Epithelioid Mesothelioma

What Is Epithelioid Mesothelioma?

Epithelioid mesothelioma (also known as epithelial mesothelioma) is one of the three cell types of malignant mesothelioma. The other two mesothelioma cell types are sarcomatoid and biphasic.

Healthy epithelial cells typically develop from a type of tissue that forms as wounds heal (granuloma). However, epithelial cells can mutate into mesothelioma tumors when they are exposed to asbestos fibers.

Epithelioid mesothelioma characteristics:

• Adhere together in clumps
• Clearly visible nucleus
• Move slowly
• Square, cubed, or flat-shaped cells

Malignant epithelioid mesothelioma cancer generally responds well to treatment. Patients with this cell type tend to live longer than patients with biphasic or sarcomatoid mesothelioma, provided that doctors can diagnose their cancer before it spreads.

Epithelioid Mesothelioma Symptoms

Epithelioid mesothelioma usually causes mild symptoms at first. Many times, the cancer is commonly mistaken for other health problems with similar symptoms, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

Signs and symptoms of epithelial mesothelioma can vary depending on the location of cancer in the body.

Patients with epithelioid pleural mesothelioma (which forms in the lining of the lungs) will have different symptoms than those with epithelioid peritoneal mesothelioma (which forms in the lining of the abdomen).

Mesothelioma symptoms become more obvious and severe as the cancer spreads. Patients may be able to live longer if the cancer is diagnosed and treated early on.

Get our free Mesothelioma Guide to learn more about mesothelioma diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options.

Epithelial Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Generally, a malignant epithelioid mesothelioma type diagnosis begins when a patient complains of symptoms. Doctors will then follow several steps to see if epithelioid mesothelioma is causing the symptoms.

Learn more about the epithelial mesothelioma diagnosis process below.

Physical Examination

Doctors will first perform a physical examination to determine the cause of the symptoms.

Many symptoms of epithelioid mesothelioma can be mistaken for less severe and more common illnesses. A physical examination can help doctors rule out other conditions.

If you are showing signs of mesothelioma, your doctor may ask you about any instances of asbestos exposure (which is the only known cause of mesothelioma).

Imaging Tests

If doctors think you may have cancer based on your physical exam, they will use imaging tests to look for tumors, scar tissue, or other signs of mesothelioma.

Imaging tests may include X-rays, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, CT (computed tomography) scans, or PET (positron emission tomography) scans.

Imaging tests are crucial as they can show where possibly cancerous tumors are located in your body.

Blood Tests

Doctors may order blood tests to diagnose epithelial mesothelioma.

Through these tests, doctors will look at certain biomarkers (levels of certain substances within the blood) which may mean that mesothelioma is present. This helps doctors distinguish mesothelioma cells from cells of other, similar illnesses and avoid misdiagnosis.

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the diagnostic process for epithelioid mesothelioma should include immunohistochemistry staining, a type of biomarker test. This allows doctors to look for certain proteins (such as calretinin) and other signs of mesothelioma cancer.

Biopsy

If doctors find signs of cancer in imaging and blood tests, they will order a biopsy. A biopsy is the only way to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Doctors will collect small fluid or tissue samples from possibly cancerous tissue through a small needle and examine it under a microscope to see if mesothelioma cells are present.

Once the doctor confirms the presence of mesothelioma, they can see if the cells are epithelioid cells.

Epithelioid Mesothelioma Prognosis

Patients with epithelial mesothelioma typically have a life expectancy of 1-2 years following their diagnosis.

Epithelioid mesothelioma generally has a better prognosis (expected outcome of a disease) than the sarcomatoid and biphasic cell subtypes since epithelial cells spread fairly slowly.

The table below details epithelioid patient survival compared to the other mesothelioma cell types.

Other factors such as the patient’s age, cancer stage, and mesothelioma type can also affect a prognosis. Mesothelioma specialists take all of these factors into account when determining a patient’s prognosis and deciding on the best treatment options.

Epithelial Mesothelioma Treatment

Like all forms of mesothelioma, epithelial mesothelioma is usually treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or other cancer treatments.

Epithelial cells are more responsive to more aggresive mesothelioma treatments than other cell types.

Learn more about types of epithelioid mesothelioma treatment below.

Surgery

Removing tumors through surgery is the most effective way to treat epithelioid mesothelioma as most or all visible signs of the cancer are removed.

Patients with the epithelioid cell type are more likely to qualify for mesothelioma surgery compared to patients with sarcomatoid cells or biphasic tumors.

The most common surgeries for patients with epithelioid pleural mesothelioma are extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) or pleurectomy with decortication (P/D). Patients with epithelioid peritoneal mesothelioma may qualify for cytoreduction with HIPEC.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy for epithelioid mesothelioma is administered intravenously to stop cancer cells from spreading. Patients will typically need multiple rounds of mesothelioma chemotherapy.

Common chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma include pemetrexed, cisplatin, carboplatin, and gemcitabine.

Radiation Therapy

Mesothelioma radiation therapy is administered by a machine that delivers high-energy waves to the tumor site which causes the epithelioid mesothelioma cells to die and the tumors to shrink.

Radiation may be used to supplement a surgery or as a main treatment if surgery is not an option.

Multimodal Therapy

Mesothelioma treatments are often combined in what’s known as multimodal therapy for best results.

Research has shown that multimodal treatment can improve the long-term survival rates of epithelioid mesothelioma patients.

Emerging Treatment Options

In addition to the traditional cancer treatment methods, epithelial mesothelioma patients may be able to get other types of treatment as well.

Patients with epithelioid mesothelioma can access promising new treatment options through clinical trials, which test emerging treatments to hopefully improve survival rates and find a cure.

Treatment options such as gene therapy, cryotherapy, and others are becoming more available for mesothelioma patients thanks to clinical trials. Further, mesothelioma immunotherapy was recently approved as a mainstream treatment after promising results in clinical trials.

Use our free Mesothelioma Doctor Match program today to find available treatment and help you fight this disease.

Rare Types of Epithelial Mesothelioma Cells

There are several subtypes of epithelioid mesothelioma. Some of these subtypes are extremely rare and may even be non-cancerous (benign).

These subtypes grow at different speeds and respond differently to treatments. Identifying a patient’s epithelioid mesothelioma subtype allows oncologists to provide them with a more accurate prognosis.

Rare subtypes of epithelioid mesothelioma include:

• Adenoid cystic mesothelioma: These rare and often benign cells do not spread to distant areas of the body
• Adenomatoid mesothelioma: This subtype generally originates within a patient’s genital glands and accounts for roughly 6% of epithelioid pleural mesothelioma cases
• Deciduoid mesothelioma: This subtype is characterized by its distinct borders and large oval shapes and often has a very poor prognosis
• Papillary mesothelioma: These cells are more common in women than men and slow to progress
• Small-cell mesothelioma: This extremely rare subtype is often mistaken for other small-cell cancers

Find Epithelioid Mesothelioma Treatment Today

Epithelial mesothelioma patients may find hope in knowing this cell type typically responds well to treatments.

If you have been recently diagnosed with epithelioid mesothelioma, you may still have questions or concerns about seeking treatment.

Thankfully, there are many mesothelioma specialists available to help you get treatment for epithelial mesothelioma. These treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and more.

Use our free Mesothelioma Doctor Match program to find a specialist near you today.