Dr. Zauderer on the Importance of Optimizing Care in Mesothelioma

Marjorie G. Zauderer, MD, medical oncologist, co-director, MSK Mesothelioma Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the importance of optimizing care for patients with mesothelioma.

The field of mesothelioma is beginning to extrapolate data from other cancers to inform treatment strategies in mesothelioma, Zauderer says. Additionally, mesothelioma is being divided into unique disease subtypes based on biologic factors.

However, despite these efforts, patients with mesothelioma are not receiving enough, if any, care for their disease, Zauderer explains. Although treatment-free intervals may be optimal in some cases, it is important that patients are seen by centers that regularly treat patients with mesothelioma.

Moreover, data have shown that surgical outcomes are better in patients with mesothelioma who receive care at high-volume centers vs low-volume centers. As such, patients should seek treatment at the best regional center near them, Zauderer concludes.