Mesothelioma Clinical Trials to Watch [Updated]

Researchers are constantly seeking improved treatments for mesothelioma and other cancers. Mesothelioma clinical trials are one way that scientists are trying to find new methods of helping patients. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is wise to educate yourself about current clinical trials. You should also speak with your doctor to gauge what may or may not be right for your situation.

Mesothelioma is an incurable and aggressive form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. This disease takes a very long time to develop, and when noticeable symptoms first appear, they can mimic other, less serious diseases. Cancer treatment protocols are the usual treatment path for many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, but there are some promising mesothelioma clinical trials that may enhance patient outcomes.

What Are Mesothelioma Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials are researched studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new medical interventions. These studies are meticulously designed and can examine various therapeutics, like medications, treatment approaches, or medical devices. In mesothelioma clinical trials, the patients have a critical role in helping advance treatment options for this aggressive cancer.

The medical community and scientific researchers are consistently conducting clinical trials for all types of medical conditions, including various forms of cancer. A clinical trial is an essential testing process for new and experimental drugs, therapies, and treatment regimens for known conditions. Patients can voluntarily opt into participating in these trials if they qualify.

Participating in a clinical trial is uncertain, potentially risky, but also potentially beneficial. There is no guarantee that a clinical trial treatment will be successful, and there is a risk of unforeseen adverse effects. However, most people who participate in these trials will have their medical expenses covered. The tradeoff is that there is no guarantee of positive outcomes.

There are roughly 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed and about 2,500 deaths from mesothelioma in the United States each year, and many new patients are willing to participate in clinical trials. Mesothelioma has a relatively low life expectancy. Overall, the average life expectancy is between 18 and 31 months with treatment, so many people are willing to participate in clinical trials if they offer the chance to improve their outlook.

Currently, there are 38 ongoing clinical trials for mesothelioma approved by the National Cancer Institute. If you or a loved one is interested in participating in a clinical trial for mesothelioma, it is important to check the eligibility requirements. Each trial focuses on different aspects of mesothelioma and may require participants to have specific forms of the disease at specific stages.

Many of these clinical trials investigate the interactions between different types of drugs as well as the efficacy of combining certain treatments. Each clinical trial is unique and offered only at specific locations. For example, some trials focus exclusively on pleural mesothelioma, while others focus on peritoneal mesothelioma. Consult your doctor to determine whether any clinical trials could be promising for your situation and to gather the records needed to prove eligibility.

Types of Clinical Trials

There are many types of clinical trials and ways to classify them. Depending on the relevant aspect, someone may categorize clinical trials by intervention type, purpose, or phase.

Interventional vs. Observational Trials

The main difference between interventional and observational trials is that, in observational trials, researchers do not intervene or introduce anything into the trial. Observational trials involve researchers observing patients and collecting data on patient health, behaviors, risk factors, and other details. These trials help researchers find trends, connections between factors, and hypotheses for future trials.

In interventional trials, the researchers intervene. These trials are meant to introduce the participants to a medication, surgical procedure, or medical device. After the introduction, the researchers compare the outcomes of the group they intervened with and those of a control group that did not receive intervention. Scientists classify these trials based on their phase, purpose, and scale.

The phases of interventional trials are:

• Phase I commonly tests the intervention for the first time with a small group. This phase is meant to evaluate safe dosages and possible side effects.
• Phase II studies the treatments that pass Phase I but need to be tested on a larger group to ensure that there are no unintended adverse effects.
• Phase III consists of studies conducted on large, diverse populations encompassing different cities, regions, and countries. This phase usually determines the approval of the treatment.
• Phase IV studies occur after a country approves a treatment. This phase can happen over a much larger timeframe and population size than any other.

Clinical Trials Examined by Purpose

While the general scope of a clinical trial is to examine the validity of a treatment or medical product, the specific purpose of a trial can vary. Purposes for clinical trials usually fall into one of the leading clinical trial categories, such as:

Treatment Trials

Treatment trials seek to evaluate whether treatment approaches are safe and effective. Typically, researchers compare a new treatment to an existing treatment or placebo.

Prevention Trials

Prevention trials check the effectiveness of interventions to prevent diseases or certain conditions. Examples of prevention trials include testing vaccines, lifestyle modifications, or medications to see if they reduce the risk of developing an illness.

Diagnostic Trials

Diagnostic trials examine new methods for diagnosing diseases. Researchers compare new methods with standard methods to determine the new method’s effectiveness.

Screening Trials

Screening trials assess a new approach’s effectiveness at identifying high-risk people when developing a disease. These trials aim to find the most effective way to detect diseases early while treatment can be most beneficial.

Quality-of-Life Trials

Quality-of-life trials look at different interventions’ impact on a person’s quality of life.

Finding and Joining a Mesothelioma Clinical Trial

There may be a mesothelioma clinical trial happening near you. Current and upcoming clinical trials can be found in online databases. The optimal way to locate a clinical trial is to search a government website or contact your doctor.

Clinical trials have criteria outlining who can participate, the purpose of the trial, potential risks and benefits, and the schedules and procedures involved. Communicating with your doctor before attempting to join a trial can ensure that you take into account these important and relevant factors:

• Your mesothelioma diagnosis and stage
• Your overall health
• Travel considerations
• Benefits and risks

It is important to address and understand each of these factors to determine whether the trial is right for you.

Pursuing Legal Action for Mesothelioma

Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is life-changing, and you are likely to have many pressing questions about your situation and treatment options. It is also crucial to consider whether you have grounds for legal action if a specific party is responsible for your diagnosis. For example, if you developed mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure at a previous job, your former employer could be liable for your condition.

The experienced mesothelioma attorneys at Wallace & Graham provide compassionate and responsive legal counsel for mesothelioma cases, and we know that time is a crucial consideration for anyone who has been diagnosed with this condition. Mesothelioma clinical trials can be a source of hope for many with this disease, and it is also possible for them to have grounds for legal recourse that could yield substantial compensation.

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, your doctor can advise you as to whether you qualify to participate in any promising clinical trials. The attorneys at Wallace & Graham can help you pursue legal action against the party or parties responsible for your condition. Reach out to our team today to learn more about the legal services we provide.

FAQs

Q: Are There Any Trials for Mesothelioma?

A: There are trials for mesothelioma. The type of trials that exist and are available to you may vary, depending on factors such as your location. Many types of clinical trials exist, such as prevention trials, screening trials, and treatment trials.

If you are interested in a mesothelioma trial, know that trials like these often last several years and have many phases. In a trial, the study sponsor could prematurely suspend or terminate it early if the results are inadequate.

Q: What Is the Newest Treatment for Mesothelioma?

A: Researchers are actively developing new treatments for mesothelioma, even though there is still no cure for the cancer. The advancements in treatment offer hope for improved patient outcomes and a chance that continued research could achieve a cure.

Patients who desire new treatment exploration should consult with a medical professional to see which new treatment would ideally fit their situation. Some of the more promising new treatments include:

• Immunotherapy
• Gene therapy
• Epigenetic therapy
• Photodynamic therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Vaccines

Q: How Long Will I Live If I Have Mesothelioma?

A: The amount of time you will live if you have mesothelioma depends on many factors, which are not limited to when the discovery of your cancer happens. The life expectancy of people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma depends on the general patient’s health, type and location of the cancer, treatment options, and stage at diagnosis. People diagnosed earlier can have a more favorable prognosis than others who were diagnosed later.

Survival rates for mesothelioma are typically less than two years, but some people have lived much longer than this, and the number has increased over time.

Q: What Are the Odds of Beating Mesothelioma?

A: The odds of beating mesothelioma are complicated, as there is no cure. However, by mixing different treatment methods, many patients experience positive results and live longer than they otherwise would. Treatments can slow the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life. In some cases, combining traditional treatments with alternative therapies can extend mesothelioma sufferers’ life expectancy beyond their initial prognosis.
Some alternative therapies are optimal nutrition, stress reduction techniques, and palliative therapies.

Q: How Close Are We to a Cure for Mesothelioma?

A: Mesothelioma remains incurable. However, there have been recent advancements in treatment options for those diagnosed with this disease. Recently, improved treatment options have been shown to alleviate symptoms and increase life expectancy for those diagnosed with the disease. Studies show that 65% of people who receive chemotherapy for mesothelioma survive for three or more years, and other treatments like immunotherapy and radiation have proven beneficial.

Q: How Much Asbestos Exposure Can Cause Mesothelioma?

A: Any amount of asbestos exposure can potentially cause mesothelioma. There is no safe amount of exposure, as it is possible for someone to develop this disease from just a single asbestos exposure. However, it is also possible for someone to be exposed and never develop mesothelioma. Genetic predisposition, the frequency and intensity of exposure, and other factors all determine whether a person will develop mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.

Q: What Are the Benefits of a Mesothelioma Clinical Trial?

A: The potential benefits of a mesothelioma clinical trial include the opportunity to test new and innovative experimental treatments and mitigate the cost of medical care. Participating in a clinical trial is inherently risky and provides no guarantee of a positive outcome, but many people who enter clinical trials experience good results. It is also possible that participation can provide valuable research data that can be used to enhance treatments in the future.

Q: Can You File a Lawsuit for Mesothelioma?

A: Yes, it is possible to file a lawsuit for mesothelioma if a specific party is responsible for the asbestos exposure that caused your condition. Many people file these cases each year against current and former employers, asbestos product manufacturers, and other entities. Some people diagnosed with this condition will need to review extensive records in order to determine the most likely sources of their exposure.

Q: Should I Hire a Lawyer After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis?

A: It’s a good idea to hire a lawyer after a mesothelioma diagnosis. An experienced attorney can determine whether you have grounds for legal recourse against another party and, if so, guide you through your case. The right attorney can not only help you gather the evidence you will need to prove liability for your condition, but they can also help you maximize compensation through a workers’ compensation claim, mesothelioma injury trust claim, or civil suit.

Stay Updated on Clinical Trials

If you would like to join a clinical trial, it is wise to consult your doctor. They can ensure that you know of upcoming clinical trials and determine whether you are a good fit for them. At Wallace & Graham, we hope for a brighter future for everyone diagnosed with mesothelioma. Contact us today to seek compensation from any party that negligently exposed you to asbestos and caused your mesothelioma.

The attorneys at Wallace & Graham have years of experience representing clients in mesothelioma cases. Mesothelioma clinical trials may show promise, but this disease progresses very rapidly and cuts life expectancy short, so it’s important to discuss your legal options with an attorney you trust as quickly as possible after diagnosis. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn about the legal services we provide.