Lung cancer : journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
-
Comparative Study
Inadequacy of the RECIST criteria for response evaluation in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
The newly introduced Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), which relies on a single largest dimension of tumor rather than on the product of perpendicular diameters World Health Organisation (WHO) is intended to simplify the assessment of tumor response. ⋯ For MPM bidimensional WHO response evaluation cannot automatically be replaced by RECIST because MPM has a non-spherical growth pattern. Our recommendation is to use the WHO criteria for bidimensional measurable lesions, RECIST for unidimensional measurable lesions and a modified RECIST response evaluation, in which the short axis perpendicular to the chest wall is used, for thickened pleural rind disease, according to the method used in the recently completed pemetrexed (Alimta) trial for MPM.