What Is Biphasic Mesothelioma Cancer?
Biphasic mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and other organs that’s marked by the presence of two cell types:
- Epithelioid cells, which are rectangular, tend to stick together, and spread less quickly
- Sarcomatoid cells, which look like long, narrow spindles and can spread (metastasize) aggressively
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), biphasic malignant mesothelioma is the second most common mesothelioma cell type, making up 20-30% of the 3,000 cases diagnosed each year.
Biphasic mesothelioma patients tend to have a better prognosis (health outlook) if their cancer tumors contain more epithelioid cells than sarcomatoid cells, because they don’t spread as aggressively.
If you have biphasic mesothelioma or any other type of this cancer, Mesothelioma Hope can provide you with the medical, financial, and supportive care you need to find healing. Get your Free Mesothelioma Guide shipped overnight to learn how we can help.
What Causes Malignant Biphasic Mesothelioma?
Biphasic malignant mesothelioma (and every other type of this cancer) is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral widely used in various industries until the early 1980s due to its heat-resistant and insulating properties.
When asbestos fibers are breathed in or swallowed, they can become lodged in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or other organs. The fibers get trapped in the body and cause irritation for decades. After 10 to 50 years, cell mutation is possible and may cause mesothelioma cancer to form.
Biphasic Mesothelioma Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of biphasic malignant mesothelioma will depend on where the cancer develops in your body.
If your cancer has formed in the lung lining (pleura), you’ll have different mesothelioma symptoms than someone with tumors in the abdominal lining (peritoneum).
Learn what symptoms to watch for below.
Symptoms of Biphasic Pleural Mesothelioma
Biphasic pleural mesothelioma develops in the thin protective lining that surrounds the lungs.
Common symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Fluid buildup in the chest (pleural effusion)
- Shortness of breath
- Worsening cough
Symptoms of Biphasic Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Biphasic peritoneal mesothelioma starts in the lining that covers the abdominal organs.
Common symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Fluid buildup in the abdomen (peritoneal effusion)
- Night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
Getting a Biphasic Mesothelioma Diagnosis
The first step to getting a diagnosis is to schedule a physical exam with a mesothelioma doctor.
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. They’ll also order imaging tests like computed tomography (CT) scans to look for abnormal areas in your lungs or abdomen.
CT scans and X-rays can help doctors identify a tumor or mass, but a biopsy is the only way to confirm a biphasic mesothelioma cancer diagnosis. A biopsy involves taking a small tissue sample from your tumor and sending it to a lab for testing.
After the biopsy, a pathologist will study the sample under a microscope to see what types of cells are present and if they’re malignant (cancerous) or benign (not cancerous). A tumor must contain at least 10% epithelioid cells and 10% sarcomatoid cells to be classified as biphasic mesothelioma.
Some pathologists use a technique known as immunohistochemistry staining to distinguish mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in the mucous glands inside the lungs and other organs.
Our team can connect you with top specialists who are experienced in diagnosing and treating biphasic mesothelioma. Use our Free Doctor Match service to get started.
Biphasic Mesothelioma Prognosis & Life Expectancy
The prognosis for biphasic mesothelioma depends on the ratio between epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. If the tumor has more epithelioid cells, the patient’s mesothelioma prognosis is better since those cells are easier to treat.
Prognosis is typically measured using two main factors: life expectancy (average time a patient lives after a diagnosis) and survival rate (percentage of patients still alive after a certain number of years).
- The average life expectancy for biphasic mesothelioma patients is 10 months, according to an F1000 Research report.
- Biphasic mesothelioma patients have an average 2-year survival rate of 22%, according to a review of the National Cancer Database (NCDB).
Some biphasic patients have become long-term survivors with treatment from a qualified mesothelioma specialist.
“Facing biphasic mesothelioma can be a challenging journey, but it’s essential to approach it with hope and a proactive mindset. While every patient’s situation is unique, advancements in treatment options and personalized care plans are continually improving outcomes.”
Call (866) 608-8933 now to connect with our registered nurse and get help navigating a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Biphasic Mesothelioma Treatment Options
If you or a family member has biphasic malignant mesothelioma, there are various treatments that may be able to help you live longer with fewer symptoms. A mesothelioma doctor can create a treatment plan that considers your age, cancer stage, percentage of sarcomatoid versus epithelioid cells, and other key factors.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy for mesothelioma helps the body’s immune system find and attack cancer cells. It’s now recommended as a first-line treatment for patients with biphasic or sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma. The standard drugs are Opdivo® (nivolumab) and Yervoy® (ipilimumab) used together.
In the CheckMate 743 study, patients with non-epithelioid mesothelioma (including biphasic) lived longer on average when treated with Opdivo and Yervoy compared to chemotherapy. Many had an overall survival of about 18 months, which was an improvement over older treatments.
Research continues to explore new immunotherapy combinations, such as adding Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) with chemotherapy, and other clinical trials are studying next-generation immune therapies that may further improve survival rates for biphasic mesothelioma.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is still an important treatment for mesothelioma. The standard chemotherapy drugs are pemetrexed (Alimta®) combined with cisplatin or carboplatin. These medicines work together to shrink tumors, slow cancer growth, and help with symptoms.
For biphasic mesothelioma, doctors often recommend starting with immunotherapy (Opdivo + Yervoy) instead of chemotherapy, because it usually works better for tumors that have both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. If immunotherapy isn’t the right option, you may receive chemotherapy alone, or chemotherapy plus Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) as a first-line treatment.
Your mesothelioma specialist will consider your cell type, stage of cancer, and overall health to decide which treatments are best.
Surgery
Mesothelioma surgery is the most aggressive treatment option, but it can be very effective if a patient’s biphasic tumor is primarily made up of epithelioid cells.
Epithelioid cells tend to stick together and do not usually spread as quickly through the body. With surgery, doctors can often remove all of the visible tumor.
Because sarcomatoid cells spread more aggressively, surgery is usually not recommended when they make up most of the tumor.
Learn more about the different ways to treat this cancer and improve your prognosis in our Free Mesothelioma Guide.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is mainly used to manage mesothelioma symptoms but can also help shrink tumors. Radiation is a better option for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients because of the potential risks of damage to the abdominal area in peritoneal mesothelioma patients.
It may also be used as part of a multimodal treatment plan, in which several treatments are used together to fight cancer. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery can all be used in multimodal therapy to treat biphasic mesothelioma.
Emerging Treatments in Clinical Trials
Patients with biphasic malignant mesothelioma may be able to access emerging treatments by joining a clinical trial.
Mesothelioma clinical trials are currently studying new treatments such as:
- Gene therapy, which targets genetic abnormalities associated with cancer growth
- Targeted therapy, which focuses on specific molecules to prevent the growth and metastasis (spread) of tumors
- Vaccine therapy, which stimulates the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells
If you’ve been diagnosed with biphasic malignant mesothelioma, make sure to ask your doctor if there are any clinical trials you could join as part of your treatment plan.
Find Biphasic Mesothelioma Doctors Near You
Facing a biphasic mesothelioma diagnosis can be tough, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Our nurses and Patient Advocates have relationships with top mesothelioma doctors and cancer centers across the country. They can help you schedule your first appointment and see if you can get financial aid to help pay for treatment.
Call us at (866) 608-8933 or try our Free Doctor Match service to get personalized support.
Biphasic Mesothelioma Cancer FAQs
What does biphasic mesothelioma mean?
Biphasic mesothelioma means that the tumor is made up of two different types of cancer cells: epithelioid and sarcomatoid.
Epithelioid cells are more common and easier to treat, while sarcomatoid cells are harder to treat and more aggressive. The ratio of these two types of cells in a biphasic tumor can affect the effectiveness of treatment and the patient’s prognosis.
What is the survival rate for biphasic mesothelioma?
According to a review of the National Cancer Database:
- The 2-year survival rate is 22%.
- This is the percentage of biphasic mesothelioma patients alive 2 years after treatment.
- The 5-year survival rate is 5%.
- This is the percentage of biphasic mesothelioma patients alive 5 years after treatment.
These are average statistics based on past cases. Everyone’s cancer is unique, and some patients have lived for 5 years or more with treatment from a mesothelioma specialist.
What is primary biphasic malignant mesothelioma of the pleura?
Primary biphasic malignant mesothelioma of the pleura is a rare type of cancer that starts in the thin lining around the lungs, called the pleura. The term “biphasic” means that the tumor is made up of two different kinds of cancer cells: epithelioid cells and sarcomatoid cells.
Epithelioid cells tend to grow in clusters and spread more slowly, while sarcomatoid cells are spindle-shaped and can spread more quickly. When both types are present in the same tumor, the cancer is called biphasic mesothelioma.
What is the life expectancy of a biphasic mesothelioma patient?
The average life expectancy with biphasic mesothelioma is 10 months, but some people live much longer.
Your prognosis depends on the treatments you receive, how your cancer responds, and whether your tumor contains more epithelioid cells or sarcomatoid cells.
How common is biphasic mesothelioma?
Biphasic mesothelioma is the second most common mesothelioma cell type after epithelioid mesothelioma.
As many as 3 of every 10 patients diagnosed with this cancer have this cell type, according to data from the American Cancer Society.
How do you treat biphasic mesothelioma?
Biphasic pleural mesothelioma is usually treated with immunotherapy as the first option. The standard combination is nivolumab (Opdivo®) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy®), which helps the immune system find and attack cancer cells. Some patients may instead receive chemotherapy with pemetrexed and a platinum drug, sometimes combined with the immunotherapy pembrolizumab (Keytruda®).
Surgery may be an option if the tumor has more epithelioid cells than sarcomatoid cells and hasn’t spread too far. Radiation therapy is mainly used to ease symptoms or after surgery to help kill any cancer cells the surgeon couldn’t remove.
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