Table 1 Description of the included studies for QoL after EPP or P/D for MPM

 WEDER, RIBI [29, 30]

O (prospective; multi-center)

2000–2003

45

Clinical T1-T3, N0–2; M0, any histology

Neo-adjuvant chemo (pre-op; n = 45/61), EPP, radiotherapy (post-op; n = 36/45)

Rotterdam Symptoms checklist; SEIQoL

y (pre-op)

1, 3

y

y

Median 13.5 months

10/12

 AMBROGI [31, 32]

O (prospective; single-center)

1997–2007

29

NR

EPP, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (post-op)

SF 36, St George, symptoms, lung function, 6 min walk, cardiac EF, Karnovsky

y (pre-op)

y

y

y

2, 3

Median 19.5 months

8/12

 ALVAREZ [33]

O (prospective; single-center)

2004–2007

16 (18 no EPP)

stage I, II, epithelioid, age < 70 years

EPP, chemotherapy, radiotherapy (post-op)

ECOG, Karnofsky

ECOG 0

y

y

18% at 6 months

8/12

 TREASURE [34]

RCT (multi-center)

2005–2008

12 (19 no EPP)

T1–3, N0–1, M0, any histology

Chemotherapy (pre-op), EPP, Radiotherapy (post-op)

EORTC C30; LC 13

y (pre-op)

6 weeks, 3 months

6, 9

12, 18 months

y

75% at 6 months

NA

 BURKHOLDER [35] (MOLLBERG [36])

O (prospective; single- center)

2010–2011

36

Epithelioid, biphasic

WHO PS 0–2

EPD (some talc, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 3), adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 30)

EORTC C30, lung function

y (pre-op)

4

5, 7, 8

NA

9/12

 SAUTER [37]

O (prospective; single-center

1988–1992

20

NR

Partial P (some chemotherapy, some radiation; post-op)

dyspnea, pain

y

y

Median 10 months

9/12

 SOYSAL [38]

O (retrospective; single-center)

1974–1992

100

NR

56 P/D; 44 Partial P, chemotherapy (n = 24/100; post-op), radiotherapy (n = 31/100; post-op), chemo + radio (n = 20/100; post-op)

dyspnea, pain, cough

y

y

Median survival 17 months

4/10

 MARTIN-UCAR [39]

O (prospective; single-center)

1997–2001

51

Exclude early stage

P/D palliative

symptoms

y (pre-op)

6 weeks, 3 months

y

y

53% at 6 months

9/12

 BOLUKBAS [40]

O (prospective; single-center)

2010

16

NR

radical P, chemotherapy, radiation (post-op)

lung function

y (pre-op)

2 months

NA

9/12

 RINTOUL [41]

RCT (multi-center)

2003–2012

73

NR

73 Partial P, 78 talc, some chemotherapy, radiotherapy (post-op)

EORTC C30, LC 13, Euro 5, lung function

y (pre-op)

1, 3

y

y

Median survival 13 months

NA

 TANAKA [42]

O (prospective; single-center)

2013–2015

22

NR

P/D, some chemotherapy (pre-op)

SF-36, lung function

y (pre-op)

NA

8/11

 VIGNESWARAN [43]

O (prospective; single-center)

2008–2015

114

NR

28 chemotherapy before P/D

EORTC C30

y (pre-op)

1

4–5, 7–8

10–11

Median survival 15.21 months

9/12

 RENA [44]

O (prospective; single-center)

1998–2009

77

Stage I and II

40 EPP (n = 7 adjuvant chemotherapy; n = 33 neoadjuvant); 37 P/D (n = 6 adjuvant chemotherapy; n = 31 neoadjuvant)

EORTC C30

y (pre-op)

y

Median survival 14 and 11 months

8/12

 PLOENES [45]

O (retrospective; single-center)

NR

48

NR

25 EPP; 23 P/D (intraoperative chemotherapy; n = 6)

lung function

y (pre-op)

y

Median survival 22 and 29 months

10/12

TOTAL CASES

659