Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy & Radiation

Mesothelioma Treatment Options: Chemotherapy

For updated information on mesothelioma and chemotherapy, please see: Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells and may be used as the primary treatment to mesothelioma, or it may be used as part of a multi-modal approach. Chemotherapy is referred to as systemic treatment because the drug is introduced into the patient’s bloodstream and travels throughout the body killing cancer cells. The drugs may be in pill form, or injected into the body through a needle.

In addition to killing cancer cells, chemotherapy drugs work to restrict the uncontrolled spread of abnormal cancer cells - preventing them from dividing and multiplying.

Chemotherapy is not considered a “curative” approach for the treatment of mesothelioma and instead focuses on shrinking existing tumors (usually prior to surgery - neoadjuvant therapy), controlling the spread of the cancerous cells, and removing residual cancer cells following surgery (adjuvant therapy).

To effectively treat mesothelioma, more than one drug may be used in chemotherapy. This is known as combination therapy. Depending on the drugs, the amount taken and the treatment period, there may be side effects.

The present chemotherapy standard of care for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma is Alimta^® + cisplatin, although another platinum agent may be used in place of cisplatin if needed. To learn more about this treatment, please read: Alimta Therapy.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options: Radiation Therapy

For updated information on mesothelioma and radiation therapy, please see: Mesothelioma Treatment: Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays help to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. The radiation may come from outside the body from a machine (external radiation) or from radioactive materials placed directly in or around cancer cells through thin plastic tubes (internal or implant radiation).

In pleural mesothelioma, it is difficult to irradiate tumor tissue successfully without injuring nearby organs like the lungs, heart, and liver. However, radiation therapy can be very effective in relieving pain in certain situations. Factors which can impact the use of radiation treatment include the volume of the tumor and how near it is to vital organs.