University of Chicago Medicine

More About Mesothelioma Treatment at University of Chicago Medicine

University of Chicago Medicine, which includes the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, has two doctors for peritoneal mesothelioma on staff: Dr. Mecker Möller and Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler. Dr. Kindler is also the head of the cancer center’s Mesothelioma Program.

The hospital’s Mesothelioma Program also includes two thoracic surgeons capable of treating pleural mesothelioma: Dr. Jessica Donington and Dr. Mark Ferguson. Dr. Kiran Turaga previously worked here as a peritoneal mesothelioma specialist but moved to Yale School of Medicine.

University of Chicago Medicine for mesothelioma includes more medical professionals, including:

• Three radiologists
• An oncologist
• A pulmonologist (specialist of respiratory system functioning)
• Two pathologists
• Two palliative medicine specialists

A staff with this many mesothelioma doctors – plus a developed program – puts University of Chicago Medicine near the top of the list for mesothelioma care. There are a handful of cancer centers in the U.S. with mesothelioma specialists and programs.

Chicago Medicine recently added a new state-of-the-art facility. The new hospital will be at the campus in Hyde Park, a subdivision in the south side of Chicago. This facility will focus on cancer treatment. Construction is estimated to begin in 2023 – if the cancer center addition is approved – and open to patients in 2026.

The new building would be seven stories tall, feature 128 beds and 100 examination rooms. Other features are rooms for genetic testing, imaging, infusion, counseling and urgent care. University of Chicago Medicine anticipates the new cancer center add-on to increase the outpatient and inpatient volume, allowing doctors to provide care for more patients – and more frequently.

Surgery for Both Types of Mesothelioma

University of Chicago Medicine for mesothelioma has specialists capable of performing surgery for both types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma surgery options are pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy. The former is preferred since it leaves both lungs intact.

Peritoneal mesothelioma surgery is cytoreduction. The other part is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The medical team infuses chemotherapy into the abdominal cavity to treat tumors in the area. The cancer center is most known for their HIPEC surgery program, which is now led by an experienced HIPEC surgeon and peritoneal mesothelioma specialist in Dr. Möller.

“We all know prevention is better than cure,” Dr. Turaga said. “If we can predict this disease early or find it very early, there’s no question these patients will do better.”

Consideration to Rising Treatments

University of Chicago Medicine is hosting a study for two immune checkpoint inhibitors for mesothelioma. The therapies, Opdivo and Yervoy, are approved by the FDA for unresectable pleural mesothelioma. This study is one of the first incorporating immunotherapy for peritoneal mesothelioma.

Patients receive Opdivo and Yervoy (brand names for nivolumab and ipilimumab, respectively), followed by HIPEC/cytoreductive surgery. The objective is to assess how peritoneal mesothelioma tumors respond to immunotherapy treatment – and if the drugs shrink tumors and make surgery easier.

How to Get Treatment at University of Chicago Medicine for Mesothelioma

Chicago is an easily accessible cancer center with regular incoming flights from throughout the country. This means going to University of Chicago Medicine’s cancer center is a top option for patients.

The HIPEC program is highly regarded and now is led by Dr. Möller, who was the first HIPEC surgeon for peritoneal mesothelioma in south Florida when she worked at the University of Miami. Thoracic oncology and surgery is also rated well.

If you wish to learn more about mesothelioma care from this cancer center, contact our team. Our registered nurse, Karen Ritter (karen@mesotheliomaguide.com), can help you contact the Mesothelioma Program at the hospital. Reach out to her for cancer recommendations via email or with a cancer center contact form.