Mesothelioma is a rare and serious form of cancer that is most often caused by exposure to asbestos. It is a type of cancer that can be quite difficult to treat as well. Because of this, much research has been done and is being done to help improve upon the currently used treatments for mesothelioma. If you or people you care about are suffering from mesothelioma, get to know more about the potential new treatments that are in development for mesothelioma. Then you can be sure that you remain up-to-date on treatment developments and can get in on any clinical trials so that you and/or your loved ones can get the best treatment possible.

New Form of Radiation Therapy

One of the treatment options that researchers and doctors have been working on for mesothelioma is a new type of radiation therapy known as Intensity Modulated Pleural Radiation Therapy. This type of radiation therapy requires other treatments for mesothelioma to occur first.

Lung-sparing surgeries are performed to essentially remove the cancerous tissues from the lungs. Before a person can go through Intensity Modulated Pleural Radiation Therapy, they will need to have such a surgery. Then, the patient will have radiation therapy that is focused specifically on the pleural lining that remains behind. This is designed to get rid of any traces of cancer that are left behind following surgery.

Intensity Modulated Pleural Radiation Therapy can help to keep any remaining healthy lung tissue from being damaged by more generalized radiation, which helps to improve quality of life and overall treatment outcomes in patients. Clinical trials find that this is a promising treatment option but needs further research to determine if it is worthy of widespread use.

New Oral Medication

Another developing option in treating mesothelioma is a type of oral medication. This medication is an enzyme inhibitor that is focused on the EZH2 enzyme. EZH2 is an enzyme that cancer cells use to divide and spread. Therefore, EZH2 inhibitors focus on blocking the activity of that enzyme as a way to stop the spread of cancer.

Currently, the new drug, known as tazemetostat, is being studied as a possible monotherapy for mesothelioma. This means that it would be used alone to treat mesothelioma. However, there are also plans in the works to test it as a part of a larger treatment program.

With these potential treatment options currently being discussed and studied, there may be hope for newer and more effective treatment options for mesothelioma in the not too distant future. For more information, talk with a radiation specialist in your area.