TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Treatment of advanced mesothelioma (stages II, III, and IV)
Source: Mesothelioma Treatment, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 16, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
Treatment of advanced mesothelioma (stages II, III, and IV)
If stage II, stage III, or stage IV mesothelioma is found in the chest, treatment may include:
immunotherapy (nivolumab and ipilimumab)
Source links and citations
combination chemotherapy with or without targeted therapy (bevacizumab)
Source links and citations
combination chemotherapy and palliative care, which may be followed by maintenance chemotherapy
palliative care, which may include draining fluid from the chest, a procedure to prevent fluid from collecting in the chest (pleurodesis), surgery, or radiation therapy, to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life
Source links and citations
chemotherapy placed directly into the chest or abdominal cavity to shrink the tumors and keep fluid from building up
Source links and citations
If stage II, stage III, or stage IV mesothelioma is found in the peritoneum, treatment may include:
Source links and citations
surgery to remove the tumor followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy
Source links and citations
chemotherapy
Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice