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The purposes of this study are: to determine the feasibility of administering adjuvant cisplatin plus ALIMTA to patients who undergo surgery with heated cisplatin during surgery; to determine the effects (good and bad) of this combined modality approach in patients with mesothelioma; to evaluate cisplatin effects by determining where it goes and how it is excreted in the body from the collection of tissues and cisplatin samples; to collect and analyze discarded samples of mesothelioma tumor during surgery to help determine the genetic make-up of the disease.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• To determine the feasibility of administering adjuvant cisplatin plus Alimta to patients undergoing surgery with hyperthermic cisplatin.

Secondary

• To determine the morbidity and mortality of this treatment protocol
• To determine time to tumor recurrence and patient survival
• To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of intraoperatively administered cisplatin

DETAILS:

• Patients will undergo surgery, which is part of the standard care for mesothelioma, by a procedure called pleurectomy/decortication. This involves removal of the lining of the lung and all visible disease. Resection of the lining of the heart and the muscle that separates the chest and abdomen is occasionally necessary.
• Mesothelioma samples will be taken during the surgery. These samples will be used in a laboratory study to better understand the genetic makeup of the mesothelioma and to improve our ability to diagnose this disease.
• After the conclusion of the surgery, if a patient has less than 1cm thickness of residual gross disease in one or more areas, then the patient will continue on this study. If more than this volume of tumor is present, then the patient will receive additional treatment off-study.
• Heated chemotherapy (cisplatin) will be given in the operating room immediately following surgery. This treatment consists of a one-hour lavage of the chest and abdominal cavity with heated cisplatin through the surgical incision. At the completion of the hour, sodium thiosulfate is given intravenously for 6 hours to reduce potential side effects.
• During the surgery and for four hours following the completion of the cisplatin lavage, blood samples, urine samples, chest wall muscle samples, and samples of the chemotherapy solution will be taken in order to measure the concentration of chemotherapy and the impact of cisplatin in these samples.
• Patients will remain in the hospital until they have recovered from surgery (7-14 days). In addition to standard post-operative care, blood tests will be done on a daily basis. Following discharge from the hospital, patients will be seen 1-2 weeks post-operatively for additional blood work. An echocardiogram will be done 6 weeks and 6 months post-operatively to assess heart function.
• Chemotherapy treatment consists of ALIMTA plus cisplatin on Day 1 of every 21-day chemotherapy cycle. A total of 3 cycles will be given starting 6-10 weeks after surgery.
• Folic acid, vitamin B12 and dexamethasone will be given in addition to the chemotherapy to help reduce side effects of the chemotherapy drugs.
• Approximately 30 days after the last dose of ALIMTA plus cisplatin, a CT scan(s) and blood work will be performed. In addition, patients will get a CT scan(s) every 3 months for approximately 24 months from the completion of study treatment.
• Long term follow-up will consist of clinic visits every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 2 years, and then once a year.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histopathologic confirmation of malignant pleural mesothelioma
• Patients who are able to tolerate surgical cytoreduction but unable to undergo extrapleural pneumonectomy due to poor cardiopulmonary reserve or tumor invasion or those with minimal disease
• Male on non-pregnant female
• 18 years of age or older
• No evidence of spread outside the ipsilateral hemithorax by chest CT and chest MRI
• Ejection fraction > 45%
• Pre-operative WBC > 4K/uL
• Estimated life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
• Evidence of adequate renal and hepatic function
• Grossly normal contralateral pulmonary function with a chest radiograph and chest CT scan
• Karnofsky performance status of 70% or greater
• No evidence of disease progression by chest CT or chest MRI, obtained at 8 weeks following surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Extended disease outside the ipsilateral hemithorax as determined on pre-operative radiographs or intraoperative findings
• Positive extrapleural nodes as determined by mediastinoscopy
• Gross disease (estimated thickness > 10mm at any intrathoracic location) present within the hemithorax after surgery
• Evidence of distant metastatic disease
• Severe non-malignant co-morbid disease, uncontrolled angina, myocardial infarction on the past 6 months, renal insufficiency, liver disease, pulmonary hypertension
• Pregnant or breast-feeding
• Serious concomitant systemic disorders
• Presence of active concomitant malignancy
• Psychiatric or addictive disorders, which would preclude informed consent
• Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy for mesothelioma
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy administered within 3 years for another malignancy