Efficacy of chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma according to histology in a real-world cohort

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive cancer arising from the mesothelial cells lining the pleura. Asbestos exposure is the major risk factor for mesothelioma with a very prolonged latency period between exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma (20–50 years)1. The incidence rates of mesothelioma in the United States are 0.9 for men and 0.3 for women and in Europe 1.7 for males and 0.4 for females per 100,000 habitants2. The annual incidence of mesothelioma is increasing in Great Britain and Australia and it is predicted to increase in countries with poor regulation of asbestos mining.