Cisplatin and Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma

Cisplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug that is used to treat a variety of cancers, including mesothelioma. It was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1978 and is still being used for treatment today. Platinum agents such as Cisplatin have been studied as single agents and in combined regimens for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

As a single agent, Cisplatin has a relatively low response rate of less than 15 percent in most reported pleural mesothelioma cases. However, when combined with other chemotherapy medications, patients have experienced improved response rates. For example, the combination of Cisplatin and Pemetrexed (Alimta) has become the most effective chemotherapy regimen for pleural mesothelioma patients that are not candidates for surgery. Treatment with this therapy has been shown to prolong life expectancy and response rates tend to be under 50 percent.

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If you are taking Cisplatin or other chemotherapy drugs to treat mesothelioma, request a free informational packet to learn more. To have your packet sent overnight, fill out the form to the right.

Cisplatin in Mesothelioma Treatment

Throughout treatment, mesothelioma patients receive the combination of Cisplatin and Alimta every 21 days. The medication Alimta is given through an IV and typically takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. A dose of Cisplatin follows this step and usually takes about two hours to administer. The dose and number of cycles required will depend on the patient’s response to treatment as well as any side effects experienced.

The basic use of Cisplatin is to promote apoptosis, or cell death. It is recommended to patients who are treated with Cisplatin to start taking a B12 supplement orally one week before treatment begins. Patients will likely receive weekly B12 shots throughout treatment in addition to taking a daily folic acid supplement, which will continue for 21 days after the last treatment cycle. An oral steroid may be prescribed to minimize side effects.

In unique cases, high doses of Cisplatin combined with doxorubicin have been effective in sending mesothelioma into partial remission. It should be noted that three other trials using more conventional doses of Cisplatin and doxorubicin produced positive response rates that are inversely correlated with the number of patients evaluated: 67 percent in 6 patients, 42 percent in 19 patients, and 25 percent in 24 patients. Such statistics indicate that results from a small series of patients should await confirmation from larger clinical trials.

Promising results have also been noted in the combination of Cisplatin and gemcitabine in Australia, with a partial response rate of 47.6 percent among 21 patients. Median survival was 41 weeks (about 10 months). Most of the responses were seen in mesothelioma patients diagnosed with the epithelioid subtype and symptom relief was correlated with response to treatment.

In a previous study, Dr. Sugarbaker and other researchers combined extrapleural pneumonectomy with radiation to the hemithorax and chemotherapy with Cisplatin, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in 120 patients. The overall survival was 45 percent at two years and 22 percent at five years.

Cisplatin Side Effects

Side effects that may be experienced by mesothelioma patients receiving the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin include:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hair loss
• Diarrhea
• Hearing loss
• Kidney toxicity
• Changes in taste
• Low red blood cells (amemia)
• Low white blood cells (neutropenia)
• Numbness or tingling in the fingertips and toes

Many of these side effects will subside when treatment ends. Mesothelioma patients that experience any of the following symptoms after receiving Cisplatin should notify their doctor:

• Fever
• Chills
• Dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Seizures
• Rash
• Black stools
• Unusual bruising or bleeding
• Swelling of the feet or ankles
• Shortness of breath or wheezing

In some cases, patients receiving the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin can experience extreme side effects such as severe organ damage. The central nervous system can also be affected by alkylating-like agents.

Want to Learn More About Cisplatin?

Mesothelioma patients considering chemotherapy as a treatment option should discuss any concerns with a qualified doctor. Although Cisplatin is not the only chemotherapy medication used for the treatment of mesothelioma cancer, it is the most common and patients should learn as much as they can about their options. For help in learning more about chemotherapy or finding a mesothelioma specialist near you, visit our Doctor Match Program page or call us at (800) 549-0544..

Sources:

1. http://www.cisplatin.org/
2. Baldi, Alfonso. Mesothelioma from Bench Side to Clinic. Nova Science Publishers: New York. 2008.
3. Robinson, Bruce and Chahinian, Philippe. Mesothelioma. Martin Dunitz: London. 2002.