UCSF Helen Diller Family Cancer Center

The Mesothelioma Specialists at UCSF

One of the most influential factors for patients considering UCSF as their treatment center is the range of experience represented by its specialists. The physicians at UCSF are among the most accomplished on the West Coast. Some of the major players in the field of mesothelioma research and treatment call this center home.

Dr. Thierry Jahan

Thoracic oncologist Dr. Thierry Jahan specializes in the study of malignant pleural mesothelioma. His work spans curative and palliative procedures as he works to bring an end to mesothelioma patient suffering. A caring and empathetic doctor, Dr. Jahan brings a decidedly compassionate edge to UCSF.

“I started in this disease close to 20 years ago when we really had very little to offer other than comfort measures and treatment to ease people’s suffering; now we’re up to having state-of-the-art molecular analyses and specifically designed drugs that target exactly the disease and very little else so they don’t cause a lot of side effects.” – Dr. Thierry Jahan

Dr. David Jablons

Professor and program leader of thoracic oncology at UCSF, Dr. David Jablons is an accomplished physician who leads research in therapeutic agents and treatments for mesothelioma and other types of lung cancer. Dr. Jablons also heads up the center’s thoracic tissue bank, one of the largest in the world. By building on existing cancerous tissue, Dr. Jablons and his specialists can contribute to the development of new treatments for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Clinical Trials at UCSF

As a leader in mesothelioma research, UCSF is always looking for ways to get involved in clinical trials to advance treatment development. Some of their most notable recent clinical trials include:

Treating Mesothelioma with Bacteria

Dr. Thierry Jahan is leading a clinical trial to investigate whether a genetically modified strain of the bacteria Listeria could impact mesothelioma tumors. For this study, the Listeria is modified to reduce its harmful effects while stimulating immune responses; it is used in addition to standard chemotherapy treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Maintenance Chemotherapy

This Phase II clinical trial aims to determine whether maintenance therapy using Alimta has any long-term impact on pleural mesothelioma patients. One of the difficulties in treating mesothelioma is that the disease progresses quickly after the patient’s first round of treatment. If doctors can develop an effective maintenance therapy, patients could live longer by keeping their disease at bay.

Is UCSF Right For You?

UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is a leader in new treatment options as well as continuing research and exemplary patient care. Although it depends on your specific diagnosis, UCSF may be the cancer center best suited for your treatment. Some of the benefits of UCSF include:

• Leaders in research
• Internationally recognized
• Extensive experience in treating mesothelioma

UCSF is always on the cutting edge of mesothelioma research. If you are interested in alternative treatment options, find out more about clinical trials and whether you are eligible to participate in one. The patient advocate team at Mesothelioma Guide can help you get connected to specialists at UCSF with our free Doctor Match program.