Prognosis

Malignant pleural mesothelioma remains a highly lethal malignancy despite treatment advances and the advent of multimodal therapy (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy).

Surgical treatment in addition to systemic chemotherapy is independently associated with improved overall survival in patients with operable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Older age, male sex, black race, low income, and low educational attainment are associated with poor overall survival in patients with operable disease.[63]

One-year relative survival rate by mesothelioma stage at diagnosis (2020 data):[4]

  • 59.3% (localised disease)

  • 62% (regional)

  • 46.8% (distant)

Five-year relative survival rate by mesothelioma stage at diagnosis (2016 data):[4][108]

  • 24.1% (localised disease)

  • 18.1% (regional)

  • 8.0% (distant)

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