Mesothelioma: Types of Treatment

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 09/2020

ON THIS PAGE: You will learn about the different types of treatments doctors use for people with mesothelioma. Use the menu to see other pages.

This section explains the types of treatments that are the standard of care for mesothelioma. “Standard of care” means the best treatments known. When making treatment plan decisions, you are encouraged to consider clinical trials as an option. A clinical trial is a research study that tests a new approach to treatment. Doctors want to learn whether the new treatment is safe, effective, and possibly better than the standard treatment. Clinical trials can test a new drug, a new combination of standard treatments, or new doses of standard drugs or other treatments. Clinical trials are an option to consider for treatment and care for all stages of cancer. Your doctor can help you consider all your treatment options. Learn more about clinical trials in the About Clinical Trials and Latest Research sections of this guide.

Treatment overview

In cancer care, different types of doctors often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatments. This is called a multidisciplinary teamCancer care teams include a variety of other health care professionals, such as physician assistants, oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians, and others.

Descriptions of the common types of treatments used for both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma are listed below. Your care plan also includes treatment for symptoms and side effects, an important part of cancer care.

Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, possible side effects, and the patient’s preferences and overall health. Take time to learn about all of your treatment options and be sure to ask questions about things that are unclear. Talk with your doctor about the goals of each treatment and what you can expect while receiving the treatment. These types of talks are called "shared decision making." Shared decision making is when you and your doctors work together to choose treatments that fit the goals of your care. Shared decision making is particularly important for mesothelioma because there are different treatment options. Learn more about making treatment decisions.

Information on pleural mesothelioma is based on ASCO recommendations for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Please note this link takes you to another ASCO website.

Surgery

Surgery is the removal of the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue during an operation. A surgical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer using surgery. The type of surgery for mesothelioma depends on the stage and location of the cancer.

  • Pleural mesothelioma. For people with pleural mesothelioma, the surgeon may remove the cancerous lining around the lung. This procedure is called a pleurectomy/decortication. Generally, the tumor cannot be completely removed with a pleurectomy/decortication. A more aggressive surgery for pleural mesothelioma is called an extrapleural pneumonectomy. This is the removal of the lining of the lung, the entire lung, a portion of the diaphragm, and often a portion of the lining around the heart. This is a difficult surgery and is recommended only after the doctor has reviewed many factors, including the patient’s overall health and the stage of the disease. Additional treatment after surgery such as chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are often recommended (see below). Chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may also be given before surgery.

  • Peritoneal mesothelioma. People with peritoneal mesothelioma may often have a surgery called an omentectomy. An omentectomy is the removal of the lining around the abdominal organs. Since people with peritoneal mesothelioma often have tumors throughout the entire abdomen, it is difficult to remove all of them. The goal of surgery is to leave behind tumors that are as small as possible. After surgery, chemotherapy may be placed directly into the abdomen (see Therapies using medication, below).

Before surgery, talk with your health care team about possible side effects from the specific surgery you will have. Learn more about the basics of cancer surgery.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist. The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body.

A radiation therapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period of time.

  • Pleural mesothelioma. It is challenging to treat pleural mesothelioma with radiation therapy because of the risk of damaging the lung. When 1 of the 2 lungs has been surgically removed, radiation therapy is often given to the chest cavity to lower the risk of the mesothelioma returning in the chest. For example, this approach may be used after an extrapleural pneumonectomy (see Surgery, above). For some patients, radiation therapy may be given to a smaller area as supportive care to help relieve symptoms such as pain (see Physical, emotional, and social effects of cancer, below).

  • Peritoneal mesothelioma. For people with peritoneal mesothelioma, radiation therapy to the entire abdomen causes severe side effects and is not done. If a patient has pain in a specific area, radiation therapy may be a supportive care option to help relieve pain (see Physical, emotional, and social effects of cancer, below).

Side effects from radiation therapy may include tiredness, mild skin reactions, upset stomach, and loose bowel movements. Most side effects go away soon after treatment is finished. Learn more about the basics of radiation therapy.

Therapies using medication

Systemic therapy is the use of medication to destroy cancer cells. This type of medication is given through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body. Systemic therapies are generally prescribed by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication.

Common ways to give systemic therapies include an intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle or in a pill or capsule that is swallowed (orally).

The types of systemic therapies used for mesothelioma include:

  • Chemotherapy

  • Targeted therapy

  • Immunotherapy

Each of these types of therapies is discussed below in more detail. A person may receive 1 type of systemic therapy at a time or a combination of systemic therapies given at the same time. They can also be given as part of a treatment plan that includes surgery and/or radiation therapy.

The medications used to treat cancer are continually being evaluated. Talking with your doctor is often the best way to learn about the medications prescribed for you, their purpose, and their potential side effects or interactions with other medications. It is also important to let your doctors know if you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements. Herbs, supplements, and other drugs can interact with cancer medications. Learn more about your prescriptions by using searchable drug databases.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the most common type of systemic therapy used for mesothelioma. It usually works by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells.

A chemotherapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a set period of time. A patient may receive 1 drug at a time or a combination of different drugs given at the same time.

  • Pleural mesothelioma. The recommended treatment for patients who haven’t yet received treatment is the combination of pemetrexed (Alimta) and cisplatin (Platinol) or carboplatin (Paraplatin). These medications are given once every 3 weeks. Each 3-week period is called a cycle. People may receive 4 to 6 treatment cycles. Some people may receive additional therapy, called maintenance therapy, after the treatment cycles. There can be significant side effects with this combination of drugs. Some patients may receive a single drug if there are too many side effects from giving both drugs. Bevacizumab (see Targeted therapy, below) may be added to chemotherapy for some patients.

  • Peritoneal mesothelioma. As mentioned in the Surgery section (above), chemotherapy is often given directly into the abdomen after surgery. Delivering chemotherapy through an IV (through a vein; intravenously) is also used. Like pleural mesothelioma, the drug combination of pemetrexed with cisplatin or carboplatin is most often used for treatment.

The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the individual and the dose used, but they can include fatigue, risk of infection, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. The most common side effects from the drugs used to treat mesothelioma include damage to the kidneys, numbness and tingling in the fingers or toes, rash, a higher risk of infection from a low white blood count, or anemia. Patients may experience other side effects as well. Patients receiving these types of chemotherapy are given the vitamins B12 and folic acid to lower the risk of these side effects. Other medications, such as those used to prevent vomiting, are also available to relieve many of these side effects. These side effects usually go away after treatment is finished. Talk with your doctor about possible side effects of your chemotherapy plan and how they can be managed.

Learn more about the basics of chemotherapy.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells.

Not all tumors have the same targets. To find the most effective treatment, your doctor may run tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in your tumor. This helps doctors better match each patient with the most effective treatment whenever possible. In addition, research studies continue to find out more about specific molecular targets and new treatments directed at them. Learn more about the basics of targeted treatments.

For pleural mesothelioma, the drug bevacizumab (Avastin) may be added to chemotherapy for patients who do not have health problems that would prevent them from receiving it. Bevacizumab is a type of drug called an anti-angiogenic targeted therapy. Anti-angiogenesis is focused on stopping angiogenesis, which is the process of making new blood vessels. Because a tumor needs the nutrients delivered by blood vessels to grow and spread, the goal of anti-angiogenesis therapies is to “starve” the tumor. Talk with your doctor about possible side effects for a specific medication and how they can be managed.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy, also called biologic therapy, is designed to boost the body's natural defenses to fight the cancer. It uses materials made either by the body or in a laboratory to improve, target, or restore immune system function.

For pleural mesothelioma that cannot be treated with surgery, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a combination of the immunotherapy drugs ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo) as a first-line treatment. This combination is approved for use in people with all types of pleural mesothelioma, but people with biphasic or sarcomatoid mesothelioma saw more improvement in research studies.

For mesothelioma, pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and a combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab may be options for patients who have already received chemotherapy.

Different types of immunotherapy can cause different side effects. Common side effects include skin reactions, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, and weight changes. Talk with your doctor about possible side effects for the immunotherapy recommended for you. Learn more about the basics of immunotherapy.

Physical, emotional, and social effects of cancer

Cancer and its treatment cause physical symptoms and side effects, as well as emotional, social, and financial effects. Managing all of these effects is called palliative care or supportive care. It is an important part of your care that is included along with treatments intended to slow, stop, or eliminate the cancer.

Palliative care focuses on improving how you feel during treatment by managing symptoms and supporting patients and their families with other, non-medical needs. Any person, regardless of age or type and stage of cancer, may receive this type of care. And it often works best when it is started right after a cancer diagnosis. People who receive palliative care along with treatment for the cancer often have less severe symptoms, better quality of life, and report they are more satisfied with treatment.

Palliative treatments vary widely and often include medication, nutritional changes, relaxation techniques, emotional and spiritual support, and other therapies. You may also receive palliative treatments similar to those meant to get rid of the cancer, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. For example, as mentioned above, radiation therapy may be used to relieve pain.

Before treatment begins, talk with your doctor about the goals of each treatment in the treatment plan. You should also talk about the possible side effects of the specific treatment plan and palliative care options.

During treatment, your health care team may ask you to answer questions about your symptoms and side effects and to describe each problem. Be sure to tell the health care team if you are experiencing a problem. This helps the health care team treat any symptoms and side effects as quickly as possible. It can also help prevent more serious problems in the future.

Learn more about the importance of tracking side effects in another part of this guide. Learn more about palliative care in a separate section of this website.

Metastatic mesothelioma

If cancer spreads to another part in the body from where it started, doctors call it metastatic cancer. If this happens, it is a good idea to talk with doctors who have experience in treating it. Doctors can have different opinions about the best standard treatment plan. Clinical trials might also be an option. Learn more about getting a second opinion before starting treatment, so you are comfortable with your chosen treatment plan.

Your treatment plan may include a combination of the treatments above, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and systemic therapy using medication. Palliative care will also be important to help relieve symptoms and side effects.

For most people, a diagnosis of metastatic cancer is very stressful and, at times, difficult to bear. You and your family are encouraged to talk about how you feel with doctors, nurses, social workers, or other members of the health care team. It may also be helpful to talk with other patients, including through a support group.

Chance of recurrence

When cancer cannot be detected in the body and there are no symptoms, it may be called having “no evidence of disease” or NED.

Having NED may be temporary or permanent. This uncertainty causes many people to worry that the cancer will come back. It is important to talk with your doctor about the possibility of the cancer returning. Understanding your risk of recurrence and the treatment options may help you feel more prepared if the cancer does return. Learn more about coping with the fear of recurrence.

If the cancer returns after the original treatment, it is called recurrent cancer. It may come back in the same place (called a local recurrence), nearby (regional recurrence), or in another place (distant recurrence).

When this occurs, a new cycle of testing will begin again to learn as much as possible about the recurrence. After this testing is done, you and your doctor will talk about the treatment options. Often the treatment plan will include the treatments described above such as surgery, systemic therapy using medication, and radiation therapy, but they may be used in a different combination or given at a different pace. Your doctor may suggest clinical trials that are studying new ways to treat this type of recurrent cancer. Whichever treatment plan you choose, palliative care will be important for relieving symptoms and side effects.

People with recurrent cancer often experience emotions such as disbelief or fear. You are encouraged to talk with the health care team about these feelings and ask about support services to help you cope. Learn more about dealing with cancer recurrence.

If treatment does not work

Recovery from mesothelioma is not always possible. If the cancer cannot be cured or controlled, the disease may be called advanced or terminal.

This diagnosis is stressful, and for many people, advanced cancer is difficult to discuss. However, it is important to have open and honest conversations with your health care team to express your feelings, preferences, and concerns. The health care team has special skills, experience, and knowledge to support patients and their families and is there to help. Making sure a person is physically comfortable, free from pain, and emotionally supported is extremely important.

People who have advanced cancer and who are expected to live less than 6 months may want to consider hospice care. Hospice care is designed to provide the best possible quality of life for people who are near the end of life. You and your family are encouraged to talk with the health care team about hospice care options, which include hospice care at home, a special hospice center, or other health care locations. Nursing care and special equipment can make staying at home a workable option for many families. Learn more about advanced cancer care planning.

After the death of a loved one, many people need support to help them cope with the loss. Learn more about grief and loss.

The next section in this guide is About Clinical TrialsIt offers more information about research studies that are focused on finding better ways to care for people with cancer. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.