Mesothelioma Cure

It is important to receive treatment from a dedicated mesothelioma specialist. These doctors work in teams to create a mesothelioma treatment plan for each patient. These plans often use multimodal mesothelioma treatments to extend patient life expectancy.

03. Multimodal Treatments Extend Survival

Multimodal Treatments Can Greatly Extend Survival

Combining treatments can help some patients live longer. Doctors call this multimodal therapy. Some multimodal therapies have extended survival so long they may be considered functional cures. This means that while every cancer cell may not be eliminated, patients experience many years free of mesothelioma.

Therapies with some of the longest observed median survival times for mesothelioma include:

• Pleural mesothelioma: In one study, a combination of chemotherapy, extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery and radiation achieved a median survival of 39 months (3.25 years). The chemotherapy drugs used were Alimta®️ (pemetrexed) and cisplatin.
• Peritoneal mesothelioma: In one study, a combination of cytoreductive surgery and several chemotherapy treatments achieved a median survival of 14.8 years. The chemotherapy treatments used were heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), early postoperative intracavitary chemotherapy (EPIC) and normothermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (NIPEC).

Researchers continue to study multimodal therapies with the hope of improving patient prognosis.

04. Emerging Mesothelioma Treatments

Emerging Treatments for Mesothelioma

Emerging treatments such as gene therapy and Tumor Treating Fields provide promise in extending patient survival and improving prognosis. Researchers continue to test these treatments in clinical trials.

With continued study, these emerging and experimental treatments may become part of standard mesothelioma care and help progress the field towards a cure.

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)

TTFields are a new therapy using mild electric stimulation to disrupt cell division and slow or stop cancer cell growth. One study tested TTFields in 80 pleural mesothelioma patients. After treatment, 72 patients received follow-up scans. In this group, 40% saw tumor shrinkage and 57% saw their tumors stop growing.

In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a TTFields system called Optune Lua™ for use against unresectable pleural mesothelioma.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

This treatment uses a modified herpes virus to attack cancer cells. This type of treatment is known as ​​oncolytic virus therapy. Patients are injected with HSV-1716, a modified form of HSV. HSV-1716 can infect and kill cancer cells. However, it cannot survive in healthy cells, leaving them intact.

A British study examined HSV therapy for mesothelioma. The study included 11 patients with epithelial mesothelioma. Two patients with unknown mesothelioma cell types also participated in the study. Researchers found 46% of patients in the study achieved disease stability, with no tumor growth. This means researchers observed no tumor growth as of the last study follow-up.

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy uses bioengineering techniques to alter the DNA of cells. In one study, gene therapy emerged as a potentially promising treatment for patients ineligible for surgery. Researchers altered the DNA of pleural cells to produce interferon-alpha protein. This protein can slow cancer cell growth and help the immune system kill cancer cells.

Some study patients received the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed before and after gene therapy. These patients had a median survival of 26 months.

Small Molecules

Many small molecule drugs can enter a patient’s cells easily due to their low molecular weight. Researchers have investigated the small molecule ganetespib against pleural mesothelioma. Ganetespib interferes with several important cellular functions. It was tested in combination with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment. Patients who received the maximum tolerated dose of ganetespib achieved a median survival of 16.3 months.

Research on these treatments is ongoing. Some mesothelioma cancer patients may be able to participate in clinical trials, though eligibility requirements vary. Interested patients should talk to their doctors. Mesothelioma experts can help patients determine the best treatment approach for their unique situation.

05. Ongoing Mesothelioma Treatment Research

Ongoing Research to Find a Mesothelioma Cure

Research into new treatment methods provides hope for a mesothelioma cure. Researchers also continue to test standard treatments. Continuing to study conventional therapies can have many positive outcomes, including:

• Extending patient survival
• Helping to manage treatment side effects
• Improving patient quality of life
• Improving quality of cancer care

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is one of the foremost centers in the fight against cancer. It is an independent research institution established by the U.S. government in 1937. The NCI receives funding and disperses it to universities, hospitals, labs and other research institutions. Many clinical trials around the country are run by the NCI or NCI-designated cancer centers.

Clinical trials are especially important to improve treatment and detection methods. Early detection is one of the most important areas of research in the fight against mesothelioma. By detecting the signs of cancer early, mesothelioma doctors can help prevent progression. One promising area of early detection research is biomarkers.

Biomarker Research May Be Promising for Early Detection

Biomarkers are physical and objective indicators, which may be used to identify cancerous and precancerous cells before they spread. Researchers have identified a few promising biomarkers for mesothelioma:

• ENOX2: In 2016, study researchers tested serum samples from asbestos-exposed individuals for biomarker ENOX2. The researchers were able to correctly identify mesothelioma in 17 asbestos-exposed individuals several years prior to symptom manifestation. Further study is needed to determine if this biomarker would be viable on a larger scale.
• Mesothelin: Mesothelin is a protein found on normal mesothelial cells as well as a variety of cancer cells, including mesothelioma. Over several studies, researchers found elevated levels of mesothelin in the blood of 15 – 40% of asbestos-exposed individuals. These results came before they were diagnosed with mesothelioma. The mesothelin test MESOMARK™ is currently the only FDA-approved mesothelioma test. However, it is not sufficient for diagnosis on its own.
• HMGB1: HMGB1 is a protein that is released into the bloodstream when asbestos-exposed cells die. Some researchers have called HMGB1 the “most powerful circulating single-molecule diagnostic to date.” However, HMGB1 has not been widely tested enough to confirm this claim yet.

Researchers continue to conduct clinical trials to study biomarkers. In addition to early detection, studies are being conducted to test different combinations of current treatments.

Obstacles for Mesothelioma Researchers

Emerging and experimental cancer treatments provide hope for mesothelioma patients. However, there are still obstacles to mesothelioma research and treatment.

One of the biggest hurdles in treating mesothelioma is the rarity of the disease. Only a few thousand people are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually in the United States. This rarity can prevent awareness and adequate sample sizes for research. It can also impact funds devoted to testing new treatments. Mesothelioma research receives less research funding than more common cancers, such as lung cancer and breast cancer.

Mesothelioma is also difficult to research in its early stages. This may be due to several factors, including the disease’s long latency period and nonspecific symptoms.

Despite these challenges, mesothelioma researchers continue to pursue new treatments.

06. Common Questions