Mesothelioma Treatments

Treatments and clinical trials available for mesothelioma

At the heart of your treatment at City of Hope is your individuality. We understand that you — and your specific type of mesothelioma — are unique, and we act on that knowledge to identify the right therapy for you.

Surgical specialists

At City of Hope, deeply experienced thoracic specialists perform advanced procedures not available at other centers — and are among the best when it comes to high quality, minimally invasive thoracic surgery for conditions such as pleural mesothelioma.

Surgery on the lung is delicate, and preserving as much tissue as possible requires both experience and skill. Our surgical team includes highly trained leaders in lung surgery who regularly take on more complex cases — including some deemed untreatable at other facilities. At the same time, we attack mesothelioma as aggressively as feasible, attempting to remove all tumors.

Anterior views of the 5-step surgical process of lung removal

Advanced radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may be used alone or with chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma. City of Hope uses leading-edge radiation therapy techniques:

  • Helical TomoTherapy directs radiation at a tumor from many different directions. It uses the highest radiation dose possible to kill cancer cells while sparing normal tissue nearby.
  • Four-dimensional computed tomography scanning takes into account breathing during radiation treatment. Four-dimensional CT scanning more accurately targets cancer cells and reduces side effects.
  • Intensity modulated radiation therapy and image-guided radiation therapy direct radiation directly at a tumor while protecting normal tissue around it.
  • Stereotactic body radiation is a new technology that delivers a very high dose of focused and precise radiation treatment while taking into account breathing motion. It often is done alongside image-guided radiation therapy.

Clinical trials

City of Hope consistently stands among the leaders in clinical trials for mesothelioma. We participate in trials of advanced immunotherapy and other targeted treatments, yielding rapid access to promising investigational strategies.

We also push our homegrown research into the clinic as quickly and efficiently. Treating you as an individual starts with assembling an experienced care team led by world leaders in the biology of cancer. At City of Hope, breakthroughs from our internationally renowned research team often are available to our patients before they are offered anywhere else.

Care of the highest caliber

At City of Hope our surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, supportive care and pain management specialists — and other team members — are in frequent communication about the best path for your treatment so that you receive care of the highest caliber. And your care continues long after treatment is completed — we are committed to helping you and your loved ones manage your recovery.