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Long-term survival for mesothelioma is rare, especially without surgery. Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or a combination of these options usually gives patients 1-2 years of survival.
In two cases of peritoneal mesothelioma, a treatment plan without surgery resulted in extraordinary results.
Both patients received the chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and pemetrexed, plus a monoclonal antibody therapy called bevacizumab. This approach to mesothelioma treatment may help others.
Mesothelioma Treatment Plan Used
Both patients received six cycles of mesothelioma chemotherapy. The combination was carboplatin and pemetrexed (brand names Paraplatin and Alimta). They are common therapies used to treat mesothelioma. They also received bevacizumab with the chemotherapy combination.
Bevacizumab (brand name Avastin) is a monoclonal antibody that blocks tumors from receiving nutrients through blood. Cancer tumors create new blood vessels to receive a consistent supply of nutrients needed to grow and spread. This is called angiogenesis.
Bevacizumab blocks the creation of blood vessels, essentially starving the tumors until they die.
Following the six cycles, patients received a maintenance regiment pemetrexed and bevacizumab.
Lengthy Survival
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer. It begins in the peritoneum, which is a thin tissue lining of the abdominal cavity. There are approximately 2,500 cases of mesothelioma each year in the United States. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the diagnosis only 20% of the time.
The average survival is 1-2 years. The main surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma is called cytoreduction with HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy). Survival can improve to 2-3 years.
In the two cases of patients receiving carboplatin, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab, the average survival was approximately 4.5 years. The first patient survived for 7 years. They had a partial response to the therapy – meaning the cancer shrank but was not entirely eliminated – but unfortunately died from pneumonia.
The second patient achieved a complete response – meaning there were no signs of the disease on scans – and is still alive. They have been cancer-free for more than 2 years.
Receiving Treatment for Mesothelioma
Receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma can be discouraging, especially when patients and caregivers read about the average survival and limited treatment options. People diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma have treatment options even if surgery is not possible.
The combination of chemotherapy and bevacizumab was effective in two cases. Other treatment plans have worked for other patients.
Mesothelioma Guide can help you find a cancer center with a mesothelioma doctor and team. Contact our patient advocates for assistance. Registered nurse Karen Ritter is available at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com.
Sources & Author
- Successful Response to First-Line Carboplatin, Pemetrexed, and Bevacizumab for Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Two Case Reports. Case Reports in Oncology. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40881971/. Accessed: 09/02/2025.
Sources & Author
