[Correspondence] Hemithoracic radiotherapy for mesothelioma: lack of benefit or lack of statistical power?

In The Lancet Oncology, Rolf Stahel and colleagues1 conclude that results from their trial do not support use of hemithoracic radiotherapy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and extrapleural pneumonectomy in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Median locoregional relapse-free survival from surgery was 7·6 months (95% CI 4·5–10·7) in patients not treated with radiotherapy compared with 9·4 months (6·5–11·9) in the radiotherapy group. The authors, leaders in the treatment of this cancer, should be commended for having undertaken a large prospective trial, but we are concerned that their conclusions are not supported by the data and could be misinterpreted. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

from MedWorm: Mesothelioma http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=164542197&cid=c_409_6_f&fid=38433&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thelancet.com%2Fjournals%2Flanonc%2Farticle%2FPIIS1470-2045%2816%2900024-3%2Ffulltext%3Frss%3Dyes