hyperthermic cisplatin lavage for mesothelioma

Purpose To evaluate morbidity, mortality, maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), and outcome of intraoperative intracavitary hyperthermic cisplatin lavage in patients undergoing pleurectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Patients and Methods Sixty-one patients were prospectively registered. Forty-four resectable patients with MPM underwent pleurectomy, followed by a 1-hour lavage of the resection cavity with dose-escalated cisplatin (50, 100, 150, 175, 200, 225, and 250 mg/m(2)) at 42 degrees C and then intravenous sodium thiosulfate (16 g/m(2) over 6 hours). Survival estimates were compared using the log-rank test and proportional hazards regression. Results Median age was 71 years (range, 50 to 82 years), Twenty-four patients had epithelial tumors, and 20 had sarcomatous or mixed histology. Postoperative mortality was 11% (five of 44 patients). Dose-limiting renal toxicity occurred at 250 mg/m(2), establishing the MTD at 225 mg/m(2). Other morbidity included atrial fibrillation (14 of 44 patients, 32%) and deep venous thrombosis (four of 44 patients, 9%). Median survival time of all registered patients was 9 months, and the median survival time of resected patients was 13 months. Survival estimates differed significantly for resectable patients exposed to low doses (50 to 150 mg/m(2); n = 9; median, 6 months) versus high doses (175 to 250 mg/m(2); n = 35; median, 18 months) of hyperthermic cisplatin (P =.0019); recurrence-free interval also differed significantly (4 v 9 months, respectively; P <.0001). Low dose level (relative risk = 3.418) and nonepithelial histology (relative risk = 2.336) were independent risk factors for poor survival. Twenty patients with epithelial tumors who underwent high-dose cisplatin lavage had a 26-month median survival time. Conclusion Pleurectomy and high-dose intraoperative intracavitary hyperthermic cisplatin lavage is feasible in this patient population with restricted surgical options. An apparent dose-related survival benefit warrants further study.