Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

"Current surgical and chemotherapy treatments of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma are unsatisfactory and have not been shown to significantly prolong survival," Dr. Taub said. Pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung's lining, is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, according to mesothelioma attorneys. It is expected the targeted radiation will kill cancer cells on the surface of the lung while sparing other parts of the lung an surrounding vital tissues. Patients who are 18 and older who have not had recent radiation therapy or chemotherapy and have not received prior Alimta chemotherapy will be considered for the study. Patients enrolled in the study will receive several rounds of targeted chemotherapy using the drugs cisplatin and doxorubicin via surgically implanted catheters. Some patients will be randomly selected to receive additional systemic (intreveous) chemotherapy using the drugs cisplatin and pemetrexed. All patients will receive targted radiotherapy using the P-32 radioisotope. Patients may elect to receive additional surgical treatment, including removal of the affected lung lining or lung.