Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a locally aggressive advanced tumour, with bad prognosis and many times fatal, who have been growing in the last two decades with possibilities to be continue in all the world until 2020, showing use of pic asbestos to the years 1960/1970. Next 35 years the previsions of the deaths is more than 250 000. In Portugal (ROR) incidence is 1,2/1 000 000/year for total of the patients. Until now any new therapy showed advantage in the median survival and time to progression. The more important change whose the news than the antifolatos, particularly pemetrexed in combination with cisplatinum were actives in MM. Chemoterapy as soon as possible and second lines treatment it is very important thinking in the survival this fatal tumor. Rev Port Pneumol 2008; XIV (Sup.2): S35-S44.
Keywords: Malignant pleural mesothelioma; Mesotelioma pleural maligno; chemotherapy; pemetrexed; quimioterapia; tratamento; treatment.
© 2008 Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia/SPP.