Available online 2 June 2023

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Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a severe form of cancer that originates from mesothelium cells. Around 54-90% of mesotheliomas are associated with pleural effusions. Brucea Javanica Oil Emulsion (BJOE) is the processed oil derived from the seeds of Brucea javanica, which has shown potential as a treatment option for several types of cancer. Here, we present a case study of a MPM patient with malignant pleural effusion who received intrapleural injection of BJOE. The treatment resulted in the complete response of pleural effusion and chest tightness. While the precise mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of BJOE for pleural effusion are not yet fully understood, it has demonstrated a satisfactory clinical response without significant adverse effects.

Section snippetsBackground

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a severe form of cancer that originates from mesothelium cells. In the early stages, surgery is the preferred treatment option while in patients without indications for surgery, the combination of platinum and antifolates is the first-line chemotherapy.1 However, the diagnosis of MPM often occurs after metastasis, which leads to a 5-10% 5-year survival rate, and results in unfavorable outcomes.2 Invasive mesotheliomas were histologically classified into

Case Presentation

A 67-year-old male underwent a ultrasound for chest tightness and a pleural effusion was found. The pathological examination of pleural fluid (15-6-2021) found the proliferating mesothelioid cells and further radiographic examination was recommended. A PET-CT scan revealed multiple abnormalities in the left lung, pleura, thorax, retroperitoneal lymph node, and left adrenal gland, including a nodule in the dorsal segment of the lower lobe of the left lung with increased FDG metabolism, multiple

Discussion and Conclusions

MPM is a kind of rare and aggressive thoracic tumors which arise from the pleura. It is reported that the median survival of MPM was no more than 12 months.15 We present an atypical case of a patient with MPM-induced pleural effusion who achieved a complete cure, and is experiencing a survival that is above average. Furthermore, there were no reported adverse effects or recurrence of pleural effusion in the patient.

The intrapleural injection of BJOE has been extensively utilized in China as a

Author contributions

Hailun Zhou and Qin Wang prepared the manuscript. Lijing Jiao and Ling Bi participated in the discussion and study of the case. Shuliu Sang, Yang Han, Shanshan Gan, Ruichao Liu and Geer A dedicated to data collection and information search. Yabin Gong made the research design. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Patient Consent Statement

The authors declare that they have obtained consent from the patient.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NO. 82074339). We would like to thank Professor Yabin Gong for their guidance on this study.

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© 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc.