ChemotherapyChemotherapy involves the use of anti-cancer drugs which work by preventing cancer cells from multiplying. In most cases, combinations of drugs are used in order to increase effectiveness. Chemotherapy may be used aggressively to shrink the tumor, or palliatively to relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath or pain. Administration of chemotherapy may be via injection into a vein or muscle, as an oral medication or may sometimes be administered directly into the pleural or peritoneal cavity. Some of the most commonly used drugs include:
Pemetrexed (Alimta) Cisplatin (Platinol) Carboplatin (Paraplatin) Gemcitabine (Gemzar) Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) Mitomycin Raltitrexed (Tomudex) Vinorelbine (Navelbine) New drugs are constantly being investigated by pharmaceutical companies, so you should always feel free to ask your doctor about the newest and most promising drugs. One such drug, Alimta (pemetrexed) was approved in Europe in September, 2005.
RadiotherapyRadiotherapy involves the use of high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It may be used aggressively in conjunction with surgery to help eliminate microscopic seeding which can cause recurrence of disease, or palliatively to treat pain caused by tumors pressing on nerve endings or on another organ. Radiotherapy has also proven effective in preventing tumor seeding at the sites of biopsy or chest tube drainage.
Clinical TrialsThe purpose of clinical trials is to involve patients in finding new and better treatments for their illnesses. Different clinical trials have different goals which may include the testing of new drugs, comparing various ways to treat an illness or the testing of various techniques for cancer prevention. Clinical trials are divided into three phases. Following are short summaries of what each trial phase seeks to accomplish.
Phase I trials are the earliest phase of the clinical trial system. At this point, drugs have only been tested in the laboratory, but have had an effect on destroying cancer cells. These trials enroll only a limited number of participants, and are only available at limited cancer facilities. The goal of Phase I trials is to find the maximum tolerated dosage of the drug without causing serious side effects, which side effects are most common and whether the drug continues to have anti-cancer activity when administered to humans. If the drug is proven to have an effect on cancer at a safe dosage, the drug will then be tested in Phase II trials.
Phase II trials continue to test the safety of drugs or procedures, but also begin to look more closely at their effectiveness for particular types of cancer. These trials accrue somewhat larger numbers of participants, and may be located at more facilities. These trials may be “randomized”, meaning that different groups of participants are chosen by a computer, rather than by a doctor.
Phase III trials compare promising new drugs or procedures with the current standard of treatment. Large numbers of participants from widespread areas are accrued for these trials, and receive either the new treatment or the standard treatment. One of the primary goals of Phase III trials is to determine whether cancer is reduced or slowed by the drugs, how long patients remain stable without progression of disease and how treatment with the drug affects the patient’s quality of life.
If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial for mesothelioma, your doctor should be able to provide you with information on eligibility and availability in your area.
