Key Takeaways
- Several mesothelioma clinical trials are currently available to patients in Pennsylvania and nearby states — offering access to emerging treatments not yet widely available.
- One active trial is testing whether adding surgery after immunotherapy improves outcomes for patients with Stage I–IIIA sarcomatoid mesothelioma. This trial is available at the ChristianaCare Concord Health Center in Chadds Ford, PA.
- Another trial is testing sacituzumab govitecan — an antibody linked to a chemotherapy drug (a form of targeted therapy) — for patients with diffuse pleural mesothelioma. Available at Memorial Sloan Kettering locations in New Jersey.
- A third trial is studying pembrolizumab combined with intensity-modulated pleural radiation therapy (IMRT) for patients with unresectable mesothelioma. Also available at Memorial Sloan Kettering locations in New Jersey.
- Each trial has specific eligibility criteria — including diagnosis type, stage, prior treatment history, and physical condition. Your oncologist can help determine whether you qualify.
Treatment for malignant mesothelioma is always evolving. Clinical trials are research studies that are used to test how well new medical approaches work for those enlisted in the trial. Therefore, mesothelioma clinical trials are used to determine new effective treatment approaches for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. There is still a lot more research that needs to be done on mesothelioma treatment and clinical trials are a good way to determine the best possible treatments.
Mesothelioma clinical trials are important because they can help people living with cancer to live longer and can help to improve their quality of life.
Testing the Value of Adding Surgery after the Usual Treatment of Patients with Stage I-IIIA Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
There are currently a multitude of active mesothelioma clinical trials that are available for mesothelioma victims in Pennsylvania. One specific clinical trial is Testing the Value of Adding Surgery after the Usual Treatment (Immunotherapy) for Patients with Stage I-IIIA Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma. This is a phase II trial with the purpose of evaluating the safety and effectiveness of adding surgery after immunotherapy. As with any clinical trial, there are criteria that must be met to enroll in this mesothelioma clinical trial. Some criteria for inclusion include that the person must be diagnosed with sarcomatoid mesothelioma, there must be no prior treatment, the patient must not be pregnant, and they must be above 18 years old.
Those who are excluded from this trial are patients with chest wall invasion, peritoneal spread, involvement of pleural invasion, and there can be no history of interstitial lung disease. This mesothelioma clinical trial is available in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania at the Christian Care Health System- Concord Health Center.
Sacituzumab Govitecan for the Treatment of Patients with Diffuse Pleural Mesothelioma
Another current mesothelioma clinical trial that is available to mesothelioma patients in Pennsylvania is the Sacituzumab Govitecan for the Treatment of Patients with Diffuse Pleural Mesothelioma clinical trial. This is a phase II trial that tests the efficacy of how sacituzumab govitecan-hziy works in treating patients who have been diagnosed with diffuse pleural mesothelioma. Sacituzumab govitecan is an antibody linked to a chemotherapy drug. This is a form of targeted therapy. In order to enroll in the trial, the patient must be atleast 18 years old, they must have a confirmed diffuse pleural mesothelioma diagnosis, they must have gotten at least one systemic therapy treatment in the past, and they must consent to have a biopsy done, among other criteria. There are locations in New Jersey, right outside of Pennsylvania, in which this clinical trial is available. These locations include Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth, in Middletown, New Jersey, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen, in Montvale, New Jersey.
Pembrolizumab and Intensity-Modulated Pleural Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Unresectable Malignant Mesothelioma
Another mesothelioma clinical trial that is available near Pennsylvania is the Pembrolizumab and Intensity-Modulated Pleural Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Unresectable Malignant Mesothelioma clinical trial. This is a phase I trial that aims to find the best dose of intensity modulated pleural radiation therapy and to look at its effect when given with pembrolizumab. This is used to treat patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma whose tumor(s) cannot be removed through surgery. Pembrolizumab is a monoclonal antibody and if it is given with radiation therapy it may kill more cancer cells.
To enroll in this clinical trial, the person must have a confirmed pathological diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma, the tumor(s) must be unresectable, and there must have been at least one line of systemic therapy in the past. Locations near Pennsylvania where this clinical trial is available are Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth in Middletown, New Jersey, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen in Montvale, New Jersey.
These mesothelioma clinical trials could be promising for future research and future effective combinations of treatment.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, check out our website for more information. To learn more, please call us at (800) 505-6000 or fill out our simple contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What mesothelioma clinical trials are available in Pennsylvania?
Multiple clinical trials are currently accessible to Pennsylvania mesothelioma patients. One notable trial — testing whether surgery improves outcomes after immunotherapy for sarcomatoid mesothelioma — is available at ChristianaCare Concord Health Center in Chadds Ford, PA. Additional trials are available at Memorial Sloan Kettering facilities in nearby New Jersey. Clinical trial availability changes regularly, so check with your oncologist or visit Cancer.gov’s clinical trial search for the most current listings.
What is the sarcomatoid mesothelioma surgery trial?
This Phase II trial evaluates whether adding surgery after standard immunotherapy treatment improves outcomes for patients with Stage I–IIIA sarcomatoid mesothelioma. This is significant because sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the most aggressive and treatment-resistant subtype — and surgery is not typically recommended for it. Eligibility requires a confirmed sarcomatoid mesothelioma diagnosis, no prior treatment, age 18 or older, and no pregnancy. Patients with chest wall invasion, peritoneal spread, or a history of interstitial lung disease are excluded.
What is sacituzumab govitecan?
Sacituzumab govitecan is a form of targeted therapy — an antibody that has been linked to a chemotherapy drug. The antibody is designed to seek out and bind to specific proteins on cancer cells, delivering the chemotherapy payload directly to the tumor rather than systemically throughout the body. The Phase II trial testing its effectiveness for diffuse pleural mesothelioma requires patients to have a confirmed diagnosis, have received at least one prior systemic therapy, and consent to a biopsy.
What is the pembrolizumab and IMRT trial?
This Phase I trial is investigating the best dose of intensity-modulated pleural radiation therapy (IMRT) when given alongside pembrolizumab (Keytruda) — a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. The combination aims to kill more cancer cells than either treatment alone. It is designed for patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma who have already received at least one line of systemic therapy. Pembrolizumab restores immune function while IMRT delivers precisely targeted radiation to the tumor.
How do I know if I’m eligible for a clinical trial?
Each clinical trial has specific eligibility criteria, which may include:
- Type and stage of mesothelioma (pleural, peritoneal, sarcomatoid, etc.)
- Prior treatment history — some trials require no prior treatment, others require at least one prior therapy
- Physical condition — measured by performance status scores
- Age — most require patients to be 18 or older
- Specific exclusions — such as pregnancy, certain pre-existing conditions, or extent of cancer spread
Your oncologist can review your medical records against trial criteria to determine which trials you may qualify for.
Why should mesothelioma patients consider clinical trials?
Clinical trials offer access to emerging treatments that are not yet widely available — including new drug combinations, targeted therapies, and novel surgical approaches. For patients with limited options — particularly those with advanced, unresectable, or treatment-resistant mesothelioma — a clinical trial may provide a treatment pathway that doesn’t exist in standard care. Clinical trials also contribute to research that helps future mesothelioma patients.
What should I do if I want to explore clinical trials?
Start by talking to your oncologist about whether clinical trials are appropriate for your diagnosis and health status. You can also search for active mesothelioma trials on Cancer.gov and filter by location (Pennsylvania or nearby states). For additional guidance and information about your legal options, call (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
