Mesothelioma: case report, treated exclusively with DBM for over 4 years

Prof. Luigi Di Bella - Excellent result in a Mesothelioma case treated exclusively with Di Bella Method for over 4 years and still treatment with positive results

Abstract

Description of a two-time points histologically-confirmed case of mesothelioma. The patient has received the DBM treatment since the beginning, the only other subsequent procedure performed has been pleurical talcage. The excellent result is that the patient is alive four years and half after the diagnosis and is able to perform his routine activities.

Summary

At the age of 50, the patient P.G. started having cough and dyspnea on exertion which resulted in a radiologically-confirmed remarkable right pleural effusion. The professional anamnesis of the patient was positive because of a chronic exposure to asbestos containing materials. Then the following relevant clinical examinations were performed:

24th September 1996

Thoracentesis with extraction of about 1600ml of golden yellow pleural fluid with exudative, but bacteriologically negative physical and chemical characteristics;

Bronchoscopy: Negative because of clear signs of macroscopically visible intramural and/or endocanalicular changes. The right bronchial hemi-system, in particular, was accessible, even if the terminal branches of the inferior and posterior basal segment appear oval as due to extrinsic compression.

28th October 1996

Encephalus-chest-upper abdomen CT scan: The remarkable right pleural effusion was the only pathological element found.

27th November 1996

Pleuroscopy with biopsy: The cytological examination of the pleural fluid had already revealed the presence of atypical cells. The histological examination of the bioptic fragments suggested an infiltration of a differentiated, monomorfic, alcyanophilic, immunoreactive to CAM 5.2, focally positive for vimentin, non-immunoreactive to CEA neoplasia, as due to mesothelial mesothelioma.

16th December 1996

The patient was visited by Prof. Luigi Di Bella, who proposed his therapeutic protocol: a mix of Retinoids and Vitamin E, Vitamn D3, Galactosaminoglucuronoglycan sulfate (Chondroitin sulfate), Bromocriptine, Melatonin, Vitamin C, Calcium, Octreotide 1 mg/day s.c. (together) soluble Tetracosactide (0.25 mg) every 3 days. Prof. Luigi Di Bella suggested also a pleurical talcage in case of frequently needed thoracenteses.

18th December 1996

Another thorancentesis was performed (300ml) which confirmed the diagnosis through the cytological examination of the pleural fluid.

20th December 1996

The patient started the DBM treatment.

11th February 1997

A radiologic screening test showed a significant reabsorption of the pleural effusion in the right segment, where a small laterobasal pleural meniscus persists; polyfissural thickening.

In the following visits Prof. Luigi Di Bella adapted the dosage of some drugs based on patient’s clinical conditions. In December 1997 Ciclofosphamide was added (50 mg/day) to the treatment. In August 1997 the recurrence of the right pleural effusion, with the subsequent need of several evacuation thoracenteses starting from the month of December, led to the already suggested pleurical talcage of the right section (to obtain a chemical pleurodesis).

1st June 1998

The talcage procedure was performed at the Hospital of Verona (Italy). In that occasion another pleural biopsy was performed. The histological examination confirmed a morphological and immunophenotypic structure consistent with a malignant mesothelioma.

Patient’s clinical conditions have remained satisfactory and have allowed the patient to perform his routine activities.

The patient has continued the DBM treatment progressively reducing the doses of Octreotide, taken in LAR formulation, which consisted in a single monthly injection.

Over four years and half have passed since the diagnosis; this period widely exceeds the median survival of 8-10 months since the diagnosis for this malignant neoplasia (see Bibliography), which usually has a rapid and fatal progression and for which there aren’t effective pharmacological and surgical therapies yet.

Translated by: Maria Pia Biffi

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