Confirmation that prophylactic irradiation of tracts (PIT) is not justified in routine treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) meaning patients now do not receive unnecessary treatment

Narrative

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lining around the lungs and chest cavity. Previously it was widespread practice across Europe to irradiate intervention sites in patients with MPM post-surgery in the hope of preventing tumour seeding. Our research as part of the PIT: Prophylactic Irradiation of Tracts in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) trial confirmed that PIT is not justified in the routine treatment of MPM, meaning that patients are now not given this unnecessary treatment with potential harmful side effects.
Our research as part of the PIT trial has been cited in The European Respiratory Society (ERS)/European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS)/ European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery EACTS)/European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) guidelines for the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines. Both guidelines confirmed that prophylactic irradiation of tracts is not justified in routine practice and both were co-authored by Corinne Faivre-Finn.

Impact date	2020
Category of impact	Health and wellbeing
Impact level	Adoption