Clinical Trials for Asbestos Related Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Treatment

Over 75% of mesothelioma cases involve the lungs. This is called Pleural Mesothelioma. Like all asbestos-related diseases, its cause is breathing asbestos fibers into the lungs.

Most often, the patient has a history of working in an industrial, manufacturing, or construction job around asbestos-containing products that were cut, torn, altered, installed, and torn out. Asbestos fibers are tiny and become trapped in the small air passages deep in the lungs. Asbestos, which is toxic, does not break down, and causes irritation to healthy cells. Over time, the tissue lining the inner surface of the lungs starts to break down, and healthy cells can become malignant, or cancerous.

Asbestos related cancer is difficult to diagnose in the early stages if a patient ignores even very mild symptoms. By the time chronic symptoms appear, the cancer may become difficult to treat. Symptoms include chest pain, difficulty breathing and swelling of the abdomen. Unfortunately, many other ailments produce similar symptoms, so mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related cancers are not always clearly diagnosed, as patients frequently ignore more mild chronic symptoms.

People with a history of exposure to asbestos should watch for these symptoms, even years after their last exposure. An asbestos lung cancer lawyer can help you to document your history of exposure.

New treatments are constantly being tested. If you are diagnosed with asbestos related cancer, you may want to consider becoming part of a clinical trial.

Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma and Asbestos Related Lung Cancer

Why Should I Take Part in a Clinical Trial For Asbestos Disease?

Doctors are looking hard for a cure for asbestos related lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other asbestos related diseases, like throat cancer, digestive tract cancers, and asbestos. Large numbers of patients are needed for every clinical trial. This is the only way to get accurate data. If you are diagnosed with asbestos related lung cancer or mesothelioma, you may be eligible to take part in a clinical trial. Every clinical trial will give researchers useful information as they search for a cure.

What are the Steps to Finding and Enrolling in a Clinical Trial?

Find clinical trial options: The best place to learn about current clinical trials is to ask your mesothelioma doctor or asbestos exposure injury medical professional for a recommendation. You can also search the CDC’s database of Clinical Trials at https://clinicaltrials.gov/.

Ensure you are eligible to participate: Each clinical trial will have varying criteria for eligibility based on things like age, gender, cancer type, and the stage of the disease. For clinical trials related to mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases, the asbestos cancer and mesothelioma type and stage will be considered for eligibility. 

Contact the Clinical Trial Team: Once you find a clinical trial you’re a fit to participate in, you should contact the mesothelioma or lung cancer research team directly. Most clinical trials will have a website where you can fill out the enrollment form online. Your application will need to be accepted and approved. Please note, you may need to have your mesothelioma doctor or oncologist refer you for the clinical trial. If you need help, you can contact the research group directly by phone or email, all of which should be listed on their site.

The team will most likely set up an appointment to meet you. They will give you a physical exam and other eligibility tests to ensure you are qualified to participate. They will also give you more detailed information on what joining the clinical trial will entail. Make sure to listen carefully and don’t be afraid to ask any questions or express any hesitations you may have. 

Join the Clinical Trial: After learning and understanding all of the details of what the mesothelioma or lung cancer clinical trial will involve and discussing it with your mesothelioma doctor or oncologist, you will be required to sign a consent form to join. Once you sign the form, you are enrolled in the trial. Please know, you have the ability and right to leave the trial at any time.

Is There a Cost to Participating in a Clinical Trial?

In most cases there is no cost to you, the patient. In some cases you may actually be compensated for participating. You can find out more at Treatment Support Services for Asbestos Diseases in Alabama or at Mesothelioma Clinical Trials.

Current Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma and Asbestos Related Lung Cancer

MesoTRAP: A Study Comparing Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Partial Pleurectomy/Decortication With Indwelling Pleural Catheter in Patients With Trapped Lung Due to Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

The purpose of this research focuses on helping to relieve breathing difficulties in lung cancer patients. Two methods are currently in use. Both of these involve surgical procedures. In one, a tiny tube is inserted which allows fluid to drain. In the other, microsurgeries are done to remove tissue from the inside of the lung which interferes with breathing. The study may determine if one procedure is better. The study is being conducted by the National Institute for Health Research, United Kingdom, and three other British universities.

For more information, visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03412357?cond=Mesothelioma%3B+Lung&draw=2&rank=9

Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients with Stage I-III Pleural Mesothelioma

There are 11 locations on the east coast and in Minnesota where this large clinical trial is being conducted. The research focuses on the combined effects of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation on controlling cancer growth to determine the best combination and sequence of procedures. If this is a clinical trial which you would like to participate in, you will need to apply through your primary care physician or oncologist.

To read more, please visit https://cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/clinical-trials/search/v?id=NCI-2016-01016&r=1

A Feasibility Study Evaluating Surgery for Mesothelioma After Radiation Therapy Using Extensive Pleural Resection

Conducted in Toronto, Canada at Princess Margaret Hospital, this trial is determining a new way to divide chemotherapy into smaller doses for better effects.

To get more information, go to https://clinical trials.gov. Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04028570. 

If this is a clinical trial in which you would like to participate, you will need to apply through your primary care physician or oncologist. For more information go to: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04028570?cond=Mesothelioma%3B+Lung&draw=2&rank=1

A Phase I Study of a Targeted Cancer Vaccine (Galinpepimut-S) Combined with Nivolumab Immunotherapy in Patients with Persistent Pleural Mesothelioma

Researchers in this study are testing how effective it will be to use two different drugs in combination to target cancer cells which have not responded to other forms of therapy. Participants in this study must be over eighteen years of age. The study is being conducted at six of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centers. If this is a clinical trial in which you would like to participate, you will need to apply through your primary care physician or oncologist. 

For more information please refer to https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/clinical-trials/17-654

Avelumab and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients with Malignant Mesothelioma

This study proposes to use highly focused beams of radiation along with a drug, avelumab, which may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow. This may combat tumor cells more effectively and have less effect on normal cells. The study is ongoing. It is conducted by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. If this is a clinical trial which you would like to participate in, you will need to apply through your primary care physician or oncologist. 

To find out more, go to https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/clinical-trials/search/v?id=NCI-2018-00145&r=1

A Pilot Study to Explore the Role of Gut Flora in Metastatic Mesothelioma

The goal of this research study is to better understand how bacterial genetic information in the digestive tract is related to mesothelioma. The study is brand new, with a starting date of March 2, 2020. It will be conducted by ProgenaBiome in Ventura, California. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join this study. To learn more, you may contact the study research staff at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04214015?cond=Mesothelioma%3B+Lung&draw=2&rank=3.

A Study of XmAb®20717 in Subjects With Selected Advanced Solid Tumors

Conducted in San Francisco, at the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center. This study is looking at patient tolerance to different doses and anti-tumor activity of the patented drug XmAb®20171. It will continue until early 2021. If this is a clinical trial which you would like to participate in, you will need to apply through your primary care physician or oncologist.

For more information go to https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT03517488

Ph 2/3 Study in Subjects With MPM to Assess ADI-PEG 20 With Pemetrexed and Cisplatin

This clinical trial is also being conducted in San Francisco, at the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center. It focuses on a specific enzyme therapy which cuts down the availability of a specific enzyme shown to be needed by the mesothelioma cells. If this is a clinical trial in which you would like to participate, you will need to apply through your primary care physician or oncologist.

Find out more at https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT02709512

Were you Diagnosed with Lung Cancer or Mesothelioma?

If you have recently been diagnosed with an asbestos cancer, lung cancer or mesothelioma, you should speak to your doctor or oncologist about your options for treatment, including participating in ongoing or upcoming clinical trials. Next, contact us so we can connect you with some of the most experienced asbestos lawyers in the country.

Finding a Mesothelioma Attorney and Asbestos Lung Cancer Lawyer

Retaining a professional mesothelioma attorney or asbestos related lung cancer lawyer is important to both you and your family. You may be awarded a settlement payment for your asbestos injury.

The Law Center’s partner Environmental Litigation Group employs a team of mesothelioma attorneys and asbestos related lung cancer lawyers who have over 50 years of combined experience in helping people who have been diagnosed with asbestos exposure injuries. They have helped thousands of families all over the United States since 1990. They have worked extensively with medical professionals, oncologists, and all areas of the asbestos industry to maintain their level of expertise as one of the finest in the United States. They can help you to maximize the compensation that you are due. Contact us today to get started on your asbestos exposure injury case.