Study: Talc Pleurodesis a Viable Option for Mesothelioma

Some patients with mesothelioma should consider the less-invasive talc pleurodesis procedure instead of aggressive, tumor-removing surgery, based on recent research from doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Although talc pleurodesis is considered only palliative, survival time often is not significantly different between the two procedures, according to the study published by Journal of Thoracic Disease.

“There should be comprehensive conversation with your physician about treatment options, not only about survival, but about quality of life,” Dr. Emanuela Taioli, department of thoracic surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told Asbestos.com. “Going through this kind of thoracic surgery is an extensive process.”

A Comprehensive Review of Talc Pleurodesis

Taioli led a group of researchers including Maaike van Gerwen, of the Institute for Translational Epidemiology at Icahn, and thoracic surgeon Raja Flores at Mount Sinai Hospital.

The research included a comprehensive review of 49 previous studies that focused on survival rates comparing talc pleurodesis to aggressive surgery after a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis.

The average survival of patients treated with talc pleurodesis was 14 months, compared to just 17 months for those having the aggressive pleurectomy and decortication (P/D) surgery and 24 months for the even more aggressive extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP).

“A person may choose to do the talc, knowing survival might be a little shorter, but clearly the quality of life may be better by avoiding major surgery,” Taioli said. “Unless the doctor tells you, ‘this is such a favorable case, and I can promise you a much longer life with surgery,’ [talc pleurodesis] might be something to consider.”

Focus on Relieving Symptoms

Talc pleurodesis is a surgical procedure used to treat and prevent pleural effusions, a typical symptom of mesothelioma. The palliative treatment improves quality of life by relieving pain and making it easier to breath.

The goal of a pleurodesis is to drain the fluid around the lungs that makes it difficult to breath, then eliminate the pleural space where it accumulates to prevent it from returning.

Patients say it alleviates several symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. It does not remove cancer cells.

Talc pleurodesis typically requires a hospital stay of just one to two days. P/D or EPP surgery can require a hospital stay of one to three weeks.

Major procedures also carry considerably more complications and a much longer recovery period.

“Quality of life is clearly different after the procedures,” Taioli said. “I’m not saying that major surgery shouldn’t be the cornerstone of treatment, but you should be informed about all the options.”

One reason for longer median survival involving aggressive surgeries is that typically patients who qualify for — and have the surgery — are healthier to start.

Many patients who are not surgical candidates opt for the palliative talc pleurodesis.

Still No Cure for Mesothelioma

There is no cure for pleural mesothelioma, even with multidisciplinary treatment that includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Taioli believes a randomized comparison study should be done before any definitive recommendations can be made.

The research group found only two acceptable data sets reporting one- and two-year survival rates for those undergoing talc pleurodesis.

Researchers found 37 data sets for those undergoing more aggressive surgery.

The pooled one-year survival rates for P/D and EPP were 55 and 67 percent, respectively. The one-year survival rate for talc pleurodesis was 57 percent in one data set, but only 17 percent in the other.

Two-year survival rates for P/D and EPP were 32 and 36 percent. The two-year rate for talc pleurodesis was 10 and 13 percent.

“The studies reporting on one-year survival are scarce for talc and prevent any firm conclusion,” the report concluded. “Studies, however, suggest that surgery is still the best option, and that EPP patients fare better than P/D patients.”

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