New Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma Patients

By: Chris Placitella @ Jul 19, 2009

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston is currently searching for mesothelioma patients to take part in a clinical trial that will study the efficacy of combination chemotherapy consisting of gemcitabine and cisplatin administered in the operating room and put into the chest and abdomen for one hour. This Phase I trial will also research the effects of heating the chemotherapy to a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius and the effect of cytoprotection agents amifostine and sodium thiosulfate to counteract potential side effects of chemotherapy.

The study, which will be completed in 2010, will also involve the surgical procedure known as extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy/decortication, which includes the resection of the lung, the lining of the lung (pleura), the covering of the heart (pericardium), and the muscle that separates the chest and abdomen (diaphragm). The chemotherapy drugs will be administered immediately following the surgery.