Sometimes, new treatments that are currently being investigated for their effectiveness in treating cancer are available only through a patient’s participation in a clinical trial.  Currently, mesothelioma research into the efficacy of gene therapy, phototherapy, and immunotherapy is being conducted all over the world.

For a new mesothelioma treatment or drug to be approved, a series of research trials must be completed.  These trials are subject to a specific set of rules and governance as determined by medical and legislative authorities.  As part of these rules, the clinical trials must follow a multiphasic schedule of protocols.

Clinical trial phases.
In the first phase of clinical trials for a new treatment, the researchers conduct a preliminary test aimed at discovering a new drug’s effects and the responses it will elicit in patients.  The results of this phase will determine whether or not it will be advisable to proceed with the next stages of research. 

From a patient’s point of view, entering a clinical study at the first stage can be very risky, as this is the stage in which researchers know the least about the treatment’s effects on the body.  Therefore, patients who have exhausted other treatment possibilities are usually the first to participate in phase one trials.

In the second phase of clinical trials, research has already established the new treatment’s safe dosage and any other specific drug administration details.  Now the focus turns to individuals with one or more cancer types, and the number of participants in the trials increases.  These patients have, like phase one participants, been subjected to other treatments for their cancers already.  However, phase two participants are usually those who may benefit from a new treatment due to their possibly positive reaction to their first treatment course.  The success of phase two trials determines whether the clinical trials can advance to the third and final stage.
The third phase of clinical trials evaluates the quality of the new treatment as relative to the existing treatments, and involves an even wider participant group than used for phase two.  In this phase, patients will receive the new treatment as the first course of therapy for cancer.  If the treatment or drug is found to be within the Food and Drug Administration’s safety and efficacy standards, it will be made available to the public.

Clinical trial eligibility.
Eligibility for clinical trials at any phase is determined through strictly established guidelines.  These include considerations of a patient’s response to previous treatment methods, general physical health, other medical history, age, and other factors.
When a person is chosen to participate in a clinical trial, it is generally after having agreed to the stipulations set forth by the researchers.  This may include frequent visits for evaluation and testing, signing a consent form, and possibly staying overnight at the hospital to receive the treatment or to be observed.

Many physicians who treat patients with cancer are aware of the current research trials.  However, to find out about clinical trials independently of an oncologist, one can consult the National Cancer Institute, the Cancer Information Service, and the Physician’s Data Query, all available online.