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

Types of Neoadjuvant Treatments

Posted on: October 17, 2023 *Updated on: May 25, 2024

Mesothelioma neoadjuvant treatment is therapy used before surgery. Neoadjuvant treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and occasionally immunotherapy are used for various cancers, including mesothelioma, to improve surgical outcomes. By shrinking the tumor(s), these treatments can make it easier for the surgeon to completely remove cancerous tissue while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. Neoadjuvant therapy may also help to improve the patient’s prognosis by reducing the risk of cancer recurrence after surgery. Here are some key aspects of neoadjuvant treatment in mesothelioma:

Types of Neoadjuvant Treatments

  1. Chemotherapy: Drugs such as cisplatin and pemetrexed are often used to shrink mesothelioma tumors before surgery.
  2. Radiation: Radiation therapy can also be used to reduce the size of the tumor. However, because mesothelioma often involves the lining of the lungs, radiation treatment must be carefully planned to minimize damage to healthy lung tissue.
  3. Immunotherapy: Though primarily explored in clinical trials, immunotherapy aims to boost the body’s natural defenses to help fight the cancer.
  4. Targeted Therapy: Though less common, therapies that target specific proteins or genes implicated in cancer are under investigation.

Considerations

  1. Timing: It’s important to coordinate neoadjuvant treatment with surgical planning to ensure optimal results.
  2. Assessment: Physicians often use imaging studies to assess the effectiveness of neoadjuvant treatment in shrinking tumors.
  3. Side Effects: Neoadjuvant therapies come with their own set of risks and side effects, which need to be managed carefully.
  4. Eligibility: Not all mesothelioma patients are candidates for neoadjuvant therapy; a thorough evaluation by the medical team is essential.

Risks and Limitations

  1. Incomplete Response: Not all tumors respond well to neoadjuvant treatments.
  2. Health Risks: Treatments may cause side effects that could make the subsequent surgery more complicated.
  3. Delay in Surgery: There is the potential that neoadjuvant therapy could delay surgical treatment, which might not be ideal in rapidly progressing cases.

Goals of Neoadjuvant Treatment

  1. Shrink Tumor: Reducing tumor volume is the primary goal, to facilitate complete removal during surgery.
  2. Improve Prognosis: By reducing the volume and extent of the cancer, these treatments may improve long-term outcomes.
  3. Assess Sensitivity: Response to neoadjuvant therapy can also provide valuable information on how the cancer responds to these treatments, which could be useful for planning postoperative (adjuvant) therapy.

It is critical for patients to consult their medical team for a personalized treatment plan tailored to their specific condition.