Facts About MESOTHELIOMA: Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treats cancer with drugs that destroy cancer cells. It may be used to shrink a tumor before surgery (neo-adjuvant therapy), to help destroy cancer cells that may remain after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy), to make radiation therapy or immunotherapy work more effectively, or to help destroy cancer that recurs or has spread from the site of the original tumor. It may also be used as a stand-alone treatment in cases where the patient is not a surgical candidate.

Major research is happening in the field of chemotherapy for mesothelioma patients. A recent article in the journal Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy stated "there has been definite progress in the systemic treatment of this disease within the past 5 years". In addition to standby drugs such as cisplatin, gemcitabine, alimta, and anti-angiogenesis agents such as bevacizumab and endostatin are being vigorously pursued by researchers. Ranpirnase (onconase) is also promising as is coramsine.

Chemotherapy drugs may be given as single agents, but often, two or more drugs are given simultaneously. This is called "combination therapy". Such is the case with the investigational drug, Alimta, (now in an expanded access program for mesothelioma patients), where it is combined with "standard" drugs such as cisplatin or gemcitabine. According to Petr F. Hausner, "other novel chemotherapy combinations are promising e.g. raltitrexed (Tomudex) with oxaliplatin (Fizazi, Doubre et al. 2003)."

When cancer occurs, abnormal cells in the body multiply out of control. Anticancer drugs destroy cancer cells by preventing them from multiplying. Unfortunately, healthy cells can also be harmed, and it is the damage to the healthy cells that may ultimately cause side effects. The cells most likely to be affected are the fast-growing normal cells such as the blood cells forming in bone marrow, and cells in the digestive tract which includes the mouth, stomach, intestines, and esophagus. Hair follicles may also be affected, hence, hair loss during chemotherapy. Some drugs affect cells of vital organs, such as the heart, kidney, bladder, lungs, and nervous system.

Before beginning a chemotherapy protocol, your doctor should...

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