Clinical Trials of Mesothelioma
A clinical trial for mesothelioma is the research study used to find out its treatment options with the help of volunteers. Researchers can conduct either animal or laboratory studies in order to produce positive results before it is tried on a human in clinical trial. A typical mesothelioma clinical trial will ensure whether a particular treatment option is safe and effective for treating the disease along with the best way to administer a drug and its proper dosage. It will also give details on the likely side effects which can be observed.
Types of Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma
There is no treatment or real cure for mesothelioma. As of today, there are over 42 active clinical trials for this deadly disease with each one likely to become a better treatment option than traditional chemotherapy. However, research for newer options that can directly target the tumor cells instead of harming the healthy cells is underway.
The clinical trials are in different names based on the type that includes anti-cytokine, anti-angiogenesis, enzyme inhibitor therapy, kinase inhibitor therapy, gene therapy, biological therapy, and immune therapy. Some mesothelioma patients take part in the clinical trials so that they can use the treatment option to treat their disease and have a control over their health. It also helps in renewing hope for a better quality of life. Another example for a mesothelioma clinical trial is the drug, Pemetrexed or ALIMTA®, which has been approved as a treatment option for pleural mesothelioma. This needs to be combined with a standard chemotherapy agent, cisplatin.
Clinical trials are conducted in segments or phases where the phase I clinical trial analyzes the way a drug works and its side effects at various doses. This phase involves only a few people. However, the phase II clinical trial involves more number of people and it is used to find out the effectiveness of the drug, its safety and side effects. The phase III is conducted at several medical centers or cancer centers and the effectiveness of the drug is evaluated.
Organizations Conducting Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
The federal National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institute of Health supports various types of the clinical trials in the United States. The studies are funded by the NCI and are handled by a network of doctors, hospitals, and cancer centers. Other sponsors for clinical trials are drug manufacturers, biotechnology companies, nonprofit groups or, at times, even private physicians.
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