{"id":830,"date":"2020-04-17T13:20:56","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T17:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?page_id=830"},"modified":"2025-12-18T16:13:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:13:27","slug":"drugs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/drugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Drugs"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>What Chemotherapy Drugs Are Used for Mesothelioma?<\/h2>\n<p>Chemotherapy (chemo) is one of the most common and effective treatments for <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/\">mesothelioma<\/a>. It uses powerful medications to slow the growth of tumors, shrink cancer cells, and improve survival outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>For many patients, <a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/\">mesothelioma chemotherapy<\/a> is given in combination with other treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy. Your oncologist (cancer doctor) will recommend the right chemotherapy drugs based on your type of mesothelioma, stage of disease, and overall health.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<ul class='columns-2'>\n<li>Cisplatin<\/li>\n<li>Carboplatin<\/li>\n<li>Doxorubicin<\/li>\n<li>Gemcitabine (Gemzar\u00ae)<\/li>\n<li>Onconase (Ranpirnase)<\/li>\n<li>Pegargiminase (ADI-PEG20)<\/li>\n<li>Pemetrexed (Alimta\u00ae)<\/li>\n<li>Vinorelbine (Navelbine\u00ae)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n<p>Which chemotherapy medications will be used depends on factors like your type of mesothelioma, cancer stage, and overall health. Download our <strong>Free Chemotherapy Guide<\/strong> to learn about the top cancer drugs for mesothelioma and how to manage side effects during treatment.<\/p>\n<div id=\"28840\" class=\"one-off-28840 widget widget_oscar-vque one-off\" data-vqueid=\"28840\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"one-off\">.one-off-28840{margin:60px auto;max-width:335px}.one-off-28840:first-child{margin-top:0}.one-off-28840:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.one-off-28840>a{background:#2F293D;display:block;padding:20px;padding-bottom:35px;border-radius:10px;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}.one-off-28840 img.mobile-only{margin:0 auto 20px;max-width:177px;width:100%}.one-off-28840 img:not(.mobile-only){display:none}.one-off-28840 .vque-content{font-size:16px;text-align:center}.one-off-28840 strong.heading{font-size:24px;display:block;margin:0}.one-off-28840 .subheading{font-size:14px}.one-off-28840 ul{font-size:16px;text-align:left;list-style:none;max-width:265px;line-height:1.4;margin:15px auto 25px}.one-off-28840 ul li{padding-left:28px;margin-bottom:15px}.one-off-28840 ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.one-off-28840 ul li:before{font-family:\"mesohope\"!important;line-height:1;content:\"\\e904\";border:0;position:absolute;left:0;top:0;background:#0FAEBF;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:20px;line-height:20px;text-align:center;font-size:12px}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.one-off-28840{max-width:620px}.one-off-28840>a{padding:0;background:linear-gradient(90.42deg,#2F293D 51.6%,#4A415F 109.35%)}.one-off-28840>a>div{display:block;display:flex;align-items:end;flex-wrap:wrap;position:relative}.one-off-28840 .vque-content{width:65%;padding:30px;text-align:left}.one-off-28840 img.mobile-only{display:none}.one-off-28840 img:not(.mobile-only){display:block;width:250px;margin-bottom:0;position:absolute;bottom:0;right:0}.one-off-28840 ul{max-width:none}.one-off-28840 ul li{margin-bottom:10px}}<\/style><a href=\"\/chemotherapy-guide\/\" title=\"Free Chemotherapy Guide\u2028for Mesothelioma Patients\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Free Chemotherapy Guide\u2028for Mesothelioma Patients Ad\"><div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"image-fade\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/thank-you-page-chemotherapy-img.png\" alt=\"Chemotherapy Guide Images\" class=\"mobile-only\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/chemo-guide-img.png\" alt=\"Chemotherapy Guide Images\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"vque-content\">\r\n<strong class=\"heading\">Free Chemotherapy Guide\u2028for Mesothelioma Patients<\/strong>\r\n<span class=\"subheading\">Written by cancer nurses<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Top chemo drugs explained<\/li>\r\n<li>Preparing for your first session<\/li>\r\n<li>Managing side effects like\u2028nausea & fatigue<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong class=\"button arrow\" title=\"Download It Now\">Download It Now<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2>8 Types of Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Drugs<\/h2>\n<p>There are several types of mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs. Learn about each and when they\u2019re used below.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Cisplatin<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/drugs\/cisplatin\/\">Cisplatin<\/a> is one of the most commonly used mesothelioma chemo drugs. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in combination with pemetrexed to treat pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the lung lining.<\/p>\n<p>Cisplatin contains platinum, which binds to the DNA of mesothelioma cells and damages it, preventing the cancer from spreading.<\/p>\n<p>A study published in <em>JCO\u00ae Oncology Practice<\/em> found that pleural mesothelioma patients treated with cisplatin lived<strong> 9.3 months<\/strong>. However, since patients usually live longer when pemetrexed and cisplatin are combined, it\u2019s rarely used as a standalone treatment.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Pemetrexed (Alimta\u00ae)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/drugs\/alimta\/\">Pemetrexed<\/a>, alongside cisplatin, is FDA-approved for pleural mesothelioma and has been in use for over 20 years. This type of chemotherapy drug works by blocking proteins found in cells called enzymes.<\/p>\n<p>Mesothelioma cancer cells use these enzymes to produce DNA, so when pemetrexed blocks them, the cells start to die.<\/p>\n<p>The combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin is one of the most common <strong>first-line treatments<\/strong> (initial therapies used after a diagnosis) for <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/pleural\/\">pleural mesothelioma<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"blockquote-w-image \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dr-hedy-lee-kindler.png\" alt=\"\" \/><blockquote><p>&#8220;Systemic chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin has been the cornerstone of treatment for advanced pleural mesothelioma since 2004.&#8221;<\/p>\n<footer>&ndash;<cite> Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler, mesothelioma specialist<\/cite><\/footer><\/blockquote><style type=\"text\/css\">.blockquote-w-image{position:relative;margin:40px auto}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{background:none;border-left:none;padding:25px;margin-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote p{margin-bottom:0}.blockquote-w-image img{width:100px;border:none;border-radius:100%;box-shadow:none;position:relative;margin:0 auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative{margin:60px auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding:25px 25px 25px 80px;padding-bottom:25px;background-color:#E4F4F6}.blockquote-w-image.alternative img{position:absolute;left:20px;top:25px;z-index:1;width:50px;border:1px solid #fff;box-shadow:0 0 10px rgba(34,34,34,0.2);border-radius:100%}.blockquote-w-image.with-border{background:none;border-left:4px solid #0FAEBF}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote{background:none;border-radius:0;padding:10px 25px}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote:before{display:none}@media screen and (min-width: 769px){.blockquote-w-image img{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{padding:0 25px 0 125px;min-height:90px}}@media screen and (min-width: 1024px){.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding-left:105px}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote footer cite{font-size:16px}.entry-content .blockquote-w-image.alternative img{width:60px;left:25px}}<\/style><\/div>\n<h3>3. Carboplatin<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/drugs\/carboplatin\/\">Carboplatin<\/a> treats mesothelioma in a similar way to cisplatin, as both contain platinum. However, carboplatin is much less potent than cisplatin, meaning patients have a lower risk of side effects.<\/p>\n<p>For this reason, carboplatin is often substituted for cisplatin in older or frail patients.<\/p>\n<p>Many mesothelioma patients treated with carboplatin and pemetrexed live just as long as those treated with cisplatin and pemetrexed, according to a study featured by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).<\/p>\n<h3>4. Doxorubicin<\/h3>\n<p>This mesothelioma chemotherapy drug inserts itself into the DNA of cancer cells to destroy them. It also hinders the enzymes of cancer cells, which damages the cells\u2019 ability to make DNA and RNA.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s commonly used alongside cisplatin to treat <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/peritoneal\/\">peritoneal mesothelioma<\/a>, which forms in the abdominal cavity.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Gemcitabine (Gemzar\u00ae)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/drugs\/gemcitabine\/\">Gemcitabine<\/a> tricks mesothelioma cells into using the wrong molecules to make their DNA, preventing them from multiplying and leading to cell death.<\/p>\n<p>This type of chemotherapy is commonly used as a <strong>second-line treatment option<\/strong>, meaning it\u2019s used if a patient\u2019s cancer comes back after other therapies have failed.<\/p>\n<p>Pleural mesothelioma patients treated with gemcitabine and immunotherapy <strong>lived 13.8 months<\/strong>, according to a study published in <em>CancerNetwork<\/em>. All of the patients in the study had been treated with chemotherapy before.<\/p>\n<h3>6. Onconase (Ranpirnase)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/drugs\/onconase\/\">Onconase<\/a> affects how cancer cells use a genetic material known as RNA, which leads to cell death. It is derived from frog eggs.<\/p>\n<p>It also enhances the anticancer effects of traditional mesothelioma chemotherapy medications.<\/p>\n<p>Onconase is currently being studied in clinical trials to treat mesothelioma patients.<\/p>\n<p>Mesothelioma researchers are optimistic about Onconase because it <strong>doesn&#8217;t have as many side effects as other chemotherapy drugs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>7. Pegargiminase (ADI-PEG20)<\/h3>\n<p>A new mesothelioma chemotherapy drug called <a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/pegargiminase\/\">pegargiminase (ADI-PEG20)<\/a> is being hailed as a breakthrough after positive results in clinical trials for pleural mesothelioma.<\/p>\n<p>In the phase III ATOMIC-Meso trial, <strong>ADI-PEG20 quadrupled 3-year survival rates<\/strong>, increased life expectancy, and reduced the risk of cancer progression.<\/p>\n<p>One patient was told he only had 4 months to live, but thanks to ADI-PEG20 he has now become a 5+ year <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/prognosis\/survivors\/\">mesothelioma survivor<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The medication works in combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin and starves cancer cells of an amino acid critical for their growth. Cancer research is continuing to study how ADI-PEG20 could join other chemotherapy drugs as a standard mesothelioma treatment.<\/p>\n<h3>8. Vinorelbine (Navelbine\u00ae)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/drugs\/navelbine\/\">Vinorelbine<\/a> damages the structure of cancer cells, stopping them from spreading. Like gemcitabine, it\u2019s typically used if a patient\u2019s cancer returns after prior treatments.<\/p>\n<p>Pleural mesothelioma patients treated with vinorelbine had a longer progression-free survival (meaning their cancer was stable for longer) than those who only received supportive care for their symptoms, based on a study published in <em>eClinicalMedicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Use our free checklist of <strong>14 Questions to Ask Your Doctor<\/strong> to get more information about mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs that could help you or a loved one.<\/p>\n<div data-vqueid=\"18575\" class=\"widget widget_oscar-vque outline image-left has-img\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"outline\">.widget_oscar-vque.outline{margin:60px auto;max-width:315px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline:first-child{margin-top:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a{border:1px solid #E6E7EC;padding:20px;box-shadow:0 20px 20px rgba(34,34,34,0.03);border-radius:10px;color:#383441;display:block;text-decoration:none}.widget_oscar-vque.outline img{margin:0 auto 20px;max-width:180px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline .vque-content{color:#383441;font-size:16px;text-align:center}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.subheading{color:#100134;display:block;line-height:1;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:5px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.heading{color:#100134;font-size:20px;display:block;margin:0 0 20px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul{font-size:16px;text-align:left;list-style:none;max-width:265px;margin:15px auto 25px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li{padding-left:28px;margin-bottom:10px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li:before{font-family:\"mesohope\" !important;font-display:swap;speak:none;color:#fff;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;content:\"\\e904\";border:none;position:absolute;left:0;top:3px;background:#0FAEBF;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:20px;line-height:20px;text-align:center;font-size:12px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.button.arrow{width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a{position:relative;border-radius:0 10px 10px 0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a:before{content:\" \";position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;width:4px;height:100%;left:0;background:linear-gradient(180deg, #0FAEBF 0%, #fff 100%)}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.widget_oscar-vque.outline{max-width:620px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline img{max-width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a{padding:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a>div{display:block;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:flex-end;flex-direction:row-reverse}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a>div>div{width:41%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a .vque-content{width:59%;padding:30px;text-align:left}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.subheading{font-size:16px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.heading{font-size:24px;margin:0 0 13px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul{max-width:none}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.button.arrow{width:auto}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div{display:block;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div{float:left}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div:first-child{width:27%;padding:30px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div.vque-content{width:73%;padding-left:0;color:#383441}}<\/style><a href=\"\/doctor-questions\/\" title=\"Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor Ad\" data-desktop-image=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/questions-to-ask-doctor-ipad.png\"><div><div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"95\" height=\"144\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/questions-to-ask-doctor-ipad.png\" class=\"attachment-Medium size-Medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"14 Questions to Ask Your Doctor packet\" \/><\/div><div class=\"vque-content\"><strong class=\"heading\">Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor<\/strong><ul>\n<li>Preparing for treatment<\/li>\n<li>Finding clinical trials<\/li>\n<li>Getting a second opinion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong class=\"button yellow arrow\" title=\"Get Your Free Download\">Get Your Free Download<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Combinations of Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Drugs<\/h2>\n<p>Doctors may use two or more malignant mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs together to help patients live longer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Combinations of mesothelioma chemo drugs include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pemetrexed and cisplatin:<\/strong> This is the most common chemotherapy combination. Pleural mesothelioma patients typically live longer than if they received just one of the two drugs. The average life expectancy for patients treated with this combination is 15.5-16.5 months.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pemetrexed and carboplatin:<\/strong> If a patient can\u2019t safely receive cisplatin due to the risk of <a href=\"\/treatment\/side-effects\/\">treatment side effects<\/a>, doctors may use carboplatin with pemetrexed to improve survival.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Doxorubicin and cisplatin:<\/strong> Doctors commonly use these two drugs together when administering hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to treat peritoneal mesothelioma.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gemcitabine and cisplatin:<\/strong> Pleural mesothelioma patients treated with this combination of chemo drugs lived over 16 months in a study published in <em>Frontiers in Oncology<\/em>. A low-dose, continuous infusion of both drugs was also cheaper than alternatives like pemetrexed and cisplatin.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Multiple mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs can be used at different times throughout a patient\u2019s treatment plan.<\/p>\n<p>For example, one pleural mesothelioma patient was able to become a <strong>10-year survivor<\/strong> after receiving pemetrexed, cisplatin, vinorelbine, and carboplatin over several years. This chemotherapy drug combination helped beat the man&#8217;s cancer multiple times, as noted in one <em>Thoracic Cancer <\/em>report.<\/p>\n<h2>How Chemotherapy Drugs Work in Mesothelioma Treatment Plans<\/h2>\n<p>Chemotherapy drugs are much more commonly used as part of a larger <a href=\"\/treatment\/\">mesothelioma treatment plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Different chemotherapy drugs may be used:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>As a patient\u2019s main treatment:<\/strong> Chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin and pemetrexed are often the main treatments used for pleural mesothelioma patients whose cancer is advanced.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Before surgery:<\/strong> Doctors may use chemotherapy to shrink tumors so they\u2019re easier to remove with surgery. Pleural mesothelioma patients treated with pemetrexed and cisplatin before <a href=\"\/treatment\/surgery\/pleurectomy-decortication\/\">pleurectomy with decortication (P\/D)<\/a> surgery<strong> lived over 3 years,<\/strong> according to a report published in <em>The Journal of Thoracic Surgery.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>After surgery:<\/strong> Chemotherapy can be used following surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells. For example, a heated solution of cisplatin and doxorubicin can be administered after cytoreductive surgery to treat peritoneal mesothelioma. This is called <a href=\"\/treatment\/surgery\/cytoreduction-hipec\/\">cytoreduction with HIPEC<\/a>, and patients who have this procedure live for <strong>more than 4 years on average.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Doctors may also combine chemotherapy with radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and alternative or holistic cancer treatments to improve a patient\u2019s life expectancy.<\/p>\n<p>Call <a href=\"tel:+18666088933\" title=\"Click to call (866) 608-8933\" class=\"in-content-tel-link\" data-ce-category=\"Click to Call\" data-ce-label=\"(866) 608-8933\">(866) 608-8933<\/a> to speak with one of our in-house registered nurses about if mesothelioma chemotherapy treatments may be able to help you or a loved one.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout-shortcode hope has-img\"><style type=\"text\/css\">.callout-shortcode{background:#EDF8F9;border-radius:0 10px 10px 0;padding:20px 20px 20px 24px;margin:40px 0;max-width:860px;position:relative}.callout-shortcode:before{content:\" \";position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;width:4px;height:100%;left:0;background:linear-gradient(180deg, #0FAEBF 0%, #EDF8F9 100%)}.callout-shortcode .callout-shortcode-heading{color:#100134;font-size:22px;display:block;margin:0 0 15px}.callout-shortcode:first-child{margin-top:0}.callout-shortcode:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.callout-shortcode .img-wrap{margin-bottom:20px}.callout-shortcode.hope>strong{padding-top:17px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:74px}.callout-shortcode.hope .img-wrap{left:22px;position:absolute;top:20px;width:59px}.callout-shortcode.hope .img-wrap:before{background:#fff url(\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mh-icon-65.png);background-position:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:70%;border-radius:30px;bottom:-10px;content:\"\";display:block;height:30px;position:absolute;right:-10px;width:30px}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.callout-shortcode{padding:25px 25px 25px 34px}.callout-shortcode .callout-shortcode-heading{font-size:24px}.callout-shortcode .img-wrap{margin-bottom:0}.callout-shortcode.has-img{min-height:170px;padding-left:175px}.callout-shortcode.has-img .img-wrap{position:absolute;left:29px;top:25px;width:119px}.callout-shortcode.hope.has-img{padding-left:170px}.callout-shortcode.hope>strong{padding:0}.callout-shortcode.hope .img-wrap{width:109px}.callout-shortcode.hope .img-wrap:before{background-size:66%;bottom:-15px;height:42px;width:42px}}<\/style><div class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/john-stahl-hope-img.png\" alt=\"John Stahl\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/div><strong class=\"callout-shortcode-heading\">Point of Hope<\/strong><div class=\"content\"><p>Stage 4 mesothelioma patient <a href=\"\/blog\/mesothelioma-survivor-builds-a-future\/\">John Stahl<\/a> has survived for<strong> 6+ years<\/strong>\u00a0with chemotherapy as his main treatment. Though he experienced side effects, he says he is \u201cpretty well back to normal\u201d today.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"side\">Side Effects of Chemotherapy Drugs for Mesothelioma<\/h2>\n<p>All chemotherapy cancer drugs come with a risk of side effects. This is because they damage healthy cells in the process of killing cancerous ones.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here are common side effects for each mesothelioma chemotherapy drug:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cisplatin:<\/strong> Difficulty breathing, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, pain, rashes, and vomiting<\/li>\n<li><strong>Carboplatin:<\/strong> Hair loss, loss of taste, low magnesium levels, and low blood cell counts<\/li>\n<li><strong>Doxorubicin:<\/strong> Fatigue, hair loss, nausea, and vomiting<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gemcitabine:<\/strong> Cough, diarrhea or constipation, fever, and pain<\/li>\n<li><strong>Onconase:<\/strong> Chills, diarrhea, weakness, weight loss, and constipation<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pemetrexed:<\/strong> Chest pain, difficulty breathing, fever, headaches, and mouth sores<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vinorelbine:<\/strong> Blood in urine or fecal matter, chills, chest pain, headaches, and skin rashes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Not everyone experiences these side effects, and if you do, <a href=\"\/blog\/mesothelioma-chemotherapy-side-effects\/\">there are several ways to help manage them<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"clinical\">Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Drugs in Clinical Trials<\/h2>\n<p>Clinical trials are testing new chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma as well as changes or improvements to existing medications.<\/p>\n<p>While there are no guarantees, <a href=\"\/treatment\/clinical-trials\/\">mesothelioma clinical trials<\/a> may allow qualifying patients to access chemotherapies that are potentially more effective. This is very important for patients whose cancer hasn\u2019t responded well to other treatments.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Some current mesothelioma chemotherapy clinical trials include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Chemotherapy With or Without Immunotherapy for Peritoneal Mesothelioma:<\/strong> This ongoing trial is studying if combining chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin with <a href=\"\/treatment\/immunotherapy\/\">immunotherapy medications<\/a> may help patients live longer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Magnesium for the Prevention of Kidney Damage in Patients Undergoing Surgery with Cisplatin:<\/strong> Here, doctors want to learn if giving magnesium will help prevent cisplatin from damaging the kidneys when used intraoperatively.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A Study of Additional Chemotherapy After Surgery for People With Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma:<\/strong> Doctors are investigating whether pemetrexed and cisplatin or carboplatin are more effective if given intravenously (through the arm) or intraoperatively (directly at the surgery site) after <a href=\"\/treatment\/surgery\/\">surgery<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How Are Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Drugs Administered?<\/h2>\n<p>Chemotherapy medications for mesothelioma can be given systemically or locally. Learn about each approach to chemotherapy below.<\/p>\n<h3>Systemic Chemotherapy Drugs for Mesothelioma<\/h3>\n<p>Systemic mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs circulate throughout your entire bloodstream, destroying any cancer cells in their path.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Systemic chemo drugs can be given:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>By mouth<\/li>\n<li>By pill<\/li>\n<li>Through an intravenous injection (IV)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Most mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs, including pemetrexed, cisplatin, and carboplatin, can be given systemically.<\/p>\n<p>Systemic chemotherapy is administered in cycles. In a cycle, you\u2019ll receive a dose of chemotherapy and then have a rest period before getting the next dose. The rest period allows your body to recover.<\/p>\n<p>Pleural mesothelioma patients typically get 2-4 cycles of pemetrexed and cisplatin through an IV once every three weeks, according to NYU Langone&#8217;s Perlmutter Cancer Center. Different chemotherapies may be used if the cancer comes back after these cycles.<\/p>\n<p>Get our <strong>Free Chemotherapy Guide<\/strong> before you start treatment so you know what to expect and what you can do to feel better between sessions.<\/p>\n<div id=\"28840\" class=\"one-off-28840 widget widget_oscar-vque one-off\" data-vqueid=\"28840\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"one-off\">.one-off-28840{margin:60px auto;max-width:335px}.one-off-28840:first-child{margin-top:0}.one-off-28840:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.one-off-28840>a{background:#2F293D;display:block;padding:20px;padding-bottom:35px;border-radius:10px;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}.one-off-28840 img.mobile-only{margin:0 auto 20px;max-width:177px;width:100%}.one-off-28840 img:not(.mobile-only){display:none}.one-off-28840 .vque-content{font-size:16px;text-align:center}.one-off-28840 strong.heading{font-size:24px;display:block;margin:0}.one-off-28840 .subheading{font-size:14px}.one-off-28840 ul{font-size:16px;text-align:left;list-style:none;max-width:265px;line-height:1.4;margin:15px auto 25px}.one-off-28840 ul li{padding-left:28px;margin-bottom:15px}.one-off-28840 ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.one-off-28840 ul li:before{font-family:\"mesohope\"!important;line-height:1;content:\"\\e904\";border:0;position:absolute;left:0;top:0;background:#0FAEBF;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:20px;line-height:20px;text-align:center;font-size:12px}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.one-off-28840{max-width:620px}.one-off-28840>a{padding:0;background:linear-gradient(90.42deg,#2F293D 51.6%,#4A415F 109.35%)}.one-off-28840>a>div{display:block;display:flex;align-items:end;flex-wrap:wrap;position:relative}.one-off-28840 .vque-content{width:65%;padding:30px;text-align:left}.one-off-28840 img.mobile-only{display:none}.one-off-28840 img:not(.mobile-only){display:block;width:250px;margin-bottom:0;position:absolute;bottom:0;right:0}.one-off-28840 ul{max-width:none}.one-off-28840 ul li{margin-bottom:10px}}<\/style><a href=\"\/chemotherapy-guide\/\" title=\"Free Chemotherapy Guide\u2028for Mesothelioma Patients\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Free Chemotherapy Guide\u2028for Mesothelioma Patients Ad\"><div>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"image-fade\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/thank-you-page-chemotherapy-img.png\" alt=\"Chemotherapy Guide Images\" class=\"mobile-only\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/chemo-guide-img.png\" alt=\"Chemotherapy Guide Images\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"vque-content\">\r\n<strong class=\"heading\">Free Chemotherapy Guide\u2028for Mesothelioma Patients<\/strong>\r\n<span class=\"subheading\">Written by cancer nurses<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Top chemo drugs explained<\/li>\r\n<li>Preparing for your first session<\/li>\r\n<li>Managing side effects like\u2028nausea & fatigue<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong class=\"button arrow\" title=\"Download It Now\">Download It Now<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h3>Local Chemotherapy Drugs for Mesothelioma<\/h3>\n<p>Local (or regional) chemotherapy focuses on killing cancer cells in a specific area of the body.<\/p>\n<p>This type of chemo has milder side effects but is best used on earlier-stage cancers that have not spread very far.<\/p>\n<p>A common form of local mesothelioma chemotherapy is the use of cisplatin and doxorubicin in HIPEC to treat peritoneal mesothelioma. Research is also looking into how localized <a href=\"\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/hithoc\/\">hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITHOC)<\/a> can help pleural mesothelioma patients.<\/p>\n<h2>Find the Best Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Drugs for Your Case<\/h2>\n<p>Mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin and pemetrexed often play a big role in treatment plans.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Different mesothelioma chemotherapy medications can:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Make other treatments more effective<\/li>\n<li>Possibly help you live longer<\/li>\n<li>Reduce pain and other symptoms<\/li>\n<li>Slow or stop the spread of cancer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Our registered nurses and Patient Advocates can help you understand which chemotherapy drugs could be best for your case. We can also connect you with <strong>top mesothelioma doctors<\/strong> who use chemotherapy to treat this cancer.<\/p>\n<p>Call <a href=\"tel:+18666088933\" title=\"Click to call (866) 608-8933\" class=\"in-content-tel-link\" data-ce-category=\"Click to Call\" data-ce-label=\"(866) 608-8933\">(866) 608-8933<\/a> to connect with our team or get your copy of our <a href=\"\/mesothelioma-guide\/\">Free Mesothelioma Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"faq-wrap\"><h2 class=\"faq-wrap-heading\">Chemotherapy Drugs for Mesothelioma FAQs<\/h2><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"1\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">What type of chemo is used for mesothelioma?<\/h3><div><p>The main type of chemotherapy used for mesothelioma is a combination of <strong>pemetrexed (Alimta\u00ae) and cisplatin.<\/strong> This has been the standard first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma since 2004 because it helps patients live longer than either drug alone. Sometimes, doctors substitute carboplatin for cisplatin if a patient cannot tolerate the stronger side effects.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"2\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">What is first-line chemotherapy for mesothelioma?<\/h3><div><p>The most common first-line chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma are pemetrexed and cisplatin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this combination of chemotherapy in 2004 to treat pleural mesothelioma.<\/p>\n<p>Your cancer care team can give you a better idea as to which chemotherapy drug(s) will be a part of your first-line treatment plan.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"3\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">Is it worth having chemo for mesothelioma?<\/h3><div><p>This depends on the specifics of your diagnosis, but many other patients have benefitted from getting chemotherapy for malignant mesothelioma.<\/p>\n<p>Chemotherapy medications can help extend life expectancy and improve quality of life. While chemotherapy treatments can cause side effects, your oncology team will make sure you get the care needed to manage them.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"4\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">What are the new chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma?<\/h3><div><p>A promising new drug for mesothelioma is <strong>pegargiminase, or ADI-PEG20,<\/strong> which has shown excellent results in the recent ATOMIC-Meso clinical trial.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, mesothelioma patients who received this drug along with pemetrexed and cisplatin had a 3-year survival rate quadruple that of patients who received pemetrexed and cisplatin alone.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"What type of chemo is used for mesothelioma?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;The main type of chemotherapy used for mesothelioma is a combination of &lt;strong&gt;pemetrexed (Alimta\u00ae) and cisplatin.&lt;\/strong&gt; This has been the standard first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma since 2004 because it helps patients live longer than either drug alone. 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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this combination of chemotherapy in 2004 to treat pleural mesothelioma.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Your cancer care team can give you a better idea as to which chemotherapy drug(s) will be a part of your first-line treatment plan.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}},{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"Is it worth having chemo for mesothelioma?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;This depends on the specifics of your diagnosis, but many other patients have benefitted from getting chemotherapy for malignant mesothelioma.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Chemotherapy medications can help extend life expectancy and improve quality of life. 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Chemotherapy (chemo) is one of the most common and effective treatments for mesothelioma. It uses powerful medications to slow the growth of tumors, shrink cancer cells, and improve survival outcomes. For many patients, mesothelioma chemotherapy is given in combination with other treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":715,"parent":128,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-830","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=830"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/830\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/128"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}