Mesothelioma - Pittsburgh, PA and Western Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Resources: Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma

Alternate Title

Phase II Randomized Study of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin With or Without Bevacizumab in Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma

Basic Trial Information

Special Category: NCI Web site featured trial

Trial Description

Purpose:

Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them. It is not yet known if combination chemotherapy works better with or without bevacizumab in treating malignant mesothelioma.

This randomized phase II trial is to see if combination chemotherapy works better with or without bevacizumab in treating patients who have malignant mesothelioma.

Eligibility:

Eligibility criteria include the following:

• At least 18 years old
• Measurable disease
• No brain metastases
• At least 4 weeks since radiation therapy
• At least 6 weeks since surgery

Final eligibility for a clinical trial is determined by the health professionals conducting the trial. For more details about the eligibility requirements for this trial and the treatment or intervention, refer to the Health Professional version of the trial summary.

Treatment/Intervention:

Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Patients in group one will receive infusions of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and bevacizumab on day 1. They will receive an infusion of gemcitabine alone on day 8. Treatment may be repeated every 3 weeks for up to six courses. Some of these patients may continue to receive bevacizumab alone every 3 weeks for as long as benefit is shown. Patients in group two will receive gemcitabine and cisplatin as in group one and an infusion of a placebo on day 1. Treatment may be repeated as in group one. Some patients may continue to receive a placebo alone every 3 weeks for as long as benefit is shown.

Important:

If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, contact your doctor for a referral or call a trial contact person listed below. If you have questions about cancer or clinical trials, call the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). General information about clinical trials, including risks, benefits, and costs, can be found on NCI's Web site.

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations

• University of Chicago Cancer Research Center
  Hedy Kindler, MD, Protocol chair
  Ph: 773-702-0360; 888-824-0200

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Trial Site

• Hillman Cancer Center at University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
  Chandra Prakash Belani, MD
  Ph.: 412-648-6619
  Email: belanicp@upmc.edu