Mesothelioma Treatment in Illinois

Top Mesothelioma Centers in Illinois

The best Illinois mesothelioma cancer centers include the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Cancer Center at Illinois. The National Cancer Institute backs each of these centers, which means they meet federal standards for cancer research, multidisciplinary care and access to clinical trials.

Patients in Illinois can also receive treatment at the University of Chicago Medicine, which cares for hundreds of mesothelioma patients annually and is one of the world’s top organizations for mesothelioma research. Additionally, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center at Loyola Medicine has an excellent multidisciplinary team, including medical oncologists, pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons and immunotherapy experts.

UChicago Medicine

5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

Loyola University Medical Center

2160 S. 1st Ave., Maywood, IL 60153

Locations of the Top Cancer Centers in Illinois

Patients in Illinois who need mesothelioma treatment will find two of the state’s NCI-Designated centers, the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, in Chicago. The third, the Cancer Center at Illinois, is located in Urbana.

Families who live in Central or Southern Illinois may qualify for transportation assistance to Chicago. Our Patient Advocates can also help families find regional medical oncology teams and cancer support services in cities such as Peoria, Decatur, Springfield and Carterville.

All Centers (4)

Loyola University Medical Center
2160 S 1st Ave
Maywood, IL 60153
- Center of Excellence
Directions
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
675 N. St. Clair St.
Chicago, IL 60611
- NCI-Designated Cancer Center
Directions
Rush University Cancer Center
1725 W. Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60612

Directions
UChicago Medicine
5841 S Maryland Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
- Center of Excellence
- NCI-Designated Cancer Center
Directions

Top Doctors in Illinois

The best mesothelioma doctors in Illinois include clinical research specialists, experts in peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma, and thoracic surgeons with experience in minimally invasive techniques. Top doctors include pleural and peritoneal specialist Dr. Hedy Kindler, pleural specialist Dr. Young Kwang Chae and peritoneal specialist Dr. Mecker Moller.

These mesothelioma specialists and others throughout Illinois practice at NCI-Designated centers, the Simmons Cancer Center, the Rush University Cancer Center and more. Some doctors have leadership roles in clinical research and participate in trials that provide patients access to treatment options that are not widely available.

Wickii Thambiah Vigneswaran

Pleural Specialist | Thoracic Surgery

Expertise:

Thoracic Surgery Mesothelioma Lung and Lung/Heart Transplantations Pleurectomy and Decortication Robotic Surgery

James A. Haley Veterans Hospital • Tampa, Florida

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Expertise:

Thoracic Surgery Mesothelioma Lung and Lung/Heart Transplantations Pleurectomy and Decortication Robotic Surgery

James A. Haley Veterans Hospital

Tampa, Florida

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Dr. Wickii Vigneswaran is an internationally renowned thoracic surgeon who specializes in pleural mesothelioma and other diseases of the chest. He is double board certified in thoracic and cardiac surgery, an expert in robotic surgery and has more than 30 years of experience treating mesothelioma.

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Hedy Lee Kindler

Pleural Specialist | Peritoneal Specialist | Gastrointestinal Oncology

Expertise:

Immunotherapy Research

UChicago Medicine • Chicago, Illinois

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Expertise:

Immunotherapy Research

UChicago Medicine

Chicago, Illinois

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Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler is the director of the Mesothelioma Program at the University of Chicago Medical Center. She became a leading mesothelioma researcher and oncologist after losing her father to mesothelioma. Kindler is board certified in medical oncology and internal medicine, and she specializes in gastrointestinal oncology.

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George Salti

Peritoneal Specialist | Surgical Oncology

Expertise:

Cytoreductive Surgery HIPEC

University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago • Chicago, Illinois

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Expertise:

Cytoreductive Surgery HIPEC

University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

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Dr. George Salti is a surgical oncologist with extensive experience in cytoreduction with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). This treatment combination has proven effective for peritoneal mesothelioma.

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Traves D. Crabtree

Pleural Specialist | Cardiothoracic Surgery

Expertise:

Robotic Surgery Clinical Trials

SIU Cardiothoracic Surgery at Simmons Cancer Center • Springfield, Illinois

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Expertise:

Robotic Surgery Clinical Trials

SIU Cardiothoracic Surgery at Simmons Cancer Center

Springfield, Illinois

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Dr. Traves Crabtree is a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Simmons Cancer Institute with an expertise in pleural diseases, including mesothelioma.

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Clinical Trials in Illinois

Illinois is home to some of the world’s leading mesothelioma research facilities, including the University of Chicago Medicine and Northwestern University, which offer clinical trials. Your mesothelioma doctors or a Patient Advocate can connect you with active clinical trials for new medications, immunotherapies and mesothelioma treatments.

The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center has conducted groundbreaking clinical trials and revolutionized chemotherapy for mesothelioma patients, such as FDA-approved cisplatin and Alimta (pemetrexed) treatments. This combination is now the gold standard for chemotherapy care in mesothelioma treatment.

NCT05732831

Safety and Tolerability of TNG462 in Patients With MTAP-deleted Solid Tumors

This is a first in human study in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors known to have an MTAP deletion. The first part of the study is an open-label, dose escalation and the second part is an open label dose expansion in specific MTAP-deleted tumor types. The study drug, TNG462, is a selective PRMT5 inhibitor administered orally. The study is planned to treat up to 225 participants.

Locations

NCT05107674

A Study of NX-1607 in Adults With Advanced Malignancies

This is a first-in-human Phase 1a/1b multicenter, open-label oncology study designed to evaluate the safety and anti-cancer activity of NX-1607 in patients with advanced malignancies.

Locations

NCT05647265

Testing the Addition of Immunotherapy Before Surgery for Patients With Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

This phase II trial evaluates the safety and effectiveness of giving immunotherapy (nivolumab and ipilimumab) before surgery for controlling disease in patients with stage I-IIIa sarcomatoid mesothelioma. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving immunotherapy before surgery may be more effective at controlling disease in patients with sarcomatoid mesothelioma than giving immunotherapy alone.

Locations

NCT06566079

Study of ISM6331 in Participants With Advanced/Metastatic Malignant Mesothelioma or Other Solid Tumors

This is a Phase 1, open-label, multicenter, FIH study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), PK/PD, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of ISM6331 in participants with advanced or metastatic malignant mesothelioma or other solid tumors. The study consists of two parts, a dose escalation part (Part 1) and a dose selection optimization part (Part 2).

Locations

NCT06057935

A Study of Additional Chemotherapy After Surgery for People With Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The purpose of this study is to find out whether intraperitoneal or intravenous chemotherapy given after cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC are effective treatments for people with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Outcomes will be compared by observing intraperitoneal versus intravenous treatments to analyze if one is better than the other.

Locations

NCT05873686

A Phase 1 Clinical Study of NXP900 in Subjects With Advanced Cancers

This is a multi-center, first-in-human, open label, dose escalation (Part A) and expansion (Part B) Phase 1 study in subjects with advanced solid tumors and in subjects with solid tumors with selected genetic alterations that are either direct (YES1 amplification) or dependent (Hippo Pathway alterations) targets of NXP900.

Locations

NCT04515836

Olaparib in Patients With HRD Malignant Mesothelioma

In this study, researchers will give olaparib (a drug) to mesothelioma patients who have specific changes in their DNA (known as gene mutations). Researchers will give this drug to each patient on the study to find out if it will help the patient's tumor shrink or stop growing.

Locations

NCT04104776

A Study of Tulmimetostat DZR123 (CPI-0209) in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors and Lymphomas

The purpose of this open-label, first-in-human (FIH) trial is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary antitumor activity of DZR123 (Tulmimetostat, CPI-0209), both as monotherapy and in combination with enzalutamide, in patients with advanced solid tumors and lymphomas.

Locations

NCT05001880

Chemotherapy With or Without Immunotherapy for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

This phase II trial compares the usual treatment alone (carboplatin, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab) to using immunotherapy (atezolizumab) plus the usual treatment in treating patients with peritoneal mesothelioma. The usual treatment consists of surgery or chemotherapy. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Pemetrexed is in a class of medications called antifolate antineoplastic agents. It works by stopping cells from using folic acid to make deoxyribonucleic acid and may kill cancer cells. Bevacizumab is in a class of medications called antiangiogenic agents. It works by stopping the formation of blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to tumor. This may slow the growth and spread of tumor. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as atezolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving atezolizumab with usual treatment may work better than usual treatment alone.

Locations

NCT04665206

Study to Evaluate VT3989 in Patients With Metastatic Solid Tumors

This is an open-label, dose escalation and expansion study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, PK, and biological activity of VT3989 administered, alone or in combination, once daily in patients with mesothelioma and/or metastatic solid tumors that are resistant to standard therapy or for which no effective standard therapy is available.

Locations

NCT07126509

Partial Pleurectomy (Surgery) for Unresectable Pleural Mesothelioma

Purpose of the study: The main purpose of this research study is to see if a surgery procedure (limited partial pleurectomy and decortication) helps symptoms in people who have cancer that is unresectable that might not be able to be removed completely. This is called unresectable cancer. This study will also help the research team learn more about the types of symptoms and quality of life for people who have undergone this surgery, the number of complications following , and the time from surgery to starting other therapy. Th e study team also wants to see see the overall survival of people who have had this procedure as part of their care. What will be done as part of research on this study: * Surgery (Partial Pleurectomy – surgery to remove lining of lungs) * The research team will also ask study participants questions about their symptoms through questionnaires at certain times after surgery. How long this study will last: Participation in this research (pre-surgery, surgery and follow-up) will last for about 2 years. Confidentiality: All personal information will be kept confidential, and data will be used only for research purposes. Contact Information: For more information about this study, please contact PhaseIICRA@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu

Locations

NCT06756035

CT-95 in Advanced Cancers Associated With Mesothelin Expression

This is a Phase 1a/1b, first-in-human (FIH), open-label, multi-center dose escalation and expansion study of the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of single-agent CT-95 in subjects with advanced (recurrent, unresectable, or metastatic) cancers associated with MSLN expression.

Locations

NCT02012699

Integrated Cancer Repository for Cancer Research

The iCaRe2 is a multi-institutional resource created and maintained by the Fred \& Pamela Buffett Cancer Center to collect and manage standardized, multi-dimensional, longitudinal data and biospecimens on consented adult cancer patients, high-risk individuals, and normal controls. The distinct characteristic of the iCaRe2 is its geographical coverage, with a significant percentage of small and rural hospitals and cancer centers. The iCaRe2 advances comprehensive studies of risk factors of cancer development and progression and enables the design of novel strategies for prevention, screening, early detection and personalized treatment of cancer. Centers with expertise in cancer epidemiology, genetics, biology, early detection, and patient care can collaborate by using the iCaRe2 as a platform for cohort and population studies.

Locations

NCT01416714

Tissue Procurement for Gastric Cancer, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST), Esophageal Cancer, Pancreas Cancer, Hepatocellular Cancer, Biliary Cancer, Neuroendocrine, Peritoneal Mesothelioma, Anal Cancer and Colorectal Cancer in Patients Undergoing Surgery or Biopsy

The purpose of this study is to collect and store normal and malignant tissue from patients with gastric cancer, GIST, esophageal cancer, pancreas cancer, hepatocellular cancer, biliary cancer, neuroendocrine, peritoneal mesothelioma, anal cancer and colorectal cancer, an estimated 50 to 100 of each tumor type. To collect and store blood samples from patients with gastric cancer, GIST, esophageal cancer, pancreas cancer, hepatocellular cancer, biliary cancer, neuroendocrine, peritoneal mesothelioma, anal cancer and colorectal cancer. To create a database for the collected tissue and allow access to relevant clinical information for current and future protocols. To create tissue microarrays for each gastrointestinal cancer subtype, namely, gastric cancer, GIST, esophageal cancer, pancreas cancer, hepatocellular cancer, biliary cancer, neuroendocrine, peritoneal mesothelioma, anal cancer and colorectal cancer, to facilitate future molecular studies. To grant access to Dr Kindler, Dr. Salgia, and Dr. Catenacci to this database (as it is being acquired) of the coupled patient tissue samples (normal and malignant) and relevant clinical information for the investigation of tyrosine kinases, such as Met and Ron, receptor tyrosine kinase family members, STATs, paxillin, focal adhesion proteins, cell motility/migration proteins, tyrosine/serine/threonine kinase family members, related molecules, and downstream targets implicated in the pathogenesis of GI cancers. Examples of molecular testing include evaluation of DNA mutation, alternative splice variants, protein expression and phosphorylation, and immunohistochemistry on samples. These studies will be correlated with clinical information as stated above.

Locations

Financial Support for Treatment in Illinois

Several cancer centers and nonprofits in Illinois help mesothelioma patients who need financial assistance, including the Southern Illinois Health Cancer Institute in Carterville. Funds provide relief to patients, caregivers and family members, easing the stress that comes with treatment.

Aid programs can help with daily living expenses. This may include costs such as food and rent, emergency hospital bills, travel and lodging related to treatment.

Available Financial Aid in Illinois

Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois Foundation: The CCSI Foundation supports Illinois cancer patients in need of financial aid. Based in Decatur, the nonprofit provides direct financial assistance and helps patients connect with other available funds, such as the Patient Access Network Foundation.
Coach Kill Cancer Fund: This fund is available to cancer patients who receive treatment at the SIH Cancer Institute or who live in Southern Illinois, including residents of Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson and Williamson Counties. It helps with expenses related to cancer treatment, such as medical bills, co-pays, prescription costs and medical equipment.
Lemuel Rhodes Cancer Foundation: Illinois resident Lemuel Rhodes established this foundation in his will after developing cancer and losing a brother to it. Based in Greenville, the nonprofit uses funds from the Rhodes Trust to provide financial aid to cancer patients in Bond County. Qualifying families can get money for transportation, lodging, medical supplies and other emergency cancer treatment costs that insurance does not cover.
Montgomery County Cancer Association: Mesothelioma patients who have lived in Montgomery County for at least a year can apply for short-term financial aid. The MCCA provides a one-time $4,000 grant and additional help with transportation costs. Cancer patients can use the grant for emergency medical bills or living expenses, including rent.

Patient Advocates can help Illinois mesothelioma patients locate available financial aid and navigate the application process. There are county, state-level and national resources for cancer patients and family members. Additionally, our Veterans Department can help U.S. Veterans with mesothelioma apply for disability payments and other VA benefits.

Cancer Resources in Illinois

Mesothelioma patients, family members and caregivers in Illinois can utilize free services, support groups and educational resources. These programs offer physical, emotional and practical help, ranging from exercise therapy at Living Well to compassionate companionship at Immerman Angels.

Support Programs for Patients and Caregivers

Firefighter Cancer Support Network: Firefighters face a higher risk of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. FCSN offers assistance to firefighters and their families after a cancer diagnosis. Patients receive individual support from fellow firefighters and EMS personnel, including mentorship and guidance during treatment.
Finding Hope Support Group: Located at the Springfield Memorial Hospital, this group meets to address the emotional and psychological toll of a cancer diagnosis. Finding Hope focuses on improving health and wellness through cancer education and community development.
Imerman Angels: Based in Chicago, Imerman Angels provides personal counseling for patients and caregivers. Using a unique matching process, the nonprofit connects cancer survivors with others who have faced the same types of cancer, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Over the years, the program’s 16,000 Mentor Angels have connected with more than 45,000 patients and caregivers.
Lemons of Love: The Lemons of Love Center in Cook County offers free cancer support programs, private head-shaving services and wellness classes for local patients and their families. Some classes give patients a creative outlet, while others teach stress management techniques.
Living Well: Living Well centers in Geneva and Warrenville offer free exercise assessments to cancer patients in the Chicago area. Certified professionals create 90-day programs for cancer survivors and patients undergoing active treatment, tailoring workouts to each participant’s needs. You can attend exercise classes in person or online.
Wellness House: Based in Cook County, Wellness House offers a variety of free cancer support services in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan area. This includes support groups, family counseling, exercise programs, nutrition education and stress management classes. Specific services change periodically, ranging from massage therapy to cooking workshops for cancer recovery.

Illinois patients can also find cancer support services by dialing 211. Trained operators can connect local families with transportation assistance, AARP caregiver resources and meal programs.

What Survivors Say About Their Mesothelioma Treatment in Illinois

Our Patient Advocates have helped many mesothelioma survivors in Illinois, and these families have shared inspiring stories about the state’s top-notch care, experienced surgeons and innovative research. Leading mesothelioma treatment and support programs are available for patients at every stage of care, such as cytoreductive surgery with heated chemotherapy and clinical trials at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Survivor Experience

“I’m already supposed to be dead, according to the doctors who I saw first, but I’ve still got a long list of things to do yet,” he said. “I’ve got people to see, places to go. My glass is always half full. That’s not going to stop now.”

– F.X. D. , Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survivor

Verified Asbestos.com Survivor

Survivor Experience

“I’m a walking miracle,” Angerman said. “We all know mesothelioma doesn’t stop by itself, and that chemotherapy only does so much for so long. So there’s really no other way to explain what has happened, except that God has been good to me.”

– Kathy A. , Pleural Mesothelioma Survivor

Verified Asbestos.com Survivor