The standard chemotherapy treatments currently offered for mesothelioma patients include cisplatin and pemetrexed or a combination of cisplatin and gemcitabine. Recently though, scientists in Greece have tested the effectiveness of combining gemcitabine and docetaxel for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs. The primary cause of this illness is exposure to asbestos and those who contract this cancer have often worked in industries ranging from shipyards to construction sites to power and chemical plants.
Even though someone may have been exposed to asbestos several decades ago, they are still at risk for developing mesothelioma as the latency period for symptoms to arise can reach 50 years. Those who have previously worked in industrial settings are encouraged to seek routine medical checkups for signs of asbestos exposure.
Researchers from the Athens University School of Medicine are trying to determine whether the combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel is more or less effective than current standard treatment options.
To test the mesothelioma chemotherapy option, 25 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were examined throughout the duration of a clinical trial. The treatment of gemcitabine and docetaxel was given to the patients on the first and 14th day of a 28-day cycle for six months or until the cancer spread to other areas.
Seven of the 25 patients, or 28 percent, responded positively to the treatment and their tumors shrunk in size. For 14 patients there was no change. The remaining four patients experienced an increase in the size of their tumors.
While the results of this trial were not as conclusive as researchers may have desired, the tests did show that gemcitabine combined with docetaxel may provide a helpful treatment method for some patients. Continued research in the area of mesothelioma is needed until a definitive cure can be established.
Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the mesothelioma Center.