Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and deadly cancer mainly caused by asbestos exposure. It is hard to surgically remove and is very aggressive, which makes it hard to treat. A trial known as the MARS 2 trial investigated to see if pleurectomy and decortication could improve the quality of life and survival in patients with resectable mesothelioma.
Clinical trials are research studies that are performed to evaluate new medical treatments, drugs, or procedures in humans. Clinical trials are an essential part of the cancer treatment process. They help advance medical knowledge and improve medical care. There are multiple phases of clinical trials.
The first phase is Phase I, where the safety and dosage of a new treatment are tested in a small group of people. Phase II evaluates the treatment’s efficacy and assesses its safety in a larger group of people. Phase III is used to confirm the treatment’s effectiveness, looks at side effects, and compares it to standard treatments in a large population. Finally, there is stage IV, where the phase is conducted after a treatment is approved for public use to gather additional information on its long-term effects. There is a rigorous protocol to clinical trials to ensure the safety and reliability of the results. Randomized controlled trials are the benchmark in testing new treatments because they help minimize bias and provide the most evidence.
The MARS 2 trial looked at two different treatments for pleural mesothelioma. Surgery alongside chemotherapy was studied and compared to chemotherapy alone. The chemotherapy alone group lived longer with a median overall survival of 24.8 months compared to 19.3 months. The surgery group also had a lower quality of life, more side effects, and higher costs. This information contradicts what was believed about surgery for mesothelioma. Expert surgeons are crucial for surgical procedures and careful patient selection is also necessary for surgery to benefit patients.
There are multiple benefits to participating in clinical trials. The first is that patients get access to cutting edge treatments. New and potentially more effective treatments that may not be widely available could be accessed. The person is also contributing to medical research, which helps the advancement of medical knowledge and can help improve treatment for newer generations of patients. Clinical trial participants also receive more frequent and thorough monitoring which can be better overall care. Finally, patients can have a potential of better outcomes thanks to personalized treatment approaches.
The MARS 2 trial showcases how treating mesothelioma is complex and the importance of clinical trials. It also showed that in some cases, chemotherapy alone could be the better option for patients versus surgery and chemotherapy. The best thing for mesothelioma patients is to participate in clinical trials like MARS 2. People in clinical trials can receive better treatment and can help future generations of patients.
As research progresses, clinical trials will continue to be important for the treatment of mesothelioma. It offers better survival and quality of life to patients.
