Mesothelioma Therapy Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Mesothelioma Therapy facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Amatuximab is an experimental targeted therapy for mesothelioma that targets which protein? → Mesothelin
2. Which route of administration is used for HIPEC chemotherapy? → Intraperitoneal (directly into the abdomen)
3. Prophylactic irradiation of procedure tracts is used in mesothelioma to prevent: → Seeding of tumor cells along biopsy or drain tracks
4. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects which part of the body? → Lining of the abdomen
5. Thoracentesis is performed as a palliative procedure in mesothelioma to treat which condition? → Pleural effusion causing dyspnea
6. VATS (Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) is most commonly used for mesothelioma in which context? → Diagnostic biopsy and pleurodesis
7. Which radiation technique is considered most precise for mesothelioma, reducing dose to surrounding structures? → Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
8. Which multidisciplinary team member plays the primary role in identifying and addressing functional decline and fatigue in mesothelioma patients? → Occupational therapist
9. Which factor most contraindicates surgical resection in mesothelioma patients? → Distant metastatic disease (Stage IV)
10. Which adjuvant analgesic class is particularly useful for neuropathic pain in mesothelioma chest wall invasion? → Gabapentinoids (gabapentin, pregabalin)
11. What is the median survival time for Stage IV pleural mesothelioma without treatment? → 4–6 months
12. According to the WHO pain ladder, which drug class is appropriate for severe cancer pain unresponsive to non-opioids? → Strong opioids (morphine, oxycodone)
13. Which type of mesothelioma is most commonly diagnosed in the United States? → Pleural mesothelioma
14. Approximately what is the sensitivity of serum soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP) for diagnosing mesothelioma? → Approximately 50-70%
15. What is the primary role of radiation therapy in mesothelioma treatment? → Palliative symptom control and adjuvant therapy
16. What is the average latency period between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma diagnosis? → 20–50 years
17. What does 'sarcomatoid' mesothelioma mean in terms of prognosis? → Worse prognosis than epithelioid
18. Which serum biomarker may be used to monitor response to immunotherapy in mesothelioma? → Soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP)
19. In the CheckMate 743 trial, nivolumab + ipilimumab showed the greatest benefit in which mesothelioma subgroup? → Non-epithelioid (sarcomatoid/biphasic) cell type
20. Which radiation complication can occur when significant cardiac dose is received during mesothelioma treatment? → Radiation-induced pericarditis or cardiac toxicity
21. What is pleurodesis used for in mesothelioma management? → Preventing recurrent pleural effusion
22. What is the most common radiographic finding on initial chest X-ray in patients with pleural mesothelioma? → Unilateral pleural effusion
23. Which immunohistochemical markers are characteristically positive in epithelioid mesothelioma and help differentiate it from adenocarcinoma? → Calretinin and WT-1
24. Which vitamin supplements are required for patients receiving pemetrexed to reduce toxicity? → Folic acid and vitamin B12
25. What is the gold standard method for confirming a diagnosis of mesothelioma? → Tissue biopsy with histopathological and immunohistochemical examination
26. What is a contraindication for CRS + HIPEC in peritoneal mesothelioma? → Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) score greater than 20
27. What total radiation dose is typically used for adjuvant hemithoracic radiotherapy after EPP? → 45–54 Gy
28. In the TNM staging system, what does Stage I mesothelioma indicate? → Cancer is localized to the pleura on one side
29. What is the primary goal of palliative care in mesothelioma? → Improving quality of life and managing symptoms
30. What is the most common dose-limiting toxicity of pemetrexed in mesothelioma treatment? → Myelosuppression (neutropenia)