Identification

• Traditional treatment models have focused on the removal of cancerous tumors through surgery, or on destroying the cells that feed the tumor, using chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs currently in use work by attacking cancerous cells, which are cells that divide quickly. However, the risk of other similar behaving cells being attacked along with the cancerous cells is high.
  
  New treatment approaches have attempted to reduce the likelihood that other, healthy cells are destroyed in the treatment process. A third treatment protocol uses radiation therapy to destroy cancerous masses. However, the effects of this treatment also put nearby cells at risk.
  
  

Features

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  New treatment approaches for mesothelioma have been directed toward shutting down the processes that feed cancerous cells and allow them to spread. New drugs currently under development are designed to attack the blood vessels that surround and feed cancer cells. Incapacitating the blood vessels that feed these cells causes them to die off for lack of nutrients.
  
  This new treatment approach is called anti-angiogenesis, and is only available to those who participate in clinical trials. Avastin is the first FDA-approved anti-angiogenesis drug used in the treatment of metastic colon cancer. Other anti-angiogenesis drugs tested in clinical trials to treat mesothelioma are Cisplatin, Bevacizumab and Pemetrexed.
  
  

Function

• The blood vessels surrounding a tumor require the presence of a protein substance in order to grow and nourish the tumor's cells. This substance is called VEGF, or vascular endothelial growth factor, and it's secreted by some types of cancer cells. This substance has been found to play a large part in the growth of mesothelioma tumors.
  
  VEGF works by attaching itself to protein receptors on nearby cells, and then signals all cells in the vicinity to start growing new blood vessels. Anti-angiogenesis drugs interrupt this process by preventing VEFG from attaching to receptors. Side effects are expected to be milder under the these drugs because they don't affect other cells in the body. However, it's still unknown as to how severe or varied these effects may be.
  
  

Potential

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  A study reported in the May/June issue of Technology Review in 2006 involves the use of a new treatment approach for eliminating cancerous cells. Called the "nanocell," it's described as a manufactured cell made up of an outer layer that contains a drug that attacks the blood vessels surrounding a tumor; it also has an inner layer filled with toxins designed to kill the tumor from the inside out.
  
  Scientists have designed the outer layer of the nanocell to resemble a fat cell, which allows the cell to travel through the body's system without being destroyed. Scientists see this as a possible treatment for mesothelioma, as well as other cancerous forms.
  
  

Considerations

• As new treatment methods are developed, many of the newer drugs are found to be more effective when used in conjunction with traditional treatment approaches. Clinical trials involving Avastin were found to be more effective when used with chemotherapy drugs. However, with certain chemotherapy treatments, the anti-angiogenesis drugs were found to shut down the very pathways through which chemotherapy reaches the target cells.
  
  Clinical trials for mesothelioma treatments are open to those who've contracted the disease. Eligibility requirements depend on the type of trial taking place and what stage of the disease a participant is in. Before a clinical trial can be conducted on humans, researchers are required to conduct extensive animal and laboratory studies that show positive results.