Mesothelioma Treatments

Medical researchers say there are a number of innovations in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma that, while not a cure, show promise in helping to treat the disease.

 

Alimta

Alimta is a chemotherapy drug recently approved by the FDA that, when given with another chemotherapy drug called cisplatin, is used for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

 

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy uses special drugs and a special type of light to kill cancer cells during surgery. The treatment is being studied for early stages of malignant mesothelioma.

 

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is being studied as a treatment for malignant mesothelioma by using the power of the body’s own immune system.

 

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is an approach to treating potentially fatal or disabling diseases like mesothelioma by modifying the expression of an individual’s genes toward a therapeutic goal. The premise of gene therapy is based on correcting disease at the DNA level and compensating for the abnormal genes.

 

Onconase

Onconase (also know as P-30 protein) is a protein derived from the eggs and early embryos of the leopard frog (Rana pipens), which has shown activity against a wide range of human tumor cell lines.

 

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is radiation therapy applied from within the body. Radioactive sources are placed in or near the mesothelioma tumor, giving a high radiation dose while reducing the radiation exposure in surrounding healthy tissues. This precision can help to minimize side effects.

 

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials use human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted trials help discover treatments that work in people and ways to improve health. Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled environments. Observational trials address health issues in large groups of people or populations in natural settings.

 

Phase I Trials

Phase I trials are considered the first step in testing the safety and efficacy of a new drug. Doctors and researchers are trying to determine many things about the drug’s effect on the disease and on the patient. Among the things that researchers are trying to determine are correct dosage, safety profile, and any side effects.

 

Phase II Trials

Researchers select a small group of patients to study the specific effects of the pre-determined dosage. Phase II studies also typically focus on a specific type of disease.

 

Phase III Trials

Researchers compare the effectiveness of the new, experimental drug against already existing therapies. Usually, patients are randomly assigned to therapeutic groups to cut down on the possibility of human bias. Phase III trials can be large, recruiting patients from across the country.