Mesothelioma Cancer Treatments

Is there any promising research or are there promising drugs for mesothelioma?

New approaches being studied

New approaches to treat malignant mesothelioma are currently being tested. They often combine traditional treatments or include something entirely new. They include

• Promising drugs




• L-NDDP (Platar): Intrapleural administration of this platinum product is designed to overcome the toxicity and drug resistance currently limiting the usefulness of platinum drugs like Cisplatin. NOTE: A recent trial produced remission in two patients.




• Endostatin has been shown to work with angiostatin in destroying a tumors' ability to grow blood vessels without harming normal cells.




• Lovastatin is a cholesterol drug shown in a recent study to potentially inhibit mesothelioma cancer cell growth.




• Intrapleural interferon gamma is the direct administration of the anti-cancer drug interferon gamma.




• Photodynamic therapy kills cancer cells using the energy of light.




• Immunotherapy treats cancer by helping the immune system fight the disease.




• Gene therapy treats cancer by correcting the genetic deficits that allow tumors to develop. A September 1999 study found that interferon interleukin prevented the growth of mesothelioma cells in mice.

Research is being conducted at various cancer centers all over the United States.

A recent study involving L-NDDP produced two cases of remission in mesothelioma patients. Another study found that a drug known as Lovastatin may hold promise for mesothelioma patients.

To learn more about mesothelioma clinical studies and journal medical journal articles, visit the Mesothelioma Web (http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org)

What other kinds of information is available for people with mesothelioma?

There are numerous cancer web sites, some specific to mesothelioma. Because they are often difficult to locate, we have listed some relevant medical web sites that have information about mesothelioma.

American Institute for Cancer Research 

(http://www.aicr.org)

American Thoracic Society 

(http://www.thoracic.org/)

Canadian Cancer Society 

(http://www.bc.cancer.ca)

MesotheliomaWeb 

(http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org)

Mesothelioma At A Glance

• Mesothelioma is a cancer that arises from the cells lining the chest or abdominal cavities.
• Mesothelioma typically results from exposure to asbestos.
• When mesothelioma affects the chest, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope.
• When mesothelioma affects the abdomen, the doctor may look inside the abdomen with a special tool called a peritoneoscope.
• Mesothelioma is diagnosed by a biopsy.
• The outlook for patients with mesothelioma depends on how early the disease is detected and how aggressively it is treated.

New Mesothelioma Treatment

Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma are often confronted with a confusing array of possible treatment options. Traditional forms of treatment include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. However, a number of experimental and alternative treatments are now being investigated by physicians around the world. In some cases, these new treatments are already helping to extend the lives of patients.

Gene therapy is used in conjunction with chemotherapy, in order to increase the possibility of its success. This type of therapy is commonly called suicide gene therapy, because it causes cancer cells to turn against themselves. Other types of gene therapies use alternate methods to reduce cell growth and prevent the cancer from spreading.

Another type of new treatment approach is known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). It is another method of destroying cancer cells by exposing them to a special laser light. The light activates photosensitive medication within the cells, which is taken by the patient prior to exposure. The cells are destroyed once the light reaches them. Unfortunately, this type of treatment is not always effective. In addition, there are several potential side effects, including skin sensitivity and nausea.

There are also several experimental drugs being used to treat mesothelioma. A category of drug known as anti-angiogenesis medications attempt to destroy cancer cells while leaving other cells unharmed. This is possible due to new knowledge about the manner in which cancer cells differ from normal cells. Using these drugs, the need for chemotherapy is reduced.

A final type of experimental treatment is immunotherapy. This method uses the patient's own immune system to kill cancer cells. Normally, our immune systems are unable to distinguish between healthy cells and cancerous cells.

Immunotherapy attempts to enhance a patient's immune system to differentiate between the two, allowing it to fight back against the cancer cells. This is usually accomplished via a vaccine or oral medication. However, this form of treatment is quite new and doctors are still working to determine its viability.

Mesothelioma pain medications

Almost everyone with mesothelioma experiences pain, the more so as the disease advances. Most patients use of a variety of pain medications to reduce pain and maintain their quality of life. Here are the kinds of pain that people with mesothelioma must deal with, and the types of pain medications used to control the pain.

Mild to moderate pain

Non-opioids: Examples are acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen. You can buy many of these over the counter, without a prescription. Some stronger NSAIDs do require a prescription.

Tingling and burning pain

Two other groups of drugs, antidepressants and antiseizure medications, have proven to be very useful in managing tingling and burning sensations. Taking an antidepressant does not mean that you are depressed or have a mental illness, and taking an antiseizure medication does not mean that you are going to have seizures. If your doctor prescribes one of these s/he is simply making use of some additional therapeutic properties of these drugs.

Antidepressants: Drugs such amitriptyline, imipramine, doxepin and trazodone have proved helpful in alleviating pain when there has been nerve damage. They are also helpful as aids for sleeping. A prescription is needed for these medicines.

Antiepileptics: Carbamezeping, lamotrine, and gabapentin are three of the most used antiseizure medications. All of these require a prescription.

Moderate to severe pain

Opioids: Examples are hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone, fentanyl and methadone. All of these medications require a prescription. Nonopioids may also be used along with opioids to control moderate to severe pain.

Breakthrough Pain

ACTIQ (Oral Transmucosal Fentanyl Citrate) is the first analgesic (pain relief) drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically for breakthrough pain. It comes as a lozenge on a handle, a lollipop for pain. Fentanyl, ACTIQ's active ingredient, is a very effective opiate, 100 times stronger than an equivalent dose of morphine. It dissolves in saliva, and is absorbed through the mucus membranes that line the mouth. Pain relief occurs within 5 to 10 minutes. People find the drug easy to use, effective, and easily tolerated. Oxycodone and hydromorphone can also be used for breakthrough pain, but neither of these are available as lozenges in the mouth absorption.

MesotheliomaTreatment Stages

The treatment protocol for mesothelioma differs based on the stage that a patient has progressed to at the time of diagnosis. Provided below is an example of the types of treatment that a pleural mesothelioma patient will undergo at various stages of the disease. We have identified the stages using the Butchart staging system.

Stage I Mesothelioma Treatment

Surgical intervention is most commonly recommended for pleural mesothelioma patients having a Stage I diagnosis. The procedures that are likely to be performed are pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy. Post surgery, doctors may further evaluate the patient to determine if chemotherapy or radiation treatment is necessary. It is often determined with stage I mesothelioma that those adjunct therapies are not required.

Stages II, III Mesothelioma Treatment

When mesothelioma has progressed to stages II and III the cancer cannot be cured. At these stages medical treatment focuses on alleviating the severity of the symptoms and keeping the patient as comfortable as possible in order to optimize quality of life. For example, if there is significant fluid build-up in the chest the doctor may order that it be drained. Additionally, there may be instances where removing some or all of the tumor and / or undergoing chemo or radiation treatments will provide symptom relief. clinical trials at some of the larger cancer centers in the country may also offer different treatment options for patients in these stages.

Stage IV Mesothelioma Treatment

When a patient has been diagnosed with stage IV mesothelioma the prognosis is very unfavorable. At this stage, the cancer has usually metastasized throughout the body to other organs and as with stages II and III, cannot be cured. In this stage, symptoms generally increase in severity and pain management becomes the primary focus of the medical team. Therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation are typically not offered at this stage unless they are needed to support pain management objectives. Oftentimes families find that it is most helpful to seek out additional support through a local Hospice program. Hospice programs focus on providing patient care, developing a pain management protocol and providing support for both the patient and family members at this difficult time. Patients with stage IV mesothelioma may also be interested in participating in specialized clinical trials offered at leading cancer hospitals and centers and are encouraged to seek out those programs if desired.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Once an individual has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the next step is to discuss mesothelioma Treatment options with his/her physician. Recent scientific research has produced significant breakthroughs with regard to treatment protocols for mesothelioma patients and more options are now available for managing the disease and supporting improved quality of life. Newly diagnosed patients always have many questions about the treatment options that would be most effective for them, including questions about new treatment therapies like Alimta and Cisplatin and other chemotherapy drugs. In addition to these newer drugs that are being used to treat asbestos cancer, mesothelioma patients also have a number of "conventional" treatment options to consider, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. Clinical trials and experimental treatments are still other options that some mesothelioma patients may be eligible to participate in.

Our site will feature a comprehensive mesothelioma Cancer treatment section that includes important information for patients and families. We’ve included resources on top mesothelioma doctors as well as a comprehensive list of questions that you may wish to discuss with your personal physician when preparing a treatment plan. We are always providing new and informative resources regarding mesothelioma treatment including: Clinical Trials, conventional treatments, experimental therapies, and more. Check back often for the most recent advances in mesothelioma treatments.

For your convenience, we have consolidated mesothelioma treatment information for your review. This section is updated on a weekly basis.

Conventional Therapies

Conventional mesothelioma therapies include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. You should keep in mind that if you choose one course of action for mesothelioma treatment, you may preclude other courses. All of your options should be considered as soon as possible.

Leading Doctors

We have become familiar with medical doctors who specialize in aggressively treating malignant mesothelioma. Some of these doctors will review your medical records for free to see if you are a candidate for their mesothelioma treatment protocol.

Cancer Centers

Top Cancer Centers for mesothelioma treatment have been listed alphabetically by state for your convenience. Listings include contact information and Web site links where available.

Clinical Trials

Information about current studies of promising new or experimental mesothelioma treatments.

Experimental Therapies

Several forms of mesothelioma treatment such as the drug Alimta, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and multimodality therapy are still in their experimental stages.