Essential Questions to ask if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma ***IMPORTANT***

Multimodal Therapies for Mesothelioma

Posted on: October 22, 2023 *Updated on: May 27, 2024

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that originates in the mesothelial cells, which line the body’s internal organs such as the lungs, heart, and abdomen. It is often associated with asbestos exposure. The term “multimodal therapy” refers to a treatment approach that combines multiple therapeutic modalities to manage the disease. This is often done to achieve a more comprehensive treatment effect than any single therapy might provide. Here’s a brief explanation of each type of treatment often included in mesothelioma multimodal therapy:

  1. Surgery: This could involve removing as much of the tumor as possible. In some cases, entire organs may be removed (e.g., pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy in pleural mesothelioma).
  2. Chemotherapy: Chemical drugs are used to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. This is often systemic treatment, affecting the whole body.
  3. Radiation: High-energy X-rays or other types of radiation are used to kill or shrink cancer cells. This is usually a localized treatment.
  4. Immunotherapy: This involves using drugs to help the immune system identify and fight the cancer cells. Immunotherapy has become an increasingly promising treatment modality for many types of cancer, including mesothelioma.
  5. Tumor Treating Fields (TTF): This is a relatively new cancer treatment that uses electric fields to disrupt the division of cancer cells, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. The electric fields are generally harmless to normal cells but can disrupt the cancer cells that are actively dividing.

The aim of using multimodal therapy is to maximize the chance of curing or controlling the cancer by hitting it from multiple angles. However, it’s worth noting that multimodal therapy is not appropriate for all patients; the suitability of this approach would depend on a variety of factors including the stage of the disease, the patient’s overall health, the type of mesothelioma (e.g., pleural, peritoneal), and other medical considerations.

Patients considering multimodal therapy for mesothelioma should consult with a specialized medical team to evaluate their specific circumstances and determine the most appropriate treatment plan.