Katherina-Bernadette Sreter1, Marko Jakopovic1, Zoran Janevski1, Miroslav Samarzija1, Paul Zarogoulidis1, Ioannis Kioumis1, Nikolaos Mparmpetakis1, Athanasia Pataka1, Konstantinos Zarogoulidis1, Theodora Tsiouda1, Christoforos Kosmidis1, Sofia Mpaka1, Haidong Huang1, Wolfgang Hohenforst-Schmidt1, Charalampos Charalampidis1, Nikolaos Machairiotis1, Bojan Zaric1, Aleksandar Milovancev1. 1. 1 Department of Clinical Immunology, Pulmonology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Centre "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia ; 2 Department of Post-Intensive Care, Clinic for Respiratory Diseases "Jordanovac", University Hospital Centre Zagreb, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia ; 3 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Clinic for Respiratory Diseases "Jordanovac", University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia ; 4 Pulmonary Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Thoracic Surgery Department, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 University Surgery Department, "AHEPA" University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Oncology Department, "Interbalkan" European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Department of Respiratory Diseases, Changhai Hospital/First Affiliated Hospital of the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China ; 9 Medical Clinic I, "Fuerth'' Hospital, University of Erlangen, Fuerth, Germany ; 10 Department of Anatomy, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 11 Obstetric - Gynecology Department, "Thriassio" General Hospital of Athens, George Genimata, Athens, Greece ; 12 Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading cause of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Management of MPEs remains a clinical challenge due to recurrence and poor quality of life. An ideal sclerosing agent has yet to be found. The aim of this cohort pilot study was to evaluate the role of mitoxantrone pleurodesis (MP) as an alternative to talc sclerotherapy for managing MPEs in lung cancer patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on consecutively admitted patients with MPE to the Department of Post-Intensive Care at the Clinic for Respiratory Diseases "Jordanovac", University Hospital Centre Zagreb, in Croatia. RESULTS: Of 34 patients with MPE, twenty-one (64.8±9.46 years; 47-84 years) with primary lung carcinoma who received MP (30 mg of mitoxantrone) between December 2003 and February 2009 were included in this study. Chest radiographs taken prior to sclerotherapy and at 1-, 2-, and 3-month follow-up were compared. At the post-sclerotherapy evaluation periods, overall success (OS) rates of MP were 88.2% [17.6%, complete response (CR); 70.6%, partial response (PR)], 53.9% (7.7% CR; 46.2% PR), and 45.5% (PR), respectively. Kaplan-Meier median survival from MP until death was 5.2 months, while that from diagnosis of primary lung cancer was 12.3 months. CONCLUSIONS: MP may be a safe and effective method of managing MPE due to lung cancer. Future randomized controlled studies comparing mitoxantrone and talc pleurodesis in lung cancer patients are warranted to elucidate whether a significant difference exists between these agents. Factors affecting success, survival probability, and quality of life also require further investigation.
BACKGROUND:Lung cancer is the leading cause of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Management of MPEs remains a clinical challenge due to recurrence and poor quality of life. An ideal sclerosing agent has yet to be found. The aim of this cohort pilot study was to evaluate the role of mitoxantrone pleurodesis (MP) as an alternative to talc sclerotherapy for managing MPEs in lung cancerpatients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on consecutively admitted patients with MPE to the Department of Post-Intensive Care at the Clinic for Respiratory Diseases "Jordanovac", University Hospital Centre Zagreb, in Croatia. RESULTS: Of 34 patients with MPE, twenty-one (64.8±9.46 years; 47-84 years) with primary lung carcinoma who received MP (30 mg of mitoxantrone) between December 2003 and February 2009 were included in this study. Chest radiographs taken prior to sclerotherapy and at 1-, 2-, and 3-month follow-up were compared. At the post-sclerotherapy evaluation periods, overall success (OS) rates of MP were 88.2% [17.6%, complete response (CR); 70.6%, partial response (PR)], 53.9% (7.7% CR; 46.2% PR), and 45.5% (PR), respectively. Kaplan-Meier median survival from MP until death was 5.2 months, while that from diagnosis of primary lung cancer was 12.3 months. CONCLUSIONS:MP may be a safe and effective method of managing MPE due to lung cancer. Future randomized controlled studies comparing mitoxantrone and talc pleurodesis in lung cancerpatients are warranted to elucidate whether a significant difference exists between these agents. Factors affecting success, survival probability, and quality of life also require further investigation.