Intracavitary Cisplatin-Fibrin Followed by Irradiation Improved Tumor Control Compared to the Single Treatments in a Mesothelioma Rat Model

This murine model study investigated a novel combination treatment for pleural mesothelioma using intracavitary cisplatin-fibrin gel (cis-fib) and adjuvant irradiation (IR). Conducted on an orthotopic immunocompetent rat model, the study demonstrates that the combination therapy significantly delayed tumor growth compared to single treatments. A 20 Gy dose of irradiation combined with cis-fib showed the most pronounced effect, reducing tumor growth by up to 71 percent compared to controls. Importantly, the treatment was well-tolerated, with only transient side effects such as mild weight loss and reduced lymphocyte counts observed after irradiation. The current approach to mesothelioma treatment is not straightforward, and while some advocate for purely non-surgical treatments, insights into disease behavior and response could pave the way for standardized multimodality treatment regimens.