New Clinical Trial to Test Effectiveness of Vorinostat (Zolinza) on Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

The National Institute of Health Clinical Center has started to test the efficacy of vorinostat and the treatment of patients who have been diagnosed with pleural malignant mesothelioma. The trial is testing for toxicity levels and any side effects that may come about.

Dr, Raffit Hassan is the protocal chair of the, “A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Oral Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid (L-001079038) in Patients With Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Previously Treated With Systemic Chemotherapy,” and can be contacted via the National Cancer Institutes's website.

Alimta Plus Platinum Compound May Help Treat Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

CancerConsultant.com reported today on new results for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with the cancer drug Alimta plus a platinum compound such as cisplatin or carboplatin. http://patient.cancerconsultants.com/CancerNews.aspx?DocumentId=40044

According to the article, "the chemotherapy combination consisting of Alimta plus a platinum compound provides signficant anticancer activity in patients with newly diagnsed mesothelioma.

According to Eli Lilly, Alimta in combination with Cisplatin is the only chemotherapy agent to be FDA approved for the treatment of maligant pleural mesothelioma. http://www.lillyoncology.com/professionals/alimta_mpm_clinical_data.jsp