Treatment of Localized Malignant Mesothelioma (Stage I)

For about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

If stage I malignant mesothelioma is in one part of the chest lining, treatment may be the following:

• Surgery to remove the part of the chest lining with cancer and the tissue around it. Intracavitary mesotheliomas are treated with extrapleural pneumonectomy.

If stage I malignant mesothelioma is found in more than one place in the chest, treatment may be one of the following:

• Pleurectomy and decortication, with or without radiation therapy, as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• A clinical trial of anticancer drugs placed directly into the chest after surgery to remove the tumor.
• A clinical trial of combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

If stage I malignant mesothelioma is in the peritoneal lining, treatment may be the following:

• Surgery to remove the part of the peritoneal lining with cancer and the tissue around it.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.