Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

Below are two sample mesothelioma trials being conducted at New York Presbyterian Hospital. See their website for more information.

ALIMTA and Cisplatin

Title: Open-Label Study of ALIMTA (pemetrexed) in Combination with Cisplatin for Chemonaive Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Eligibility Requirements:

• Histologically confirmed malignant pleural mesothelioma
• No prior chemotherapeutic regimens
• Prior radiation more than 2 weeks

Treatment Plan: ALIMTA will be given as a 10-minute intravenous infusion on day 1 of a 21-day cycle. Cisplatin will be given as a 2-hour intravenous infusion on day 1 of a 21-day cycle.

ALIMTA and Gemcitabine

Title: ALIMTA plus Gemcitabine as Front-Line Chemotherapy for Patients with Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma. A Phase II Clinical Trial

Eligibility Requirements:

• Histologically confirmed malignant pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma
• No prior chemotherapeutic regimens
• Prior radiation allowed (more than 4 weeks)
• Prior surgery allowed (more than 4 weeks)

Treatment Plan: Folic acid and vitamin B 12 supplements will be given 1-2 weeks prior to chemotherapy administration. Gemcitabine will be given intravenously over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. ALIMTA will be given intravenously over 10 minutes on day 8 (prior to gemcitabine) of a 21-day cycle.