Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

New York-Presbyterian Hospital’s Mesothelioma Center within its Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center and Columbia University Medical Center announced last week a new clinical trial is available for patients with pleural mesothelioma. The study will involve targeted radiation and chemotherapy as an alternative to lung removal (extrapleural pneumonectomy).

In a media release from the facility, Dr. Robert Taub, director of the Mesothelioma Center at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia and professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, who is the study’s principal investigator, explains current surgical and chemotherapy treatments for patients with mesothelioma are unsatisfactory, showing little efficacy in prolonging patient survival.

The trial is hoped to find a new option that avoids the often debilitating effects of the surgery, and also reduces toxic side effects associated with traditional systemic chemotherapy. Researchers hope the radiation therapy will kill cancer cells on the surface of the lung while sparing other parts of the lung and surrounding tissue, according to the release.

Clinical trial information states that participating patients will receive several rounds of targeted chemotherapy via surgically implanted catheters, and some patients also will be randomly selected to receive additional systemic (intravenous) chemotherapy. All patients will receive targeted radiotherapy. Patients also may elect to receive additional surgical treatment, including removal of the affected lung lining or lung.

“Overall, it is hoped that this study will decrease the need for patients to undergo radical surgery,” states Dr. Joshua Sonett, study co-investigator, chief of general thoracic surgery, surgical director of the Lung Transplant Program and surgical director of the High-Risk Lung Assessment Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia and professor of clinical surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. Taub says this is the only study of its kind nationwide to offer this experimental therapy.

The study is being conducted at the Mesothelioma Center within the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center.

For information about these trials please call the HICCC Clinical Research Mangement Office at (212) 305-8615.

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