MD Anderson Cancer Center

More About Mesothelioma Treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive disease. Not many doctors have the training or experience to treat it effectively, which provides a challenge for patients and their families.

MD Anderson Cancer Center, located in Houston, Texas, is one of the world’s top mesothelioma cancer centers and patients often travel across the country for care. MD Anderson has the honor of being a National Cancer Institute-designated center. It is one of just a few in the state of Texas with this recognition.

Mesothelioma treatment provided at MD Anderson includes surgery and therapies on a case-by-case basis. This allows medical staff to provide a treatment plan for the unique needs of the individual patient.

Dr. Anne Tsao is the Director of the hospital’s Mesothelioma Program. Dr. Kanwal Raghay is the medical oncologist for peritoneal mesothelioma cases.

MD Anderson Cancer Center features a Thoracic Center, which houses treatment for pleural mesothelioma. MD Anderson also sees peritoneal mesothelioma cases.

There are four locations seeing people with mesothelioma:

• MD Anderson League City
• MD Anderson Sugar Land
• MD Anderson Woodlands
• MD Anderson West Houston

Experienced Mesothelioma Specialists

• Dr. Anne Tsao, Director of Mesothelioma Program
• Dr. Kanwal Raghay, gastrointestinal medical oncologist

Affiliations

• University of Texas

Treatment Specialties

• Extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery (pleural mesothelioma)
• Pleurectomy/decortication surgery (pleural mesothelioma)
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy, such as oncolytic virus therapy

Get Connected to MD Anderson Cancer Center

MD Anderson Cancer Center is a home to more than a dozen clinical studies involving mesothelioma. Dr. Anne Tsao is the Director of Mesothelioma at the hospital and leads a team of specialists offering surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and more.

Why Choose MD Anderson?

• Ranked first in cancer treatment among all hospitals
• Offering a variety of therapy options for patients
• Highly skilled staff includes surgeons and oncologists

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What Mesothelioma Care Is Like at MD Anderson

MD Anderson Cancer Center is ranked as the top hospital in America in 2024-2025 for cancer treatment. This is a testament to the quality of care patients experience and comfort they feel throughout the process.

Cancer care is not limited just to the medicines provided or surgeries performed. MD Anderson excels at easing the anxieties of cancer patients and their families. There are various housing programs used by the cancer center to help out-of-town traveling families regain a sense of normalcy through the challenging period.

MD Anderson also offers mental health services to improve patient quality of life before, during and after mesothelioma treatment.

For the fifth straight year, in 2025-2026, the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll ranked MD Anderson Cancer Center the No. 1 hospital in America for cancer treatment. This is a prestigious honor and evidence of the mesothelioma cancer center’s high-quality care for patients.

Hospital Ranking

• Not ranked in the U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026 Hospitals Honor Roll
• Ranked 1st in cancer treatment
• Ranked 13th in gastrointestinal cancer surgery (peritoneal mesothelioma)
• High performing for lung cancer surgery (pleural mesothelioma)

Host Site for Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

MD Anderson Cancer Center is a regular Uhost site for mesothelioma clinical trials. One of the most prominent trials was the DREAM3R study featuring the immunotherapy drug durvalumab. The trial uses the immune checkpoint inhibitor with chemotherapy.

The trial is one of the recruiting studies at MD Anderson. There are a total of 16 clinical trials featuring malignant mesothelioma. One of them uses pleurectomy/decortication surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

How to Begin Treatment at MD Anderson

MD Anderson Cancer Center is located in a major metropolitan city, which grants access to patients traveling by plane from hours away. The hospital welcomes patients from other states – or patients in far-away parts of Texas.

Connecting with MD Anderson is much easier with the help of a patient advocate. Nurse Karen Ritter is the best and most compassionate patient guide for mesothelioma patients. Her number one goal is to help connect people with the medical resources they need to improve their prognosis.

Email Nurse Karen at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com or request a list of cancer center recommendations based on your location, disease and other specific criteria.

Sources & Author

1. Mesothelioma. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Retrieved from: https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/mesothelioma.html. Accessed: 02/22/2022.
2. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from: https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/tx/university-of-texas-md-anderson-cancer-center-6741945. Accessed: 08/11/2025.
3. Mesothelioma Treatment. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Retrieved from: https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/mesothelioma/mesothelioma-treatment.html. Accessed: 02/22/2022.
4. Find a Cancer Center. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find. Accessed: 03/03/2022.
5. Atezolizumab and bevacizumab show meaningful responses for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma patients. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Retrieved from: https://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/atezolizumab-and-bevacizumab-show-meaningful-responses-for-malignant-peritoneal-mesothelioma-patients.h00-159462423.html. Accessed: 02/22/2022.
6. DuRvalumab With chEmotherapy as First Line treAtment in Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma (DREAM3R). Clinicaltrials.gov. Retrieved from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04334759. Accessed: 03/02/2022.

About the Writer, Karen Ritter, RN BSN

Karen Ritter, a registered nurse, is the lead patient advocate for Mesothelioma Guide. She has a deep passion for patient care, which includes helping patients and their families search for treatment options at the top mesothelioma cancer centers. She finds the balance between encouraging patients to receive the best treatment possible while enjoying their time with loved ones and friends. Karen is a valuable asset for patients due to her knowledge of mesothelioma, compassion for the victims of this disease and dedication to guiding patients through their treatment journey.