Heterologous mesothelioma is a rare subtype of mesothelioma. With just a few cases ever recorded, information about heterologous mesothelioma is limited. Diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment options are similar to other types of mesothelioma.
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What Is Heterologous Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, a layer of tissue that lines organs in the body. Mesothelioma cancer cells arise from mesothelial cells. Heterologous mesothelioma is a rare subtype of mesothelioma with tumors that contain cells from other tissue types, not just the mesothelium.
Heterologous mesothelioma closely resembles any other type of mesothelioma. Its only difference is that the cancerous cells’ structures inside the tumor do not resemble other cell structures.
For instance, the tumors may have bone or muscle cells. Physicians are still unsure of how this happens, which makes treatment difficult.
About Mesothelioma Cell Types
Mesothelioma is often categorized by location, with the three main types being pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial. It can also be divided by cell type:
- Epithelioid mesothelioma contains epithelial cells and is the least aggressive type.
- Sarcomatoid mesothelioma tumors contain cells that resemble sarcomas, cancers of connective tissues. This type is more aggressive.
- Biphasic mesothelioma occurs when the tumors contain a mixture of epithelial and sarcomatoid cells.
In the limited number of heterologous mesothelioma cases diagnosed, most were sarcomatoid or biphasic. Very few are epithelioid.
Characteristics of Heterologous Mesothelioma
Heterologous mesothelioma is extremely rare. Few cases have been reported in the scientific and medical literature. Based on these case studies, experts know a few facts about it:
- Most cases of heterologous mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma.
- Most patients are older men.
- Cell types found in heterologous mesothelioma tumors include bone, cartilage, and muscle.
- Some patients have just one additional cell type, while others have multiple types.
What Causes Heterologous Mesothelioma?
As with other types of mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos seems to be the primary cause of heterologous mesothelioma. Yet, it’s still unclear how the subtype’s histological aspects affect people.
So far, research indicates that cellular differentiation is also an important factor when determining the cause of heterologous mesothelioma:
- Cellular differentiation occurs when cells adapt and become more specialized and able to perform specific functions. For instance, a cell adapts to become a muscle cell.
- After differentiation, cells have a lifespan and ultimately die without dividing to produce new cells. Cancerous cells that differentiate are atypical and continue to grow and divide.
- Healthy mesothelium cells are capable of differentiating into connective tissue cells. This might explain how some people with mesothelioma have a mix of cell types in their tumors.
Diagnosing Heterologous Mesothelioma
Diagnosis for mesothelioma begins with a physical exam, medical history, and a review of work history to find any past asbestos exposure. Doctors order imaging scans, like X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans, to look for abnormal growths.
If they find growths, they perform a biopsy to remove a small amount of tissue for study. A pathologist examines the biopsy sample to look for signs of malignancy and to identify the cell types.
Even when cancer is diagnosed, determining if it is mesothelioma, which cell type, and any rare cell subtypes is challenging. Pathologists look at the visible appearance of cells for characteristic patterns.
They also perform immunohistochemical tests. These use antibodies to identify characteristic antigens in tumor cells. These immune system proteins can help doctors determine cancer and cell types.
Heterologous mesothelioma is easily misdiagnosed as pleural osteosarcoma or chondrosarcoma. These are cancers of bone and connective tissue that have spread to the pleural tissue.
To diagnose heterologous mesothelioma, doctors look for bone, muscle, or cartilage cells in the tumors along with markers specific to mesothelioma.
Treating Heterologous Mesothelioma
There is no standard treatment for heterologous mesothelioma. Treatment plans depend on individual factors and usually follow treatment strategies for sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
Because sarcomatoid mesothelioma is aggressive, it is usually already widespread at the time of diagnosis. Surgery is not often an option for these patients.
Treatment options for patients ineligible for surgery include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. The best treatment plan is usually multimodal, a combination of two or more treatments.
Recent studies have found that sarcomatoid mesothelioma patients benefit from immunotherapy. They get a greater extension of survival time than patients with epithelioid patients.
In one case study of heterologous mesothelioma, the patient underwent surgery and received chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This trimodal approach helped him live 12 months past his diagnosis.
Heterologous mesothelioma patients may qualify for clinical trials. These offer the chance to access treatments not readily available. Patients could benefit from these emerging treatments.
What Is the Prognosis for Heterologous Mesothelioma?
The prognosis for heterologous mesothelioma is similar to that of other types of sarcomatoid mesothelioma. As an aggressive cell type, sarcomatoid mesothelioma spreads rapidly and has a poor prognosis.
According to the few studies conducted on this subtype, the average survival time for heterologous mesothelioma patients is just six months after diagnosis.
As with all types of mesothelioma, averages are useful, but survival rates vary significantly by individual. One patient diagnosed with heterologous mesothelioma lived for more than five years after treatment.
How to Improve Your Mesothelioma Prognosis
Furthermore, as with all types of mesothelioma, your lifestyle will play a role in your survival rate. Consider the following that could potentially help in extending the survival rate:
- Maintain a strong support group, whether it be family, friends, in-person mesothelioma support meetings, or online support groups.
- Consume a diet that consists of green, leafy vegetables, fruits, lean meat, or other forms of protein. Your physician can help you work out a diet plan for your needs.
- Get as much exercise as possible, but be certain to stop if you feel ill or too winded. Again, your physician can help you develop a good exercise plan as well.
- Try to keep your stress levels as low as possible. Stress contributes to numerous illnesses.
Any diagnosis of mesothelioma is difficult, but the heterologous type can be especially confusing. Talk to your doctor about treatment options and contact an experienced lawyer to learn what you can do about past asbestos exposure.
Additional Help for Mesothelioma Victims
Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on experienced asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. Keep in mind that if you have mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for considerable compensation for pain, suffering, medical expenses, and more. For additional assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.
