An innovative clinical trial occurring at the Moffitt Cancer Center located in Tampa, Florida, is currently recruiting participants. This clinical trial allows doctors to take a new approach by administering chemotherapy drugs directly to a malignant pleural mesothelioma patient’s cancer.

The Clinical Trial

This clinical trial uses the method of transarterial chemoperfusion. In this method, a chemotherapy mixture enters the body through a catheter from the femoral artery and reaches the arteries that supply the chest wall. This is completed using an angiogram, an x-ray image of blood vessels throughout the body.

The chemotherapy is given at a speed that is determined by both the tolerance and reaction of the patient. By administering these chemotherapy drugs in this way, the treatment can get to the location of the disease more quickly.

The ultimate goal of this clinical trial is to determine if transarterial chemoperfusion treatment with gemcitabine, cisplatin, and methotrexate is safe and effective in adults who are diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

What Chemotherapy Drugs Are Used?

Each of the chemotherapy drugs used in this clinical trial work by targeting a patient’s cancer source. During this trial, the following chemotherapy drugs are used:

  • Gemcitabine interferes with the growth and the spread of cancer cells
  • Cisplatin prevents further growth of cancerous cells
  • Methotrexate is used for cancers that occur in the tissue

Are There Any Commitments?

If accepted into this clinical trial program, patients will meet for their treatment every 4 weeks and receive their determined doses of the transarterial chemoperfusion. Patients must be willing to fully participate in the trial.

Patients must agree to attend their scheduled visits, follow their treatment schedules, receive lab tests, and participate in any other requirements that the study may ask of them. Also, participants must not be receiving any other trial agents.

Who Is Being Recruited?

The clinical trial is currently seeking individuals with confirmed cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma. This trial is intended for patients who cannot have their tumor removed or do not want to have a surgical procedure performed. This trial also seeks individuals who may not have responded well to standard chemotherapy treatments.

To qualify for this clinical trial, the location of the patient’s disease must be accessible by major arteries. Also, a participant must have their disease assessed 28 days prior to the first day of their treatment with either a CT scan or MRI test.

What are the Side Effects?

During the clinical trial a doctor will closely monitor patients for side effects.The doctor will assess if the patient may or may not be able to continue their scheduled treatments.

This clinical trial could potentially give a participant some of the common side effects that occur when receiving chemotherapy treatment.

Some of those side effects can be:

  • Fatigue
  • Appetite loss
  • Hair loss

How Can I Get Involved?

If you are interested in learning more about this clinical trial, contact Mesothelioma Guide’s nurse, Jenna Campagna. She can be reached directly by calling 1.888.385.2024 extension 102 or you can ask her your questions via email at jenna@mesotheliomaguide.com.

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Show Sources & Author

  1. Transarterial Chemoperfusion: Cisplatin, Methotrexate, Gemcitabine for Unresectable Pleural Mesothelioma. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from: http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/clinical-trials/search/view?cdrid=778551. Accessed: 07/22/16.
  2. Side Effects. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from: http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects. Accessed: 07/22/16.
  3. Cisplatin. Chemocare. Retrieved from: http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/cisplatin.aspx. Accessed: 07/22/16.
  4. Gemcitabine. Chemocare. Retrieved from: http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/gemcitabine.aspx. Accessed: 07/22/16.
  5. Methotrexate. Chemocare. Retrieved from: http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Methotrexate.aspx. Accessed: 07/22/16.

About the Writer, Nicole Godfrey

Nicole Godfrey is an outreach associate and contributing writer for Mesothelioma Guide. She develops content to help educate and provide awareness about the most significant information about improving a mesothelioma patient’s prognosis.