Zimberelimab plus chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma(MPeM)is a rare cancer with a poor prognosis at advanced stage,and the standard first-line treatment for inoperable patients is chemotherapy.Although combining programmed cell death 1(PD-1)inhibitors with chemotherapy is generally considered safe and effective in several malignant solid tumors,there are few reports regarding initial immunochemotherapy in advanced MPeM.CASE SUMMARY Here,to our knowledge,we present the first case of a patient with epithelioid subtype MPeM,who was treatment-naïve and benefited from initial PD-1 inhibitor plus standard chemotherapy with a prolonged progression-free survival(PFS)and good tolerance.A 49-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for a persistent burning sensation in the abdomen.Computed tomography revealed a solid mass in the lower abdomen,which was subsequently diagnosed histologically as epithelioid subtype MPeM by core needle biopsy.The patient received eight cycles of pemetrexed 800 mg(day 1),cisplatin 60/50 mg(day 1–2),and zimberelimab(PD-1 inhibitor)240 mg(day 1)every 3 wk.He achieved significant reduction of peritoneal tumors with remarkable improvement in symptoms.The best tumor response was partial remission with a final PFS of 7 mo.No immunerelated adverse event occurred during the combination treatment.CONCLUSION The outcome of the present case demonstrates the promising anti-tumor activity of immunochemotherapy to treat inoperable MPeM in the future.

Report on the 9^(th) International Congress on Peritoneal Surface Malignancies

The 9th International Congress on Peritoneal Surface Malignancies, sponsored by the Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group International （PSOGI） and organized by the Netherlands Cancer Institute, was held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from October 9 to 11, 2014, with over 650 delegates from 66 countries attending the meeting. With the central theme to summarize the global progresses in peritoneal carcinomatosis （PC） diagnosis and treatment, to draft the outline framework of international guidelines on PC treatment, and to formulate the future international collaborative research programs, this congress has set the new historical milestones in the global joint-effort to conquer PC. Major highlights of this congress are reported here.

Concurrent alcoholic cirrhosis and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in a patient:A case report

BACKGROUND Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma(MPM)originates from the mesothelial and subcutaneous cells of the abdominal cavity.Its diagnose is difficult due to its nonspecific and vague symptoms,and it should be differentiated from alcoholic cirrhosis and liver and pancreatic cancers.Misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis can easily occur when MPM presents with other diseases.To the best of our knowledge,no case of MPM concurrent with alcoholic cirrhosis has been reported.CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old man presented to our hospital with abdominal distension for 20days.He had a history of alcohol consumption for nearly 30 years and no history of special drug use or toxic exposure.After treatment for alcoholic cirrhosis in a community hospital,his symptoms did not improve significantly.The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy and surgical resection.Pathologic examination showed an epithelioid MPM.He was treated with chemotherapy and intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion after surgery.Currently,he is in a stable condition and tumor recurrence has not occurred.CONCLUSION Misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis of MPM can easily occur because of its insidious onset.Therefore,there is a need to understand.MPM in clinical practice,make the correct diagnosis,and provide timely and effective treatment.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma with massive ascites as the first symptom:A case report

BACKGROUND Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma(MPM) is an extremely rare tumor with nonspecific clinical manifestations,which is extremely difficult to diagnose.Herein,we reported a case of MPM in the abdominal cavity with massive shortterm ascites as the first symptom.CASE SUMMARY A 65-year-old woman presented to the hospital with abdominal pain,distention,and shortness of breath that persisted for 15 d.The serum CA-125 level was 1075 U/m L.The abdominal computed tomography showed massive ascites and no obvious tumor lesions.The pathological examination of the ascitic fluid showed numerous heterotypic cells with some papillary structures.The immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization showed the deletion of CDX2(-),WT-1(-),Ki-67(about 10% +),CEA(-),Glut-1(+++),desmin(-),PD-L1(-),and CDKN2A(P16).The final diagnosis was MPM.The patient refused tumor cytoreductive surgery and received two cycles of cisplatin plus pemetrexed bidirectional chemotherapy.In the second cycle,she received an additional cycle of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy due to massive recalcitrant ascites.She died of disease progression 2 mo after diagnosis.CONCLUSION In case of massive unexplained ascites,the possibility of MPM should not be excluded to avoid misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.

New frontiers in peritoneal malignancies

I was honored to be asked to write an editorial on ＇cytoreductive surgery using peritonectomy and visceral resections for peritoneal surface malignancy＇ （1） written by Paul H. Sugarbaker. A strategic approach using peritonectomy and cytoreductive surgery to treat peritoneal cancers has gradually evolved over the past 30 years that has emanated by our impressive leader Paul H. Sugarbaker. He has brought many surgeons together from all over the world for these procedures. His skill made so many of us enthused by peritonectomy procedures and cytoreductive surgery with long operation time, a major postoperative morbidity and high mortality risk. However, we are all persisted with these procedures because of sometimes moribund patients with peritoneal cancers may cure with peritonectomy procedures and cytoreductive surgery.

Case Report:Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma presenting with persistent high fever

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma(MPM) is a rare tumor that develops in the peritoneum.In this paper,we describe an extremely rare case of MPM metastasizing to the appendix in a 48-year-old female who initially presented with a persistent high fever.The woman reported a slight lower abdominal discomfort which had been relieved by urination for four months.She had lost 5 kg of weight.There was no nausea,vomiting,diarrhea,ab-dominal pain,or abdominal distension.Many broad spectrum antibiotics were given without relief of fever.Computed tomography(CT) scans revealed a thickened omentum majus and diffused multiple omental nodules.An omentec-tomy,appendectomy,and adnexectomy were carried out.A gross pathologic specimen of omentum tissue revealed a firm gray-white mass.Microscopic and immunohistochemical examinations confirmed the diagnosis of appendiceal and bilateral adnexal metastases of an MPM.These results suggest that MPM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained persistent high fever.Awareness of such atypical presentations of mesothelioma may help to make a correct diagnosis.