Mesothelioma: From Research to Clinical Practice

Description

This book offers an updated review of malignant mesothelioma, including the latest advances in our understanding of its genetic control and molecular biology, as well as pre-clinical and clinical research. It also presents state-of-the-art diagnostic approaches and therapeutic options, and an open discussion on the future prospects for patient management. Malignant mesothelioma is an enormous global health problem related to asbestos exposure. Despite the best efforts of scientists and oncologists, the prognosis for those affected remains poor. Due to anatomical characteristics and non-specific symptoms, the diagnosis of mesothelioma at an early stage is often difficult, while surgery and radiotherapy are only of limited use, even if some multimodality approaches seem promising. In turn, medical treatments are sometimes successful in tumor control, but have little impact on overall survival. However, advances in our understanding of the disease’s biology, together with the availability of new drugs and combinations, make mesothelioma an essential and highly topical field for pre-clinical and clinical studies. This book is subdivided into four parts: epidemiology and preclinical data, diagnosis, therapy, and extrathoracic mesothelioma. It highlights the progress made in a variety of areas – e.g. in vitro and in vivo experimental models, genetics, environment, biomarkers, targeting agents, immunotherapy, metabolic imaging and ongoing clinical trials – and describes the standard clinical management of mesothelioma patients, including those with extra-thoracic localizations. Given its scope, the book offers an invaluable tool for researchers, oncologists and clinicians alike. Front Matter ....Pages i-xii Epidemiology of Mesothelioma (Dario Mirabelli, Alessandro Marinaccio, Pietro Comba, Corrado Magnani)....Pages 1-18 Asbestos and the Pathophysiology of Mesothelioma (Nico van Zandwijk, Glen Reid)....Pages 19-33 Screening Issues in Exposed Subjects and Early Diagnosis (Manlio Mencoboni, Paola Taveggia, Claudio Francesco Simonassi, Rosa Angela Filiberti)....Pages 35-43 Genetics and Epigenetics of Mesothelioma (Anna Aspesi, Marika Sculco, Simonetta Guarrera, Elisabetta Casalone, Laura Moro, Corrado Magnani et al.)....Pages 45-67 Microenvironment and Immunology of the Human Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma (Elisabeth Digifico, Cristina Belgiovine, Alberto Mantovani, Paola Allavena)....Pages 69-84 Preclinical Models in Mesothelioma (Ilaria Fuso Nerini, Roberta Frapolli)....Pages 85-98 Pathological Diagnosis of Mesothelioma (Gabriella Fontanini, Greta Alì, Rossella Bruno)....Pages 99-122 Tissue and Circulating Biomarkers in Mesothelioma (Paolo Andrea Zucali)....Pages 123-138 Diagnostic Imaging of Mesothelioma (Christopher M. Straus, Samuel G. Armato III)....Pages 139-152 Measuring Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (Anna K. Nowak, Samuel G. Armato III)....Pages 153-166 Role of Metabolic Imaging in Mesothelioma (Fabrizia Gelardi, Andrea Marciano, Paola Anna Erba, Arturo Chiti)....Pages 167-175 Staging of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (Lawrence Okiror, Andrea Bille)....Pages 177-184 Surgery and Multimodality Treatment in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (Federico Rea, Eleonora Faccioli, Giuseppe Marulli)....Pages 185-203 Role of Radiotherapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (Marta Scorsetti, Davide Franceschini, Fiorenza De Rose, Vittorio Vavassori)....Pages 205-220 Role of Chemotherapy in the Management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (Letizia Gianoncelli, Maria Bonomi, Giovanni Luca Ceresoli)....Pages 221-233 Targeting Angiogenesis in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (Arnaud Scherpereel)....Pages 235-242 Targeted Therapies in Mesothelioma (Loredana Urso, Giulia Pasello)....Pages 243-259 Mesothelin-Targeted Agents in Mesothelioma (Loredana Urso, Giulia Pasello)....Pages 261-269 Immunotherapy of Mesothelioma: Vaccines and Cell Therapy (R. A. Belderbos, R. Cornelissen, J. G. J. V. Aerts)....Pages 271-280 Immunotherapy, the Promise for Future of Mesothelioma Treatment? (S. Brosseau, V. Gounant, G. Zalcman)....Pages 281-299 Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Diagnosis and Management (Marcello Deraco, Shigeki Kusamura, Marcello Guaglio, Antonello Cabras, Eran Nizri, Dario Baratti)....Pages 301-322 Rare Localizations of Mesothelioma (Marta Betti, Federica Grosso)....Pages 323-330 Unmet Needs and Future Outlook of Mesothelioma Management (Dean A. Fennell)....Pages 331-340