A trial looking at a type of radiotherapy called PIT in people who have had tests for a type of lung cancer called mesothelioma (PIT)
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This trial looked at treating the wound from your mesothelioma tests with radiotherapy. This was to see if it could prevent or delay small cancer growths (nodules) developing in that area.
More about this trial
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can grow in the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs. It is diagnosed most often in the tissue that covers the lungs and lines the internal chest wall.
One of the tests for mesothelioma of the lung includes putting a thin tube into the chest wall. The doctor then looks inside and removes samples (biopsies) or fluid. This can cause cancerous skin lumps called nodules to develop along the passage (tract) where the tube was put in.
You might have radiotherapy to your chest wall to try to stop these nodules developing. This type of radiotherapy is known as ‘prophylactic irradiation of tracts’ or PIT.
Although many hospitals already give PIT, we still don’t know if the treatment works.
The aim of this trial was to see if PIT could prevent or delay nodules developing.
Summary of results
The team found that PIT didn’t reduce the number of nodules developing after tests to diagnose or treatment for mesothelioma.
375 people took part in this 
. It was a trial. The people were put into 1 of 2 groups. Neither they or their doctor could choose which group they were in.
- 186 people had PIT
- 189 people didn’t have PIT
The team looked at how many people had developed nodules 6 months and 12 months after the procedure.
At 6 months:
- 6 people out of the 186 who had PIT had nodules
- 10 out of the 189 who didn’t have PIT had nodules
At 12 months the number of people had increased to:
- 15 people out of the 186 who had PIT
- 19 people out of the 189 who didn’t have PIT
The main side effect from having PIT were skin problems.
The trial team concluded there was no role for the routine use of PIT following a tests or treatment for mesothelioma of the lung.
We have based this summary on information from the research team. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists () but may not have been published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the research team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Professor Corinne Faivre-Finn
Dr Neil Bayman
Supported by
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester Clinical Trials Unit
Other information
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
