A Randomized Study to Assess Whether Radiotherapy Prevents Skin Lumps at Sites Where Needles or Tubes Have Been Inserted in Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the efficacy of radiotherapy in the prevention of metastatic skin nodules or tumor seeding following invasive diagnostic procedures, such as chest drain insertion, pleural aspiration, pleural biopsy, and thoracoscopy, in patients with malignant mesothelioma.
• Determine whether the nodules that develop after radiotherapy are symptomatic in these patients.
• Compare the quality of life of patients treated with radiotherapy vs standard care alone.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized study.

Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

• Arm I: Patients receive radiotherapy on 3 consecutive days beginning within 3 weeks after chest drain insertion, pleural aspiration, pleural biopsy, or thoracoscopy and once the wounds have healed.
• Arm II: Patients receive standard supportive care alone. Quality of life is assessed at baseline, and then at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months.