Asbestos & Mesothelioma Lawsuits: Mesothelioma Treatments

Introduction

As Goldberg, Persky & White, P.C. has represented many individuals that have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and lung cancer, as well as other asbestos-related cancers, we have become familiar with many of the treatments and protocols that victims may be offered. The purpose of the following information and links is to educate our clients and visitors to our website about the various treatments that we know about. This information has been compiled for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Visitors with medical questions should promptly consult with a physician licensed in their state of residence.

Surgery

Surgery is sometimes offered to victims of mesothelioma and is often a consideration for victims of lung cancer and other asbestos-related cancers. With respect to mesothelioma and lung cancer, there are at least three major operations that many of our clients have undergone: lobectomy, pneumonectomy and extrapleural pneumonectomy. The goal of all three operations is to surgically resect (cut out) the cancerous tissues. A lobectomy is the surgical removal of one or more lobes of the lung. A pneumonectomy entails the removal of the entire lung. An extrapleural pneumonectomy involves the removal of an entire lung, as well as portions of the pleura and diaphragm. There are eligibility criteria for each operation which you need to discuss with your physician. Some of the criteria considered by physicians in determining eligibility for these surgeries include pulmonary function reserve, cell type of the cancer, staging (progression) of the cancer and other treatment received to date. Results of surgery, offered alone or in conjuction with other therapy, varies widely.

Radiation

The goal of radiation therapy is to kill cancerous cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy is offered in two forms: external radiation therapy and internal radiation therapy. External radiation therapy, which is the most common form of radiation therapy, involves precise application of radiation to the specific cancerous organs and surrounding tissues from an external machine. Internal radiation therapy entails the insertion of radioactive isotopes directly in the body through a surgical procedure. Radiation is sometimes offered to Mesothelioma patients in an attempt to control pain. This type of radiation therapy is known as palliative radiation.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, in contrast to radiation therapy, is a systemic treatment in that the chemotherapy drugs circulate throughout the entire body with the goal of killing cancer cells. Chemotherapy is sometimes prescribed by injection or by oral administration. Chemotherapy comes in a wide array of forms and treatment protocols, some of which are still considered experimental or radical. Similar to internal radiation therapy, described above, chemotherapy is sometimes implanted directly in the chest and/or pleura. Chemotherapy is sometimes prescribed in conjunction with radiation therapy or offered alone.

Alternative Treatments for Mesothelioma

• Onconase
• Lovastatin
• Gene Therapy
• Photodynamic Therapy

If you are suffering from mesothelioma, please ask your physician if you qualify for any of these treatments.

New Treatments

Trial Phases
Though mesothelioma has no cure, there are clinical trials currently underway to test new drugs and procedures in the fight against the disease. All clinical trials or studies are divided into different phases:

Phase I

trials usually enroll only a small number of people and test how new drugs or procedures should be administered.

Phase II

trials give early information about whether or not a new drug or procedure works and also provide information about safety and benefit.

Phase III

trials compare promising new drugs or procedures with the current standard treatment. Large numbers of people from across the nation usually participate in Phase III trials and receive either the new treatment or the standard treatment.

Eligibility
In order to be sure the study results are accurate, trial participants in all phases must fit a certain profile. Eligibility for mesothelioma trials are often specific as to age, how long it has been since therapy, stage of disease, and other characteristics. To find out about the eligibility requirements and other information for the trials listed below, click on the clinical trial web site listed after each trial.

Current Clinical Trials
At present, the following trials are actively testing new drugs or treatments for mesothelioma. They are listed by title with a short description and have no particular order or endorsement.

Cholesterol Drug May Hold Promise For Asbestos Related Cancer
A drug used to treat high cholesterol appears to stop the growth of cells from the cancer Mesothelioma. Click here for more info

Capecitabine in Treating Patients with Malignant Mesothelioma
This multi-center Phase II study examines the effectiveness of an antimetabolite in killing tumor cells. Click here for more info

LY231514 in Treating Patients with Metastatic or Locally Advanced Solid Tumors with Varying Degrees of Renal Function
Phase I study to determine the effectiveness of a Multi-Targeted Antifolate (MTA) in killing tumor cells. Click here for more info

Adjuvant Study of Immune Response Associated with Skin Testing and Vaccine Therapy in Patients with Stage I-III Mesothelioma After Surgery
This Phase I study tests the effectiveness of a vaccine made from a person's tumor in building an immune response to kill tumor cells after surgery. Click here for more info

Platar for Mesothelioma
A Phase II trial of a platinum compound known as L-NDDP or Platar is underway at the New York University Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center and at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Click here for more info

High-Dose Megestrol in Treating Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer, Endometrial Cancer or Mesothelioma
This Phase I/II trial tests whether hormone therapy with Megestrol can reduce the production of cancer-stimulating hormones in breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and mesothelioma. Click here for more info

Cisplatin, Interferon Alfa, Surgery, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
This Phase I trial tests whether combining Cisplatin, a drug which stops tumor cells from growing, Interferon alfa, which may stop tumor cells from growing, and radiation, which damages tumor cells, will kill more cancer cells when used together than alone. Click Here for more info

p-30 Protein or Doxorubicin in Treating Patients with Malignant Mesothelioma
Twenty-center Phase III trial to determine which of two drugs used in chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma is the most effective. Each uses a different method of killing or stopping tumor cells from growing. Click Here for more info

Combination Chemotherapy and Tamoxifen in Treating Patients with Soft Tissue or Endocrine Cancers
This Phase II trial is to determine the effectiveness of combining two drugs used in the chemotherapy treatment of cancer (cisplatin and doxyrubicin) with hormone therapy (Tamoxifin) to killing more tumor cells. Click Here for more info

Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin in Treating Patients with Malignant Mesothelioma of the Pleura that Cannot be Removed by Surgery
This multi-site Phase II trial tests whether combining two drugs used in chemotherapy will kill more mesothelioma tumor cells when used together. Click Here for more info

There is a new experimental treatment being investigated at New York University. The investigational agent is a liposomal formulation of a highly lipophilic platinum compound known as L-NDDP. It is administered intrapleurally and cleared very slowly from the pleural cavity, thus providing a very favorable depot effect. Moreover, its lipophilicity and creamy nature enhances its local tumor penetration. The dose currently used (450mg/m2 ), produces negligible local and systemic toxicities. The initial Phase I study included 21 patients with malignant pleural effusions of various etiologies. Five had mesothelioma. Two out of these 5 failed systemic chemotherapy; however are alive at +5 years after treatment with L-NDDP (Clin. Cancer Res. 1:1369-1374, 1995). The current Phase II study has enrolled 20 patients; 61% have had a documented pathologic complete remission on second thoracoscopy (Perez-Soler et al., Procedd ASCO 18 (1626):421a, 1999).

Patients who have received previous chemotherapy are eligible if they have a free-flowing pleural effusion. Based on the known pharmacology of L-NDDP, patients with low burden of disease (tumor thickness<1 cm) appear to be the sub-set that may derive the highest benefit from this protocol.

For further information call (212) 263-8043 or (212) 263-6485.

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