Treatment options for malignant mesothelioma

New treatments

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is the use of substances involved with in the body's immune system to inactivate chemicals produced by the tumor to promote its growth. Substances that have been used include different types of interferon, and interleukin-2. While most of these agents have been promising in laboratory studies, they have generally been of little use in clinical trials in patients with malignant mesothelioma.

There does appear to be promise with the use of interleukin-2 given into the pleural space for patients with early malignant mesothelioma (stage I or II disease).