Mesothelioma Cure

Is Mesothelioma Curable?

There is no definitive cure for mesothelioma. In rare cases, some people with this cancer can go into complete remission. Some doctors call it a cure if remission lasts more than 5 years. 

Using more than one kind of treatment can improve the chances of remission. With treatment, mesothelioma survivors live about 15 months on average. About 12% of people live 5 years or longer. While complete remission is rare, many people reach partial remission. This is when mesothelioma shrinks or slows down. Some people stay in partial remission for years and manage the disease with ongoing care.

Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that spreads fast and often doesn’t show symptoms for many years. Because of this delay, most people don’t know they have it until it reaches a later stage. At that point, doctors find it much harder to remove or stop the cancer.

Insight From a Mesothelioma Specialist

“I try to encourage patients to think of it more in terms of a goal of long-term survival with good quality survival,” mesothelioma specialist Dr. Andrea Wolf tells us. Seeing a mesothelioma specialist can also lead to better results.

Dr. Andrea Wolf, thoracic surgeon and mesothelioma researcher

Mesothelioma Remission

Mesothelioma remission means your cancer has responded well to treatment, with tumors shrinking and symptoms improving for at least a month. Partial remission occurs when tumors shrink 50% or more, while complete remission means doctors can no longer detect any signs of cancer. Although partial remission is more common, both represent major treatment victories and offer real hope for better health.

In our 2025 survey of mesothelioma survivors, 11% said they were in remission. Every one of those patients had treatment and nearly 1 in 4, or 23% had surgery.

The type of mesothelioma someone has can affect how well they do with treatment. People who had treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma, like cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC , also known as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, have higher 5-year survival rates. But remission means no signs of cancer. This is different from living longer with the disease. Remission is a separate concept from overall survival.

Living a Full Life With Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a serious diagnosis, but many people continue to live active, meaningful lives during and after treatment. Advances in therapy are helping patients manage symptoms, maintain their quality of life and in some cases achieve long-term remission. How you respond to treatment depends on many factors, including cancer type, stage and your overall health.

Ways to Support Your Well-Being

• Stay active: Gentle movement like walking or light stretching helps maintain strength and energy. Balanced nutrition and adequate rest support your body through treatment and recovery.
• Stay connected: Lean on family, friends and survivor communities for emotional support. Support groups provide a safe space to share experiences with others who understand what you’re facing.
• Stay hopeful: New treatments including immunotherapy and targeted therapies are extending survival. Focusing on achievable goals and maintaining a positive outlook can improve both mental health and quality of life.

Quality-of-life care plays a crucial role in living well with mesothelioma. Symptom management, nutritional support and pain control help you feel better day to day. Counseling and support groups provide emotional strength and reduce isolation during treatment.

Some patients achieve remarkable outcomes. Trina Reif has lived more than 20 years with peritoneal mesothelioma. Kim Madril continues thriving after treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Carla Fasolo stays active while advocating for others with the disease. While outcomes vary widely, stories like these show what can be possible when patients receive comprehensive, multimodal treatment at experienced cancer centers.

Experience From a Mesothelioma Survivor

“You’re almost grateful for what you have. I’m grateful that I am still here. I am so happy that I’m still here. Embrace the moment,” she tells us. “I’m at the point in my life where things that might have bothered me before don’t. I think, ‘Oh, well. That’s certainly not as bad as going through radiation. It’s certainly not as bad as having surgery.’”

Kim Madril, pleural mesothelioma survivor

Latest Research for a Mesothelioma Cure

Researchers worldwide continue to pursue a cure for mesothelioma through clinical trials, laboratory innovations and emerging treatment combinations. Studies now focus on ways to harness the immune system, personalize therapy using genetics and target tumor-specific pathways.

For example, experts are looking at better ways to target proteins in the body to fight this cancer. A 2025 study published in the journal Cancer Biomarkers says targeting the protein MCP-1 is worth more research. It could be a future treatment for mesothelioma-related pleural effusions.

Immunotherapy marked a turning point when the FDA approved Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab) in 2020. In September 2024, the agency approved Keytruda (pembrolizumab) with chemo as the first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma, a major step toward longer survival and improved quality of life.

Gene therapy and CRISPR gene editing show promise by targeting cancer growth at the genetic level. Viral-based gene therapies use modified viruses to deliver tumor-suppressing genes. Researchers are also developing next-generation angiogenesis inhibitors like Avastin (bevacizumab), which starves tumors by cutting off the blood supply.

Other emerging treatments include epigenetic therapy, which explores how chemical changes in DNA can turn off anticancer mechanisms. Photodynamic therapy activates drugs with light to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

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Dr. Jacques Fontaine: The Future of Mesothelioma Treatment

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What is the future hold for mesothelioma treatment? I think the future for mesothelioma treatment is a bright one. I’ll tell you a story. When I was at an intern, in Montreal, I remember seeing my first mesothelioma patient. This is in the early nineties.

And when I spoke to the professor and explained to them, the case of mesothelioma, the professor told me you know the best type of treatment for this patient is to give him a fishing pole and tell him to go fishing.

Then years later, I went to Bringham and Women’s Hospital with Dr. Sugar Baker, and then learned that there’s a lot of options for mesothelioma. And as the science continues to grow, as we start looking at it from a different angle, as we start thinking outside the box, There’s gonna be a lot of innovative and very interesting treatments for this disease.

I think the way to make a progress is to think outside the box, learn how to make the patient’s immune system go after these cancer cells.

Learn how to find a better way to diagnose and diagnose this disease earlier and find ways to use the patient’s genes to beat this disease. And that’s what I and my team at Moffitt Cancer Center try to achieve for our patients. Innovative ways with our clinical trials, cutting edge radiation therapy that we offer, and state of the art surgery for our mesothelioma patients.

Breakthroughs in Clinical Trials

Recent clinical trials have brought significant advances for mesothelioma patients in 2024 and 2025. One promising approach involves using immunotherapy in combination with surgery. A landmark Phase 2 trial led by Johns Hopkins tested neoadjuvant (pre-surgery) Opdivo (nivolumab) alone or with Yervoy (ipilimumab), followed by surgery and postoperative Opdivo. 

This trial showed the approach is safe and feasible, with patients living a median of 28.6 months, well above the typical 18-month average. The study also used ultra-sensitive liquid biopsy techniques to detect residual disease, allowing better prediction of relapse.

The KEYNOTE-483 trial also made waves, confirming that adding Keytruda (pembrolizumab) to chemo improves overall survival for advanced mesothelioma. This pivotal trial led to FDA approval in 2024, marking a new standard of care.

Baylor College of Medicine and Duke University are conducting a new trial that tests immunotherapy combined with chemo before and after surgery for resectable mesothelioma. This trial aims to improve recurrence-free survival and overall outcomes for patients who are eligible for surgery.

These breakthroughs in combining immunotherapy, surgery and precision monitoring highlight the growing toolkit to extend survival and improve quality of life for mesothelioma patients.

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Mesothelioma Research Centers

Some of the most impactful mesothelioma research is underway at research centers and hospitals throughout the United States. These centers and hospitals conduct preliminary laboratory research. Others conduct clinical trials with mesothelioma patients. The National Cancer Institute is one of many that support clinical trials and early-stage research programs focused on improving mesothelioma treatment and survival.

Centers Conducting Mesothelioma Research

• AdventHealth Celebration in Kissimmee, Florida
• Harvard Medical School’s partnership with Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City
• National Institutes of Health
• Shukla Research Lab at the University of Vermont
• Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital

The FDA’s Orphan Drug designation also supports the development and evaluation of new treatments for rare diseases, like mesothelioma. Top treatment centers have the best support and resources to run mesothelioma clinical trials. Mesothelioma specialists and their multidisciplinary teams are active in these trials.

These trials provide the latest emerging treatments and asbestos cancer medication to people who are eligible. Our Patient Advocates can help you find a mesothelioma specialist and learn more about the latest clinical trials.

Refining Treatments to Find a Cure for Mesothelioma

A big part of finding a cure is making existing mesothelioma treatments work better. Surgeries become more precise. Chemo and radiation work more effectively. The timing of these therapies and combinations are refined.

When the FDA approved Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab), immunotherapy became standard treatment for mesothelioma. But experts continue to find ways to refine it. Trials study new combos with chemo, radiation and surgery. 

Advancements in Mesothelioma Treatment

• Chemo: The FDA approved a combination of Alimta (pemetrexed) and platinum chemo with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as a first-line treatment for advanced pleural mesothelioma in September 2024.
• Immunotherapy: In addition to exploring new combinations, research is underway exploring ways to use this standard treatment for other types of mesothelioma. It’s currently approved specifically for pleural mesothelioma. One clinical trial currently recruiting will compare chemo alone to chemo with immunotherapy for peritoneal mesothelioma.
• Multimodal: Combinations of different therapies are being explored to refine approaches.  Clinical trials are underway to also look at the timing of these therapies. For example, a trial is currently looking at adding immunotherapy before surgery.
• Radiation: This traditional therapy is also being explored in new ways. Researchers are looking at the benefits of radiation before surgery and radiation combined with immunotherapy.
• Surgery: Researchers continually look for ways to refine surgical techniques. Clinical trials also look at new combinations of surgery with other therapies. For example, a recent pilot study looked at pairing surgery with photodynamic therapy. Results haven’t posted yet, but this could open the door to more research.  
• Tumor Treating Fields: This FDA-approved therapy uses low-intensity electrical fields to disrupt the division of mesothelioma cancer cells. Used alongside chemo, TTFields have been shown to extend survival by about 4 to 6 months for patients with unresectable pleural mesothelioma.

Ongoing refinements in these treatments are steadily improving how doctors treat mesothelioma. These advances enhance the effectiveness of treatments and offer patients better chances to live longer with improved quality of life. As research continues, combining and sequencing therapies more precisely remains key to making progress toward a future cure.

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Karen Selby, RN: The Concept of a Cure for Mesothelioma

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I often have patients ask me about, you know, ‘What’s the cure rate?’ or ‘Can I be cured for this? Can it go away completely?’

Sadly, I don’t like to use the word cure with mesothelioma because actually there is no data to say that it’s ever going to go away forever. I explain to patients that there is a good possibility that they can be in remission with the right treatment if they respond correctly to the treatment, and that’s the goal. Let’s look for remission. Let’s talk about how long can we be in remission. But I explain to them that the word cure is typically not used when diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Emerging Treatments for Mesothelioma

New mesothelioma treatments include targeted therapy, vaccine therapy and special types of immunotherapy like CAR T-cell therapy. Doctors and researchers run clinical trials to test and improve these new treatment options for mesothelioma. 

The following emerging treatment options for mesothelioma are still being tested through clinical trials. As researchers learn more, these methods could become safer and more helpful. One day, they might become part of regular mesothelioma treatment.

Emerging Mesothelioma Treatments

• Anti-angiogenics: Cancer needs blood vessels to grow. Avastin (bevacizumab) helps block them. This may slow mesothelioma growth.
• Cryotherapy: This therapy kills cancer cells with a probe that applies extreme cold to tumors. It’s mainly used to control tumors that return after treatment.
• Epigenetic Therapy: This treatment changes how a person’s genes are turned on or off without altering the DNA sequence itself. Research shows that epigenetic changes contribute to mesothelioma development and may affect survival. Epigenetic therapy aims to reverse these changes to slow tumor growth. It is still in early stages, with ongoing clinical trials exploring drugs like tazemetostat and mithramycin. These therapies may work best combined with other immunotherapies.
• Gene Therapy: The goal of gene therapy is to repair problems that defective or missing genes can cause. Suicide gene therapy modifies cancer cells to include a self-destruct gene. Treatment with the p53 gene helps the immune system find and kill cancer cells.
• Photodynamic Therapy: Activating a photosensitizing drug with a unique light frequency can kill cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy only affects cancerous areas, avoiding damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
• Vaccine Therapy: Like vaccines for flu and other diseases, a mesothelioma vaccine helps your body produce antibodies to fight cancer. This treatment can provide long-term protection against a recurrence for patients in remission.
• Virotherapy: This emerging therapy involves laboratory-manipulated viruses that deliver medication and gene therapy inside cancer cells. Virotherapy is also notable for eliciting an immune response and combining well with other immunotherapies.

Pleural mesothelioma survivor Kay Kilpatrick-Simmons underwent cryoablation at UCLA. She tells us she’s grateful for the care she received from Dr. Robert Cameron and now focuses on staying positive. 

“Mental attitude plays into this. How much? I’m not sure,” Kilpatrick-Simmons shares. “I stay away from anything that might be depressing. I try not to even think about this disease unless I have a scan coming up.”

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Obstacles to Finding a Mesothelioma Cure

Even though new treatments have helped improve survival rates for mesothelioma, doctors still face many challenges in finding a cure. National initiatives, such as the Cancer Moonshot, aim to accelerate research on rare cancers, including mesothelioma. However, it doesn’t get as much attention or funding as more common cancers like lung, colon or breast cancers.

The government gives less money to mesothelioma research than to other cancers. Researchers also struggle to find enough people for clinical trials, especially those involving surgery, even though surgery has helped some people live longer.

How You Can Help Find a Mesothelioma Cure

Joining clinical trials, donating to research or supporting advocacy groups are ways you can help find a cure for mesothelioma. When you get involved, you make a difference for survivors and their families, bringing hope for a better future.

Ways You Can Help Find a Mesothelioma Cure

• Helping advocacy groups: Cancer advocacy groups educate the public, policymakers and health care professionals about the impact of mesothelioma. They also raise funds for research and to support affected families.
• Participating in clinical trials: Participation allows patients to contribute directly to the advancement of treatment options and an eventual cure. These trials have led to FDA-approved treatments that help people live longer with mesothelioma.
• Raising awareness: Increased awareness of a disease contributes to early detection, better treatment outcomes and support for research initiatives. Raising awareness also promotes early diagnosis when treatment is most effective.
• Supporting research: Supporting organizations financially or through volunteer work helps researchers find a cure for mesothelioma. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference in the fight against this disease.

Peritoneal mesothelioma survivor and writer Tamron Little tells us, “Using my voice to share my story is vital to spreading mesothelioma awareness. I’m pretty comfortable talking with people and sharing my journey on multiple platforms.” 

“This allows me to change the narrative about the typical mesothelioma patient.,” Tamron adds. “It’s important for people to actually see that a young woman of color was exposed to asbestos as a toddler and diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma at the age of 21.” 

Each year, the mesothelioma community comes together to raise awareness and support research through key events and campaigns. The annual Miles for Meso run/walk helps fund the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, which supports mesothelioma research and awareness. Mesothelioma Awareness Day is also recognized every September 26 to raise awareness about the rare cancer and asbestos exposure. It also promotes finding a cure.

Insight From a Mesothelioma Specialist

I think the future for mesothelioma treatment is a bright one. As we think outside the box, there’s going to be a lot of innovative and very interesting treatments.

Dr. Jacques Fontaine, director of the Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Center at Moffitt Cancer Center

Common Questions About Finding a Mesothelioma Cure

Has anyone been cured of mesothelioma?

There is currently no cure for mesothelioma, but some patients have lived more than a decade in partial or complete remission. For example, peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Trina Reif has lived more than 20 years after her diagnosis in 2001. 

Medical research documents several cases of long-term and complete remission, but partial remission is more common. Advancements in treatments through mesothelioma clinical trials continue to provide patients hope for an eventual cure.

Can lung surgery cure pleural mesothelioma?

No. Lung surgery doesn’t cure mesothelioma. Some mesothelioma surgeries remove the affected lung, but mesothelioma surgery isn’t a cure. Being a candidate for surgery can extend the life expectancy a year or more for a person with pleural mesothelioma.

What are the chances of surviving mesothelioma?

Despite a lack of curative treatments, about 5% of pleural patients and 39% of peritoneal patients have lived more than 10 years with mesothelioma. About 12% live longer than 5 years with pleural, and 65% of peritoneal patients live at least as long as 5 years.

How does early detection improve mesothelioma survival rate?

Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma in an early stage of progression often qualify for multimodal treatment. Treatment at an early stage helps to control this condition and is associated with improved survival rates.

Are we closer to finding a cure for mesothelioma?

Researchers today are closer to finding a cure than ever before. Breakthroughs in immunotherapy, gene therapy and targeted treatments have extended survival and improved quality of life. Ongoing clinical trials and research networks worldwide bring hope for future cures.