Mesothelioma Cancer Centers

UCLA’s cancer center was created in the late 1960s by a small group of scientists and volunteers with a shared passion for fighting cancer. In 1976, the National Cancer Institute designated it a “comprehensive cancer center,” a “gold-star” designation reserved for roughly 40 institutions that demonstrate the highest standards in patient care, education, research and prevention. Despite its humble roots, the center has grown into one of the largest in the country, accommodating more than 20 thousand patients each year.

The University of California Los Angeles Medical Center has a dedicated Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program, founded by Dr. Robert Brian Cameron in 1997. The program takes pride on using lung-sparing surgeries to treat mesothelioma cancer, as well as other effective treatment techniques.

The cancer center prefers surgeries like pleurectomy/decortication to remove as much of the cancer as possible, while sparing other organs, followed by radiation therapy. UCLA believes that mesothelioma cannot be completely removed, so they treat it like a chronic condition with frequent well-tolerated therapies focused on slowing tumor growth. UCLA has also pioneered the use of immunotherapy and cryoablation in the treatment of mesothelioma.

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma, a less common cell type, is a specialization at UCLA. Their medical team uses chemotherapy treatments usually used on sarcomas in other areas of the body, instead of typical mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy is often followed by surgery and radiation for a multimodal approach. With the multitude of treatments being offered to mesothelioma patients, the program is composed of a multidisciplinary team, experienced in various cancer care specialties to offer patients with best-in-class care. To continue their research of mesothelioma, the UCLA Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program partners with UCLA scientists, the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and the Pacific Meso Center at the Pacific Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute.

In addition to serving patients diagnosed with cancer, the UCLA Medical Center also considers the families of those diagnosed. They believe that families also play a crucial role in a patient's healing and treatment process, therefore providing them with a variety of nurturing support services throughout their time at the hospital.

Specializations:

• Immunotherapy
• Cryoablation
• Lung-sparing surgeries
• Mesothelioma
• Multimodal therapy
• Pleurectomy and decortication
• Sarcomatoid mesothelioma
• SMART therapy

Accreditations:

• Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Experience
• Joint Commission Accreditation
• U.S. News Best Hospitals Honor Roll

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center

The following clinical trials are in progress or actively recruiting participants at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center:

• A Study of LY3023414 in Participants With Advanced Cancer

  Conditions:	Advanced Cancer; Metastatic Cancer; Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma; Metastatic Breast Cancer; Malignant Mesothelioma; Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
  Last Updated:	May 2, 2019
  Status:	Recruiting

• A Study of XmAb®20717 in Subjects With Selected Advanced Solid Tumors

  Conditions:	Melanoma; Breast Carcinoma; Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Urothelial Carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck; Renal Cell Carcinoma; Colorectal Carcinoma; Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma; Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma; Endometrial Carcinoma; Mesothelioma; Neuroendocrine Carcinoma; Cervical Cancer; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anus
  Last Updated:	April 29, 2019
  Status:	Recruiting

• A Study of Rebastinib (DCC-2036) in Combination With Carboplatin in Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors

  Conditions:	Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumor
  Last Updated:	April 8, 2019
  Status:	Recruiting

• Ph 2/3 Study in Subjects With MPM w/Low ASS 1 Expression to Assess ADI-PEG 20 With Pemetrexed and Cisplatin

  Conditions:	Mesothelioma
  Last Updated:	March 15, 2019
  Status:	Recruiting

• Study of the EZH2 Inhibitor Tazemetostat in Malignant Mesothelioma

  Conditions:	Mesothelioma; BAP1 Loss of Function
  Last Updated:	March 13, 2019
  Status:	Active, not recruiting

Sources