Malignant Mesothelioma: Advances in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Translational Therapies

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, in which the cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). This lethal disease is associated with asbestos and has vast economic and legal implications. As the disease takes approximately twenty years to manifest itself in humans, a wave of diagnoses is expected in the near future. In the United States alone, an estimated 3,500 - 4,000 patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually, and it is estimated that over the next 35 years, more than 250,000 people in Western Europe will be diagnosed with the disease. Malignant Mesothelioma, edited by internationally recognized experts in the field, is a comprehensive text that relates science, pathology, clinical aspects and therapy for mesothelioma under one cover. The book integrates the newest research and advances in its discussions of the disease, covering such topics as carcinogenesis, epidemiology, benchwork, endoscopy, multimodality approaches and treatment. It includes discussions on novel approaches to mesothelioma, such as gene therapy, vaccination strategies and immunotherapy, as well as discussions on the legal and economic aspects of the disease. Over 200 illustrations round out the text. An invaluable reference for the medical oncologist, thoracic surgeon, radiation oncologist, pulmonologist, and benchworker interested in the disease.


Table of Contents

1 - The history of mesothelioma 3
2 Asbestos-induced mesothelioma 21
3 SV40-mediated oncogenesis 34
4 Mesothelioma carcinogenesis : in vivo models 60
5 Mesothelial and mesothelioma cell lines 87
6 Cytogenetics of malignant mesothelioma 101
7 Growth factors and malignant mesothelioma 112
8 Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in malignant mesothelioma 124
9 Angiogenesis and mesothelioma 141
10 Immune status and mesothelioma 151
11 Extracellular matrix and mesothelioma : some clues to the invasive behavior of mesothelioma 166
12 Genomics and proteomics in mesothelioma 186
13 Asbestos mineralogy and health effects 209
14 Molecular epidemiology of mesothelioma 225
15 Malignant mesothelioma and erionite 242
16 Determination of asbestos exposure by pathology and clinical history 259
17 Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure 267
18 From monkey to man : the epidemiologic evidence of an association between simian virus 40 and malignancy 293
19 Causes and prevention of technical artifacts when studying simian virus 40 (SV40) in human mesotheliomas 309
20 Molecular detection of simian virus 40 in human mesothelioma 330
21 Malignant mesothelioma following radiation 350
22 Genetics and human mesothelioma 364
23 Clinicians' approach to mesothelioma 369
24 Clinical presentation and natural history of mesothelioma : pleural and pericardial 380
25 Clinical presentation and natural history of mesothelioma : abdominal 391
26 Staging of mesothelioma 402
27 Prognostic factors in mesothelioma 416
28 Radiologic assessment of mesothelioma 433
29 Endoscopic imaging 454
30 Benign mesotheliomas, mesothelial proliferations, and their possible association with asbestos exposure 469
31 Cytology of malignant mesothelioma 481
32 Immunohistochemistry 490
33 Malignant mesothelioma electron microscopy 508
34 Rare variants of mesothelioma 517
35 Differentiating sarcomas from mesotheliomas 527
36 Diagnosis of synovial sarcoma of the pleura and differentiation from malignant mesothelioma 543
37 Pitfalls in the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma 555
38 Management of benign variants of mesothelioma 581
39 First-line chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma 593
40 Second-line chemotherapy 607
41 Treatment of mesothelioma with radiotherapy 616
42 Intrapleural chemotherapy with and without surgery in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) 631
43 Management of pleural effusions in mesothelioma 638
44 Preoperative chemotherapy and surgery 657
45 Photodynamic therapy for pleural mesothelioma 667
46 Surgery and postoperative radiotherapy 678
47 The development of the Brigham and women's multimodality treatment plan for malignant pleural mesothelioma : a model for improving the treatment of rare diseases 696
48 Peritoneal mesothelioma : the Columbia experience 723
49 Surgery, hyperthermic chemoperfusion, and postoperative chemotherapy : the national cancer institute and Washington hospital center experience 732
50 Pericardial and tunica vaginalis mesothelioma 755
51 New target therapies for malignant mesothelioma 765
52 Gene therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma 778
53 Immunotherapeutic approaches and vaccination strategies 798
54 Economic aspects of mesothelioma 821

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