University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Top Mesothelioma Specialist on Staff

Dr. Anne S. Tsao, MD

Dr. Tsao is the director of the mesothelioma and thoracic chemo-radiation programs at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She specializes in the treatment of pleural mesothelioma and other thoracic cancers. Her work with the MD Anderson Cancer Center is centered around improving life expectancy for her patients through new multimodal treatments and clinical trials.

Since mesothelioma is such a rare disease, it can often be difficult to receive personalized treatment for a patient’s unique diagnosis. Novel treatments have been developed in part by the work done by Dr. Tsao and other specialists in the field and they have found that a multimodal approach is often the best course of action. Combining surgery and other treatments like radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy can significantly improve a patient’s prognosis.

Dr. Tsao is also currently leading several clinical trials in an attempt to develop more successful treatments, specifically a more effective chemotherapy. Two of her previous trials, which had their results published in 2013, suggested that the use of systemic chemotherapy like (Almita and Cisplatin) in combination with two novel drugs slowed, and in some cases inhibited the growth of cancerous cells.

The two novel drugs that were used in conjunction with the traditional chemotherapy drugs were imatinib and cediranib. While the trial involving imatinib did not produce favorable results, the trials conducted with cediranib showed promise and are being investigated further by Dr. Tsao and other researchers at MD Anderson.

Is MD Anderson Right for You?

With all of the factors that are involved in choosing the right center for your mesothelioma treatment, it is important to weigh all of the options based on your unique diagnosis. The treatment available at MD Anderson is comprehensive and is administered by some of the most experienced physicians and oncologists in their respective fields. Some of the other advantages associated with receiving treatment from the MD Anderson Cancer Center:

• Access to new clinical trials and studies
• Decades of experience with treating mesothelioma
• Specialized support and counseling for patients

Our team of patient advocates are knowledgeable about these facilities and can help you find the right cancer center for treatment based on your unique diagnosis. Contact a patient advocate at 1-888-385-2024 to get in touch with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, or get a complete list of treatment centers in our free Mesothelioma Guide.