Purpose of the study: The main purpose of this research study is to see if a surgery procedure (limited partial pleurectomy and decortication) helps symptoms in people who have cancer that is unresectable that might not be able to be removed completely. This is called unresectable cancer. This study will also help the research team learn more about the types of symptoms and quality of life for people who have undergone this surgery, the number of complications following , and the time from surgery to starting other therapy. Th e study team also wants to see see the overall survival of people who have had this procedure as part of their care.
What will be done as part of research on this study:
* Surgery (Partial Pleurectomy - surgery to remove lining of lungs) * The research team will also ask study participants questions about their symptoms through questionnaires at certain times after surgery.
How long this study will last:
Participation in this research (pre-surgery, surgery and follow-up) will last for about 2 years.
Confidentiality: All personal information will be kept confidential, and data will be used only for research purposes.
Contact Information: For more information about this study, please contact [email protected]
Patients must have histologically confirmed epithelioid subtype pleural mesothelioma, as determined by surgical (i.e. VATS) biopsy.
Disease confined to the unilateral hemithorax.
Unresectable disease is defined by cross sectional imaging (CT or MRI) demonstrating invasion of unresectable mediastinal structures (heart, great vessels, esophagus) or spine, unresectable invasion of the chest wall (multifocal chest wall invasion or apical chest wall invasion), or disease outside intended resection field.
Borderline resectable disease is defined by cross sectional imaging (CT or MRI) demonstrating extensive pulmonary parenchymal invasion (anticipated need for anatomic resection or complex wedge resection to clear disease) or extensive/bulky disease of (1) the diaphragm or sulci (anticipated need for diaphragm resection and reconstruction to clear disease), or (2) the chest wall (anticipated need for chest wall resection and reconstruction to clear disease). Disease with pathologically proven hilar or mediastinal lymph node involvement.
Patients with biphasic or sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma.
Patients with metastatic disease or disease which extends to the abdominal cavity or subdiaphragm as identified on post-induction therapy cross sectional imaging (CT, MRI, or PET).
Patients who demonstrate disease progression during or following induction therapy.
FEV1 < 50% and/or postoperative predicted DLCO < 50%.