Mesothelioma Information

Biphasic mesothelioma is the second most common type of mesothelioma cancer cell.  In order to diagnose a case of biphasic mesothelioma, a biopsy is required.  A type of diagnostic surgery, a biopsy involves the removal of a section of suspect tissue for examination by a histopathologist.

Whereas epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma both have a fairly unique cellular structure, biphasic mesothelioma does not; rather, biphasic mesothelioma is composed of a mixture of epithelioid mesothelioma cancer cells and sarcomatoid cancer cells.

Biphasic mesothelioma was once perceived to be a lot less common than it has recently been found to be. Initially viewed to occur in approximately 25% of all mesothelioma cases, biphasic mesothelioma occurrences have recently jumped by an estimated range of 20 to 38%.  How can such a significant rise be explained?  Many experts believe it is down to the biphasic cellular pattern.

Biphasic mesothelioma, or mixed mesothelioma, contains a mixture of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells.  The cells can present themselves in the form of a true mixture whereby sarcomatoid and epithelioid cells are intermixed amongst one another; or, the cells can present themselves in the form of an isolated mixture whereby sarcomatoid and epithelioid cells are separated from one another throughout different regions of the tumor.

The latter mixture type, in conjunction with more sophisticated diagnostic tools and methods, could reflect the significant rise in biphasic occurrences.  For example, if a doctor were to take a biopsy of suspect tissue and find it to contain only sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer cells, it would be assumed that the patient suffers from sarcomatoid mesothelioma; however, the section of tissue may have been taken from the sarcomatoid region of the biphasic tumor, meaning that the epithelioid cells were missed because of their isolation from the sarcomatoid cells.  These days, it is common for multiple biopsies to be taken from different sections of a given tumor so as to ensure the correct diagnosis.

Biphasic Mesothelioma Treatment and Survival Time

The treatment options available for biphasic mesothelioma are the same as those used to combat epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma.  Of the three histological categories, biphasic mesothelioma has the shortest median survival time at six months.  Because of this, biphasic mesothelioma sufferers might elect to choose a more experimental or radical treatment option.

New mesothelioma and anti-cancer drugs are constantly being researched and developed.  Such drugs are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to go through extensive clinical trial testing during which their safety and efficacy is monitored.  The patients who choose to participate in these clinical trials typically suffer from a highly advanced type of cancer.  Rather than electing to take traditional mesothelioma treatments that have proven ineffective, patients can instead choose from a variety of experimental treatments.  While such experimental treatments may carry more risk than traditional treatment modalities, some patients may find the risks are worth it.

Epithelioid and Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

There are three histological categories of mesothelioma cancer cells:  epithelioid mesothelioma, sarcomatoid mesothelioma and biphasic mesothelioma.

Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma cancer cell.  Epithelioid mesothelioma has a somewhat unique cellular pattern. When viewed under high magnification, the tubular epithelioid mesothelioma cells have a fairly distinct nucleus.

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the least common type of mesothelioma cancer cell.  Like epithelioid mesothelioma, sarcomatoid mesothelioma has a somewhat unique cellular pattern when viewed under high magnification; however, the irregular oval shape of sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer cells can often be confused with other types of cancer like sarcomatoid carcinoma and sarcoma.

Biphasic mean the biopsy sample contains both epitheliod and sarcomatoid types.