Mesothelioma Cancer & Lung Disease

The most common drugs that are used to treat asbestos related disease such as ‘pleural mesothelioma’ include:

• Pemetrexed (Alimta)
• Cisplatin
• Carboplatin (paraplatin)

 Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is predominantly caused by exposure to asbestos and is a rare cancer that develops in the ‘mesothelial cells’ The mesothelium cells make up the mesothelium, which is a thin membrane acts as a protective layer and lines many of the body’s organs. Malignant pleural mesothelioma, develops in the lining of the lungs, called the pleura or pleural membrane.

Commonly used drugs to treat pleural mesothelioma

Pemetrexed (Alimta) is in powder form and administered by injection. Alimta is given in combination with cisplatin as it appears to be a more effective treatment for patients suffering from ‘malignant pleural mesothelioma’ and whose disease is not suitable for curative surgery. Alimta is considered to be a toxic drug and therefore – to reduce toxicity, patients taking Alimta are prescribed a low daily dose of oral ‘folic acid’ or multivitamins containing folic acid.

Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug that is more widely used than Alimta as it is used to treat various types of cancer such as testicular, lung, and bladder cancer. Cisplatin is used with Alimta as the drug forms DNA cross-links via the platinum which damage cancer cells, hence destroying them and discouraging cell division.

Carboplatin is chemically different from cisplatin as it is a larger molecule. This slows down the metabolic breakdown of the agent (which enables it to be in the body longer) thus reducing the rate of formation of toxic by-products. Carboplatin is an Alkylating agent and Alkylating agents are usually considered of greatest value in treating slow-growing cancers

Peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma – (cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity) is less common than pleural mesothelioma, comprising approximately 1/5th – 1/3rd of the total number of cases of pleural mesothelioma diagnosed.

Intravenously used drugs to treat peritoneal mesothelioma via the abdomen.

• Cisplatin & Doxorubicin  
• Heated Cisplatin & Mitomycin  
• Mitomycin
• Fluorouracil & Paclitaxel

Doxorubicin works effectively by binding itself to the cancer cells DNA, inhibiting a significant enzyme (topo-isomerase II).  Thus disrupting the DNA, and preventing new cancer cell growth and division.

Mitomycin is classified as an anti-tumour antibiotic and is predominantly used as treatment for bladder cancer. Mitomycin works by adhering itself within the strands of genetic material (DNA) and binding them together. This prevents the cell from producing genetic material (DNA), thus preventing the cell from dividing.

Flourouracil is also commonly known as ‘FU’ or ‘5FU’ and is one of the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of cancer. Fluorouracil is an anti-metabolite drug.  Anti-metabolites are similarly structured to normal body molecules but possess a slightly different make-up.  It is these differences that enable anti-metabolites to prevent cells from functioning properly. Hence – preventing cell growth and division.

  Paclitaxel – also known by the brand names of ‘Taxo’l and ‘Abraxane’ is a chemotherapy drug and derives from the bark of a yew tree.  It works by preventing cancer cells dividing into 2 new cells, hence- blocking the growth of the cancer.  

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