Co-existing pericardial and pleural malignant mesothelioma responding well to nedaplatin and pemetrexed: a case report

BACKGROUND: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare cancer with poor prognosis. It is less common that two serosal cavities are involved when the patient seeks medical attention firstly. The current first-line chemotherapy for advanced MM is a combination with cisplatin and pemetrexed. However, nedaplatin, a second-generation platinum-based antitumor agent, has the similar therapeutic effects as cisplatin but lower toxicity and higher water solubility. To our knowledge, this is the first case of co-existing pericardial and pleural MM treated with nedaplatin and pemetrexed and responding well. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 33-year-old woman, who had worked in a kiln for more than 10 years, suffered from dyspnea and chest tightness for 6 days. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a massive pericardial effusion. She was diagnosed tuberculous pericarditis and received 6 months antituberculosis treatment (rifampicin, isoniazide, pyrazinamide, ethambutol). But it was ineffective and she was re hospitalized again due to massive pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. She was diagnosed with co-existing pericardial and pleural MM finally based on pleural biopsy and cytology of pericardial effusion. She was responding well excitedly to chemotherapy with nedaplatin and pemetrexed with high tolerance. Bone marrow toxicity or recurrent massive pericardial or pleural effusion were not observed during chemotherapy. However, she gave up chemotherapy and has survived for 22 months, from the onset symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of clinical tolerance and less adverse reactions, we suggest that chemotherapy of nedaplatin with pemetrexed may be a more appropriate treatment in advanced MM. Further clinical trials are warrant.