Mesothelioma Drugs

The first line treatment for mesothelioma is surgery. But some factors make surgery a difficult option such as the patient being in advanced stages of the disease or the location of the disease being too close to a vital organ or a debilitating condition of the patient. In such cases, mesothelioma chemotherapy or treatment by drugs is the only option. A number of drugs are available in the market that helps arrest the spread of the disease. These are generally administered intravenously every week or two for an extended period. Many physicians use a combination of drugs to treat mesothelioma and induce the desired response or medical improvement.

Mesothelioma Drugs List

These are some chemotherapy drugs used in different types of mesothelioma cases.

Alimta (pemetrexed) is the most widely prescribed and used drug in chemotherapy treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. It was approved for use by FDA in 2004. This medication is designed solely for treating patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a specific type of NSCLC. It is most useful in patients who cannot opt for surgery. The side effects of this drug include low blood cell counts, oral ulcers, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea which have been reportedly controlled by administering Vitamin supplements.

Platinol (cisplatin) is a platinum-based anti-cancer drug that is most commonly used together with Alimta for treating mesothelioma. The two together have proved effective in prolonging and improving the quality of life of mesothelioma patients. The drug is administered intravenously.

Vinorelbine is a plant alkaloid approved by the FDA in 1994 for treating patients with breast cancer and small cell lung cancer. It is also used for mesothelioma cancer patients. Use of Vinorelbine may be restricted due to its side effects that include increased susceptibility to infection, bruising or bleeding, anemia, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, tiredness and a general feeling of weakness.

Carboplatin is used effectively in treating some forms of cancer, mainly ovarian carcinoma, lung, head and neck cancers. It is preferred owing to its vastly reduced side-effects including nausea and vomiting as compared to its parent compound, Cisplatin. Carboplatin has also been found to be effective in strains of cancer that may not respond to treatment by Cisplatin. However, higher dosage of Carboplatin has to be administered as compared to other drugs because it easily passes out of the body through the urine.

Gemcitabine is an antimetabolite. It acts as a preventer and stems the tendency of cancer cells to divide and multiply. Being cell-cycle specific, Gemcitabine attacks cells at very specific phases in the cycle. Side effects reported by using this drug include Flu-like symptoms like muscle pain, fever, headache, chills, and fatigue; fever with the first dose; nausea with vomiting; poor appetite; and skin rash. Additionally, low blood counts need to be monitored.

Navelbine is an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug used for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It was approved by FDA in 1994; the drug went generic in the U.S. in February 2003. Reported side effects include tendency to infection, bruising or bleeding; anemia, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, tiredness and a general feeling of weakness. These symptoms limit the use of the drug.

Newest Mesothelioma Drugs

Onconase, also known as P-30 protein, is being used for treatment and reportedly speeds up an enzyme that specializes in the break down of RNA which in turn can destroy a cell or stop it from dividing. It is therefore considered in the treatment of mesothelioma.

Velcade (bortezomib) was approved by FDA in 2003 for use in cases of multiple myeloma. It is also used for mesothelioma patients. It has been reported that use of this drug often causes shingles in the patient which is chicken pox virus in the nerve.

Tarceva (erlotinib hydrochloride) has been approved by FDA in 2005 for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. It is available in oral tablets. Some side effects often reported include rashes, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and fatigue.

Experimental Cancer Drugs for Mesothelioma

Currently, there are 33 federally funded clinical trials researching cures or other effective measures for mesothelioma treatments.

Anti-angiogenesis drugs have shown great promise as a means of targeted therapy. These drugs work by cutting off the blood supply feeding the tumors; they prevent new blood vessels from forming and thus starve the tumor. This is in completely contrast to the conventional method of cutting out the tumor. Research is being conducted on both natural and synthetic anti-angiogenesis inhibitors. The first anti-angiogenesis drug to be FDA-approved is Bevacizumab (Avastin) in 2004.

Among others, Cisplatin, Pemetrexed and Bevacizumab are undergoing Phase II clinical trial for untreated mesothelioma.

Bevacizumab and Erlotinib are in Phase II trial for previously treated mesothelioma.

Onconase or Ranpirnase is also currently in a Phase III trial.

Other anti-angiogenesis agents are being tested in mesothelioma as well.