Mesothelioma

Clinical Trials & Research

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A team of experts collaborates to provide advanced mesothelioma care. Call 310-267-4612  to learn more about mesothelioma treatment at UCLA Health. To reach our nurse practitioner, call 310-818-1304
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Bringing new hope to mesothelioma care

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you’re not alone. At UCLA Health, you’ll have a world class team of mesothelioma experts by your side. 

Our experts offer the most advanced treatments available, including promising new options through clinical trials. As a national leader in mesothelioma research, we drive innovation, discover new therapies, and deliver renewed hope to patients. 

Find out if a clinical trial is right for you

Clinical trials test new ways to prevent, find, or treat diseases like mesothelioma. Joining a trial may give you early access to new treatments while helping future patients.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials at UCLA Health
Doctor wearing gloves and a mask examines a series of chest CT scans showing detailed images of the lungs.

Explore our published research

Ongoing research and published findings are essential to advancing mesothelioma care. Below is a selection of recent research highlights: 

  • Could MARS treatment affect survival in mesothelioma?: Explores the risks and potential impact of a surgical approach called MARS (Mesothelioma and Radical Surgery) on patient survival. Ripley RT, Adusumilli PS, Bograd AJ, et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2024.
  • Testing immunotherapy before surgery for mesothelioma: Looks at using immune-based treatments before surgery to see if it could improve outcomes for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Lee HS, Jang HJ, Ramineni M, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2023.
  • How doctors are using tumor-treating fields: A study across multiple hospitals reviewing how a treatment called Tumor-Treating Fields is being used for patients with mesothelioma. Kutuk T, Walker JM, Ballo MT, et al. Curr Oncol. 2023.

View additional mesothelioma publications

  • Using laparoscopy to better understand mesothelioma: Shows that a minimally invasive procedure called laparoscopy can help doctors more accurately see how far mesothelioma has spread—leading to better treatment planning. Ripley RT, Palivela N, Groth SS, et al. Ann Thorac Surg. 2021.
  • Comparing two surgical options for mesothelioma: Finds that a less aggressive surgery (pleurectomy/decortication) may lead to better outcomes than a more extensive procedure in some patients with pleural mesothelioma. Ripley RT, Holmes HM, Whitlock RS, et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2023.
  • Expanding treatment options for inoperable mesothelioma: Explores how immunotherapy is helping patients with pleural mesothelioma who are not eligible for surgery. Ripley RT, Mansfield AS, Sepesi B, et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2023
  • Boosting the immune system to fight mesothelioma: Tests tiny “factories” that release IL2, a protein that can help the immune system attack mesothelioma tumors directly. Nash AM, Aghlara-Fotovat S, Castillio B, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2022.
  • Improving response to immunotherapy: Examines how blocking certain cell signals (CDK4/6) may help make immunotherapy more effective in treating mesothelioma. Jang HJ, Truong CY, Lo EM, et al. Ann Thorac Surg. 2022.
  • Blood marker may help predict treatment success: Explores how a protein found in the blood (SMRP) might help predict how well patients respond to immunotherapy for mesothelioma. Mitra S, Jang HJ, Kuncheria A, et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2024.
  • Gene patterns that help forecast outcomes: Identifies genetic patterns that could help doctors estimate how mesothelioma and lung cancer patients may respond to treatment. Lin Y, Burt BM, Lee HS, et al. NPJ Precis Oncol. 2024.
  • Combining data for better predictions: Shows that using both genetic and clinical information together can give a clearer picture of a patient’s prognosis. Nguyen TT, Lee HS, Burt BM, et al. Br J Cancer. 2022.
  • Protein levels and surgical outcomes: Shows that levels of a protein called PD-L1 might help predict how well patients do after surgery for mesothelioma. Lee HS, Hamaji M, Palivela N, et al. Ann Thorac Surg. 2021.
  • Targeted treatment for certain mesothelioma patients: Tests a drug called Tazemetostat in patients whose mesothelioma came back or didn’t respond to treatment. The drug works by blocking a protein that helps cancer grow, and may be especially helpful for patients with a gene change called BAP1. Zauderer MG, Szlosarek PW, Le Moulec S, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2022.