Radiation therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma

The treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with radiation has always been a technical challenge. For many years, conventional radiation therapy was delivered after extrapleural pneumonectomy with acceptable results. Novel radiation treatment techniques, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were introduced, but the early experience with IMRT demonstrated troubling toxicity. Recent reports from institutions have demonstrated that with greater experience, IMRT, both in the setting of extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy, can be delivered safely. A recent study, SAKK 17/04, questions the role of using radiation after extrapleural pneumonectomy.     

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

PURPOSE: To investigate neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy with or without radiation therapy in patients with potentially resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had MPM with clinical stage T1-3, N0-2, M0 disease considered to be completely resectable and a WHO performance status of 0 to 2. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisted of three cycles of cisplatin 80 mg/m2 on day 1 and gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15, given every 28 days. Surgery had to consist of a complete extrapleural pneumonectomy, including resection of pericardium and diaphragm. Postoperative radiotherapy was to be considered for all patients. RESULTS: Nineteen patients with MPM were included in this pilot study. According to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer prognostic score, two patients were in the good prognosis group, and 17 patients were in the poor prognosis group. The response rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 32%. The major toxicity was thrombocytopenia. Extrapleural pneumonectomy was performed in 16 patients with no perioperative mortality. Major surgical complications occurred in six patients, and all were treated successfully. Thirteen patients received postoperative radiotherapy. The median survival time was 23 months. Two patients remain alive and free of disease 41 and 38 months after initiation of therapy. CONCLUSION: For patients with potentially operable MPM, the availability of active and well-tolerated chemotherapy regimens, the fact that extrapleural pneumonectomy can be safely performed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in an experienced center, and the promising results regarding survival in our pilot study warrant further investigation of the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a multimodality strategy.     

Recent progress in treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma]

Incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma will rise until 2030-2040 because the elapsed time between exposure and diagnostic is up to several decades. Prognosis remains very poor with median survival less than one year and five-year survival not exceeding 5%. As compared to 1999, standart treatment adds chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed to local radiotherapy for prevention of local seeding after invasive diagnostic procedures. Despite various growth factors and their receptors are involved in malignant mesothelioma, first clinical trials of targeted therapies reported poor results. Multimodality therapy with extrapleural pneumonectomy and radiation therapy (+/-chemotherapy) can be of benefit in subgroups of patients but it cannot be recommended in a routine approach. As compared to bronchial carcinoma, inclusion of patients in clinical trials (using intensity-modulated radiation therapy) is the only way to somewhat improve results.     

Miliary mesothelioma: a new clinical and radiological presentation in mesothelioma patients with prolonged survival after trimodality therapy

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is usually a fatal disease and is considered a locally aggressive tumor. Consequently, distant metastases are very rare and a diffuse involvement of the lung is seldom reported. However, due to more efficient chemotherapy protocols and aggressive management strategies including induction chemotherapy followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy and adjuvant high-dose hemithoracic radiation therapy, so called trimodality therapy, survival is prolonged in selected patients. Therefore, new presentations of the disease are appearing with new diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Herein, we report two cases of treated mesothelioma patients who developed a miliary mesothelioma in the remaining lung 36 and 41 months after undergoing multimodal therapy. Diagnostic assessment and therapeutic strategy are discussed taking into account the different evolutions of each patient.     

The Evolution of Multimodality Therapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare neoplasm of the pleural surfaces that has been associated with asbestos exposure. MPM generally spreads locally along the ipsilateral pleura, especially at presentation, with distant metastatic disease typically seen only in the later stages of the disease course. As such, surgical resection and other local therapies have long been pursued as a primary form of treatment. Surgical options include debulking of the pleura by pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) or a more aggressive extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) which also involves removal of the lung, diaphragm, and involved pericardium. Even after major resection, MPM almost always recurs locally and has a poor prognosis. As such, many groups have pursued multimodality therapy, treating resectable patients with EPP, along with hemithoracic radiation to decrease the risk of local recurrence and chemotherapy to decrease the risk of distant metastatic disease. However, EPP is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and many patients are not candidates for EPP due to underlying comorbid medical conditions. Additionally, many patients are unable to tolerate complete courses of adjuvant therapy after EPP. A large, multicenter retrospective analysis comparing EPP to P/D demonstrated better outcomes among those who underwent P/D. One challenge associated with P/D has been the delivery or radiation to the removed pleura with an intact lung. Yet, advances in radiation technique have allowed the exploration of high-dose radiation therapy after P/D. The ideal timing of chemotherapy relative to surgery and the role of intracavitary chemotherapy continue to be controversial issues. Clearly, MPM requires a multidisciplinary approach and, due to the myriad of open questions, much effort continues to focus on identifying the optimal combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.     

Medical Treatment of Mesothelioma: Anything New?

In the present report, we review the current standard and investigational treatments of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Several studies have reported the use of gemcitabine and cisplatin as an induction chemotherapy in combination with extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and thoracic radiation in a combined-modality approach for resectable MPM. Since the combination of cisplatin with pemetrexed was applied as the standard first-line regimen for unresectable MPM, the combination as an induction chemotherapy regimen has been proven effective in phase 2 trials. In addition, intensity-modulated radiation therapy and proton therapy have been introduced as new radiation methods into the combined modality. Hyperthermic intraoperative chemotherapy following EPP appears effective with acceptable toxicity. In addition, clinical studies that include molecular targeting agents, immunotherapy, and gene therapy have all been conducted. Thus, although there are numerous hopeful treatments for MPM, the benefits of these regimens remain to be proven in a randomized clinical setting.     

Malignant mesothelioma--diagnosis and treatment strategies

Malignant mesothelioma originates from the mesothelial cells of the pleural and peritoneal cavities as well as the pericardium and tunica vaginalis, which is a devastating neoplasm with a strong etiological relationship with asbestos exposure. The incidence is rising worldwide, with the peak incidence in most industrialized counties expected to occur in the year 2020. Given the disappointing results of the single standard therapeutic modality, the combination of extrapleural pneumonectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy has been attempted in order to reduce local recurrence and distal spread. Combined modalities have a better prognosis in selected patients with epithelioid histology, clear resection margins, and no positive extrapleural nodes. Chemotherapy using new antimetabolite agents in combination with platinum compounds is useful for palliation and can improve both survival and quality of life compared with single-agent cisplatin.     

恶性胸膜间皮瘤的外科治疗

目的　恶性胸膜间皮瘤的治疗尚无统一方案 ,手术切除仍是主要的治疗手段。本文探讨了恶性胸膜间皮瘤的手术方式、手术指征 ,以及影响术后生存的因素。方法　收集本院自 1985年以来手术治疗的恶性胸膜间皮瘤患者的资料 ,对临床表现、TNM分期、细胞类型、手术方式、生存期等分析 ,研究胸膜外全肺切除和胸膜切除两种不同手术方式以及不同分期、不同细胞类型对预后的影响。结果　 33例手术治疗者中胸膜外全肺切除术 16例 ,胸膜切除术 17例 ,总中位生存期为 2 1个月 ,2年生存率和 5年生存率分别为 36 .6 %和 13.3% ,不同手术方式之间术后生存期差异无显著性 ;不同TNM分期之间生存期差异有显著性 (P =0 .0 4 2 8)。结论　无论胸膜外全肺切除还是胸膜切除 ,都只能达到肉眼下的完全切除 ,可缓解症状 ,并为综合治疗创造条件。两种手术方式对预后的影响差异无显著性。早期诊断和尽早手术治疗是取得良好效果的关键。     

The Use of Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Expert Opinion from the National Cancer Institute Thoracic Malignancy Steering Committee,International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer,and Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

IntroductionDetailed guidelines regarding the use of radiation therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) are currently lacking because of the rarity of the disease, the wide spectrum of clinical presentations, and the paucity of high-level data on individual treatment approaches.MethodsIn March 2017, a multidisciplinary meeting of mesothelioma experts was cosponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Research, and Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. Among the outcomes of this conference was the foundation of detailed, multidisciplinary consensus guidelines.ResultsHere we present consensus recommendations on the use of radiation therapy for MPM in three discrete scenarios: (1) hemithoracic radiation therapy to be used before or after extrapleural pneumonectomy; (2) hemithoracic radiation to be used as an adjuvant to lung-sparing procedures (i.e., without pneumonectomy); and (3) palliative radiation therapy for focal symptoms caused by the disease. We discuss appropriate simulation techniques, treatment volumes, dose fractionation regimens, and normal tissue constraints. We also assess the role of particle beam therapy, specifically, proton beam therapy, for MPM.ConclusionThe recommendations provided in this consensus statement should serve as important guidelines for developing future clinical trials of treatment approaches for MPM.     

Surgical Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) remains a rare and lethal disease that is directly related to asbestos exposure in the vast majority of cases. While the total number of cases remains low compared to other malignancies, the worldwide incidence is expected to increase over the next twenty years. Currently, survival rates remain dismal and there is no standard therapy or consensus regarding treatment. However, over the last fifteen years there have been substantial improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of MPM, including easier and more accurate diagnostic techniques, improved methods of staging, more effective systemic therapy, a remarkable decrease in operative mortality, marked improvements in local control with adjuvant therapy, and perhaps most important, an emphasis on multidisciplinary care and multimodality clinical trials. Despite these advances, optimal therapy for these patients remains highly controversial and the role of surgery is actively debated. Most controversy centers on whether surgery increases survival and whether a survival benefit is best achieved with extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy/decortication within a multimodal regimen. To date, trimodality therapy that includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation offers the best survival advantage. It is generally accepted that the main goals of surgery, within the framework of a multimodality approach, is not only complete resection if possible, but more realistically, the resection of all macroscopic disease as an adjunct to the delivery of chemotherapy and radiation. The surgical options available to obtain this goal include extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and pleurectomy/decortication (P/D). There are no randomized trials directly comparing EPP and P/D and the level of evidence supporting either technique remains low. Ultimately, the choice of operation depends on multiple factors including: disease stage, the patient’s cardiopulmonary reserve, surgeon experience and philosophy, and the extent of planned adjuvant therapy. Yet, despite the inherent biases in most studies, the data thus far illustrates significant survival advantages with both P/D and EPP and surgeons should consider these approaches in select patients.     

Malignant pleural mesothelioma: a new standard of care

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an asbestos-associated cancer that occurs most commonly in the pleural cavities and generally has a poor prognosis. A rise in the incidence of this fatal disease, which, in the past has been considered to be relatively refractory to therapy, is predicted over the next decade. The realisation that patients can benefit from systemic chemotherapy and more aggressive multimodal approaches, including extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in earlier stages of disease now provides the opportunity to offer more effective treatment for this disease.     

Intrathoracic latissimus dorsi muscle transposition: a reliable technique for prevention of bronchopleural fistula developing after extrapleural pneumonectomy and external beam radiotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma

Objective

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a life threatening complication after pneumonectomy. Extra thoracic skeletal muscle transposition especially latissimus dorsi muscle flap (LDMF) had been used to prevent this complication. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of LDMF in preventing BPF developing after extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and external radiation therapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

Methods

Between May 1999 and Dec. 2008, 37 patients with MPM were operated upon by EPP using LDMF prophylactically to reinforce the bronchial stump, and then received external radiation therapy with or without postoperative chemotherapy.

Results

The mean age of all patients was 46.7 (range 26–57) years. Twenty five patients were males and 12 patients were females. Twenty three patients had MPM of the right side and 14 patients had MPM of the left side. The peri-operative mortality was 2.7% and only few flap related postoperative morbidity were reported in the form of minor seroma and subcutaneous surgical emphysema. The median follow up was 17 (range 9–43) months. All cases completed their postoperative external radiation therapy with no reported cases of early or late BPF.

Conclusion

Intrathoracic pedicled LDMF transposition is proved to be effective in prevention of BPF developing after EPP and external radiation therapy in MPM and it is advised to be a routine step in EPP in these cases and to use more sophisticated technique of postoperative external beam radiotherapy (3D conformal or IMRT) to minimize this complication.     

Hemithoracic radiation after extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma

PURPOSE: The treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma remains a therapeutic challenge, with median survival rates of about 12 months and local failure rates of up to 80%. Our institution recently published results showing that extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) followed by hemithoracic radiation yielded excellent local control. This paper reports our technique for high-dose hemithoracic radiation after EPP. METHODS: Between 1990 and 2001, 35 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were treated with EPP followed by hemithoracic radiation therapy (median dose: 54 Gy, range: 45-54 Gy) at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. EPP was defined as en bloc resection of the entire pleura, lung, and diaphragm with or without resection of the pericardium. The radiation therapy target volume was the entire hemithorax, including the pleural folds and the thoracotomy and chest tube incision sites. Patients were treated with a total dose of 5400 cGy delivered in 30 fractions of 180 cGy. Radiation therapy was well tolerated, and toxicity data are described. RESULTS: Of the 35 patients analyzed, 29 patients were male, and 18 had right-sided tumors. Twenty-six had epithelioid histologies. UICC stage was I in 4, II in 11, III in 19, and IV in 1 patient. As shown by axial and sagittal isodose distributions, we were able to deliver adequate doses to the target volume while limiting dose to critical structures such as heart, spinal cord, liver, and stomach. The most common toxicities were RTOG Grades 1 and 2 nausea and vomiting, as well as lung, esophageal, and skin toxicities. CONCLUSION: Extrapleural pneumonectomy followed by high-dose hemithoracic radiation therapy is a feasible treatment regimen that is well tolerated for patients with malignant mesothelioma. We have demonstrated adequate dose distributions, using a combined photon and electron technique with blocking of critical normal structures.     

Desmoid tumors: Local control and patterns of relapse following radiation therapy

Desmoid tumors are benign neoplasms, arising from musculoaponeurotic tissues, which tend to be locally infiltrative, resulting in a high rate of local recurrence following surgical resection. Nineteen patients with desmoid tumors underwent radiation therapy at the University of California, San Francisco, between 1970 and 1980. Fifteen patients were referred with local recurrence following one or more surgical resections. Three patients were referred for initial radiation therapy with unresectable tumors, and one patient received planned postoperative irradiation following subtotal tumor resection. At the time of treatment, 8 patients had nonresectable disease measuring greater than 10 cm. Five patients had residual tumor masses measuring 4 to 6 cm, and six had only microscopic disease following resection. The majority of patients were treated to a tumor dose of 50–55 Gy at 1.6 to 1.8 Gy per fraction. With a median follow-up of 8 years, 13 patients remained free of recurrent disease following radiation therapy. The 5 year relapse free survival was 72% with 10 patients continuing to be free of disease 5 to 11 years following therapy. Local control was not related to the amount of disease present at the time of treatment. Of the 6 patients who developed recurrent disease, only 1 patient had a true in-field recurrence. Four patients recurred at the margin of the radiation field 1 to 5 years following therapy. Of these four patients, 3 were successfully salvaged while 1 died as a result of tumor extension into a major vessel. One patient with an extensive mesenteric mass did not respond to therapy and died 1 month post irradiation. The patient with the in-field recurrence and 1 patient with a marginal recurrence were successfully treated with combination chemotherapy. Moderate dose radiation therapy to desmoid tumors can result in lasting local control when surgical resection is not possible. Post operative radiation can improve the rate of local control for patients with a high risk of recurrence. As desmoid tumors tend to be locally infiltrative, fields must be very generous to prevent marginal recurrence. Systemic chemotherapy offers an alternative to ablative surgery in the event of local failure following radiation therapy.     

The role of radiation in retroperitoneal sarcomas: a surgical perspective

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on the current concepts relating to the use of radiation therapy in the care of surgical patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma. Radiation therapy for retroperitoneal sarcoma patients is complex because it requires decisions on not only the timing of administration, but also the technique of delivery. RECENT STUDIES: Multiple studies have reported improved local recurrence-free survival in patients who received adjuvant external beam radiation therapy. Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of more sophisticated delivery methods for radiation therapy to deliver high dose rates while sparing surrounding normal tissues. Other recent studies have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of preoperative radiation therapy for retroperitoneal sarcoma. Preoperative radiation results in decreased local recurrence rates and minimal toxicity. The use of intraoperative radiation therapy has also been examined as a means to improve local recurrence rates, but may be associated with more radiation-related morbidity. SUMMARY: There is good evidence that radiation therapy improves local control rates. Preoperative external beam radiation therapy may be the preferred sequence to improve tumor resectability and local-regional control with less risk of complications. Although data suggest that the addition of intraoperative radiation therapy to external beam radiation therapy improves local control, intraoperative radiation therapy may be related to additional toxicity.     

Patterns of failure and overall survival in patients with completely resected T3 N0 M0 non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer and chest wall invasion have shown conflicting results with respect to prognosis. Whether high-risk subsets of the T3 N0 M0 population exist with respect to patterns of failure and overall survival has been difficult to ascertain, owing to small numbers of patients in most series. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review was performed to determine patterns of failure and overall survival for patients with completely resected T3 N0 M0 non-small cell lung cancer. From 1979 to 1993, 92 evaluable patients underwent complete resection for T3 N0 M0 non-small cell lung cancer. The following potential prognostic factors were recorded from the history: tumor size, location, grade, histology, patient age, use of adjuvant radiation therapy (18 of 92 patients), and type of surgical procedure (chest wall or extrapleural resection). RESULTS: The actuarial 2- and 4-year overall survival rates for the entire cohort were 48% and 35%, respectively. The actuarial local control at 4 years was 94%. Neither the type of surgical procedure performed nor the addition of thoracic radiation therapy impacted local control or overall survival. CONCLUSION: Patients with completely resected T3 N0 M0 non-small cell lung cancer have similar local control and overall survival irrespective of primary location, type of surgery performed, or use of adjuvant radiation therapy. Additionally, the tumor recurrence rate and overall survival found in this study support the placement of this group of patients in Stage IIB of the 1997 AJCC lung staging classification.     

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy following extrapleural pneumonectomy for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma: clinical implementation

PURPOSE: New insight into the extent of the target volume for the postoperative irradiation of malignant pleural mesothelioma as determined during surgery has indicated that standard conformal radiotherapy (IMRT) is not sufficient for curative treatment. We describe a novel technique for implementing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to deliver higher doses to treat the full extent of these complex target volumes. METHODS AND MATERIALS: After extrapleural pneumonectomy, 7 patients underwent simulation, treatment planning, and treatment with IMRT to the involved hemithorax and adjacent abdomen. The target volumes encompassed the entire operative bed, including the ipsilateral mediastinum, anterior pleural reflection, and ipsilateral pericardium and the insertion of the diaphragm and crura. These were extensively marked during surgery with radiopaque markers to facilitate target delineation. RESULTS: Setup uncertainty and respiratory-dependent motion were found to be small. Coverage of the planning target volume was very good, with the crus of the diaphragm the most difficult volume to irradiate. The radiation doses to normal structures were acceptable. CONCLUSION: IMRT for treatment of malignant mesothelioma after extrapleural pneumonectomy results in more potentially curative doses to large, complex target volumes with acceptable doses to normal tissues.     

Results of treating ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast with conservative surgery and radiation therapy.

To determine the frequency, pattern, and time course of tumor recurrence in the breast, the outcome of 38 women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treated with conservative surgery and radiation therapy between 1976 and 1985 was studied. Surgery typically consisted of local excision without evaluation of the microscopic margins of resection. The median radiation dose to the tumor site was 6400 cGy. With a median follow-up time of 81 months, eight patients (21%) have experienced a recurrence in the breast. The time course to recurrence was protracted in some cases, with failures occurring at 17, 27, 43, 63, 71, 83, 92, and 104 months. The 5-year and 8-year actuarial rates of tumor recurrence in the breast were 8% and 27%, respectively. Seven patients had a recurrence at or near the primary tumor site, four with invasive carcinoma, and one had an invasive recurrence at a site elsewhere in the breast. No clinical or pathologic factor was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence, but the number of patients in the study population was small. The authors reached the following conclusions for patients with DCIS treated with conservative surgery and radiation therapy without careful mammographic and pathologic evaluation: (1) recurrence in the breast may be seen in at least one fifth of the patients; (2) recurrence typically occurs at or near the primary site; and (3) recurrence can occur long after treatment. Careful mammographic and pathologic assessment may be useful in reducing the local recurrence rate and should be considered essential if patients are considered for conservative surgery and radiation therapy.     

Dose-dependent pulmonary toxicity after postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of fatal pulmonary events after extrapleural pneumonectomy and hemithoracic intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for malignant pleural mesothelioma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 63 consecutive patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy and IMRT at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The endpoints studied were pulmonary-related death (PRD) and non-cancer-related death within 6 months of IMRT. RESULTS: Of the 63 patients, 23 (37%) had died within 6 months of IMRT (10 of recurrent cancer, 6 of pulmonary causes [pneumonia in 4 and pneumonitis in 2], and 7 of other noncancer causes [pulmonary embolus in 2, sepsis after bronchopleural fistula in 1, and cause unknown but without pulmonary symptoms or recurrent disease in 4]). On univariate analysis, the factors that predicted for PRD were a lower preoperative ejection fraction (p = 0.021), absolute volume of lung spared at 10 Gy (p = 0.025), percentage of lung volume receiving >or=20 Gy (V(20); p = 0.002), and mean lung dose (p = 0.013). On multivariate analysis, only V20 was predictive of PRD (p = 0.017; odds ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-2.08) or non-cancer-related death (p = 0.033; odds ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.45). CONCLUSION: The results of our study have shown that fatal pulmonary toxicities were associated with radiation to the contralateral lung. V20 was the only independent determinant for risk of PRD or non-cancer-related death. The mean V20 of the non-PRD patients was considerably lower than that accepted during standard thoracic radiotherapy, implying that the V20 should be kept as low as possible after extrapleural pneumonectomy.     

Surgery in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Surgical intervention plays an important role in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and can be applied with curative or palliative intent. The overall aim of surgery should be, as in any oncologic surgery, the macroscopic complete resection (MCR) of the tumor. Most importantly, the majority of patients with the diagnosis of MPM should be appropriately staged and initially evaluated in a multidisciplinary setting, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgery after histologic diagnosis. Surgical staging, including determination of the histologic subtype and lymph node status, as well as clinical staging with positron-emission tomography–computer tomography scan and determination of cardiopulmonary reserve are crucial. Herein, we summarize the role of surgical resection, specifically macroscopic complete resection, performed as extrapleural pneumonectomy or extended pleurectomy/decortication in multimodality treatment settings and advocate for optimal patient selection for one or the other procedure. In addition, the roles of surgery in diagnosis of MPM and in palliative care are discussed.