What are the treatments for mesothelioma?
Even with treatment, prognosis is poor. Average survival is about 1 ½ years after the onset of symptoms. The 3-year survival rate is 10%; 5-year survival rate is only 5%.
Conventional treatment of mesothelioma includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Surgery is usually performed palliatively or to remove the tumor in hopes of a cure. Surgery for cure is often futile because there is usually microscopic spread of the cancer cells even when the tumor appears to be isolated.
Radiation may kill the cancer cells and is frequently used adjuvantly with surgery. When performed along with chemotherapy, radiation can cause the side effects of chemotherapy to be worse.
Chemotherapy may be used as a primary or adjuvant form of therapy along with surgery and radiation. A combination of chemotherapeutic agents is often given.
Experimental treatments of mesothelioma include drug therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. These treatment methods are currently being studied.