Mesothelioma Cure

Is Mesothelioma Curable?

There is currently no definitive cure for any type of mesothelioma at any stage. However, the prognosis for stage 1 or stage 2 is more favorable than later stages. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma typically survive longer than those with pleural. 

Doctors focus on controlling the cancer to make patients as comfortable as possible. Some patients have entered long-term remission after cancer treatments. These treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Breakthroughs in clinical trials are getting closer to finding a cure for mesothelioma. With experimental treatments, some survivors live longer than the typical mesothelioma life expectancy.

Closer to a Cure Than Before

Finding an absolute mesothelioma cure still may be years away. There are ways to control cancer side effects and improve quality of life. Advances in palliative treatment allow some patients to remain active after their diagnosis.    

A poor prognosis is no longer the norm at specialty centers with experience in treating this rare disease. Patients with an early diagnosis live longer thanks to specialists and emerging therapies.

Mesothelioma Research to Find a Cure

Researchers are working on a cure by improving conventional treatments for mesothelioma.

Treatment has improved as a result of this mesothelioma research. Surgeries are more precise, therapies are more exact, and chemotherapy and radiation are more effective.

Researchers are refining these treatments to find a mesothelioma cure:

Clinical trials across the nation are conducting research studies with experimental medications that could eventually cure mesothelioma. Patients can speak with their provider, a Patient Advocate or a mesothelioma specialist to find eligible trials in their area. 

Scientists are also exploring the link between genetic mutations and mesothelioma using gene therapy. Mesothelioma specialists are now using genetic biomarkers for the early detection of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Research Centers

Some of the most impactful research is underway at research centers throughout the United States.

Speaking with a mesothelioma specialist is the best way to access the latest clinical trials and resources.

Some of these centers and hospitals include:

Top treatment centers have the best support and resources for running multiple mesothelioma clinical trials. Mesothelioma specialists and their multidisciplinary teams are active in the most current research trials, which provide the latest emerging treatments to eligible patients.

Emerging Treatments for Mesothelioma

Doctors and researchers use clinical trials to develop new treatment options for mesothelioma. As more therapies emerge from recent research, patients benefit from new techniques that may work better than standard treatments. Specialists also test multimodal treatment plans to combine novel treatments with traditional therapies for better results. 

Many emerging mesothelioma treatments are targeted therapies, such as immunotherapy and gene therapy, which treat cancer cells specifically, avoiding dangerous interactions with healthy cells. These new options will help doctors treat a broader range of mesothelioma patients with fewer side effects and longer-lasting results.

Emerging mesothelioma treatment options include:

These emerging treatment options for mesothelioma are still undergoing testing through many clinical trials. As research continues, these methods will become safer and more effective, eventually becoming part of a standard multimodal treatment plan. 

Clinical research trials offer substantial benefits for mesothelioma patients, especially those who have not responded well to traditional options such as surgery or chemotherapy. Scientific advances will continue, and new cancer technologies will emerge, allowing researchers to one day develop a cure for mesothelioma.

“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

Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Center at Moffitt Cancer Center

What does the future hold for Meso treatment? Dr. Jacques Fontaine | 1:46

Breakthroughs in Clinical Trials Bring Us Closer to a Cure

Researchers are tirelessly looking for new therapies because traditional mesothelioma treatment options don’t always work for every patient. Currently, the process for introducing a new asbestos cancer medication typically takes 12 to 15 years. It takes nearly seven years for a new drug to make it to the first clinical trial stage. 

Researchers spend years performing tests across the four phases of the development process to ensure patient safety. Clinical trials measure patient side effects, adverse reactions and overall benefit before pharmaceutical companies market a drug for widespread use. 

Why should mesothelioma patients consider a clinical trial? Senior Writer Tim Povtak | 1:16

Preliminary research tests new drugs on samples of mesothelioma tumors in laboratories rather than on patients directly, thanks to the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank. Researchers can begin clinical trials on humans once a specific drug or treatment has shown success and safety in a lab setting.

Clinical trials help researchers improve their understanding of mesothelioma and find new ways to combat the disease. Recent clinical trials have led to new technologies for treating mesothelioma such as photodynamic therapy, which uses light to kill cancer cells. Another example is epigenetic therapy, which can reverse genetic damage and slow cancer growth.

Obstacles to a Cure for Mesothelioma

Thanks to emerging treatments from clinical research, the future is looking brighter for people diagnosed with mesothelioma. However, there are still several hurdles we must cross on the road to a cure. 

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. Unlike the more common lung, colon and breast cancers, there is a distinct lack of awareness and research dollars. Government research on mesothelioma typically receives less federal funding compared to other cancers.

A lack of mesothelioma awareness means many patients do not receive an early or accurate diagnosis. Symptoms are often vague and don’t appear until later when treatment options are much more limited. A late-stage diagnosis may disqualify patients from specific treatments, such as surgery, making it harder to participate in clinical trials.

Researchers are developing approaches to treatment that may downstage a patient’s cancer, allowing them to qualify for surgery, which offers the best chance at long-term survival. For example, a 2020 report described a stage 3 patient downstaged to stage 2 after chemotherapy. The patient then qualified for aggressive surgery and was still alive at a 30-month follow-up.

Common Questions About Finding a Mesothelioma Cure

Has anyone been cured of mesothelioma?

There is currently no cure for mesothelioma, although some patients have lived several years beyond the average life expectancy. Advancements in treatments through mesothelioma clinical trials continue to provide patients hope for an eventual cure.

Are there any promising new mesothelioma treatments?

Researchers are exploring new mesothelioma treatment options with encouraging potential. Physicians are combining immunotherapies for mesothelioma with chemotherapy to improve survival. New targeted treatments such as gene therapy continue to enhance the efficacy of anti-cancer action while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

Can lung surgery cure pleural mesothelioma?

Pleural mesothelioma surgery is not a cure, but it is one of the best treatment options for patients. The life expectancy for a pleural mesothelioma patient can be extended by a year or more if they are a candidate for surgery.