Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the mesothelium caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control and is known for its late onset of symptoms, the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials that are used to find new treatments and efficient ways to use current treatments.

The most popular method is radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, which involves using high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiotherapy affects only the treated area during the treatment. The radiation may come from a machine that produces radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found.

A common treatment for the disease is surgery that involves the removal of part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. In case of pleural cancer, a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. In few cases, a part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.

Anti-cancer drugs are used to kill these malignant cells throughout the body. This is known as chemotherapy and involves injecting the drug into a vein (intravenous or IV). Currently, doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen.

There are various procedures that are used for the treatment of mesothelioma. Generally, the treatment type depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, the patient's age, and general health. Pleural effusion that is caused by heart failure or infection can usually be resolved by directing treatment, however, when testing has realized no diagnosis and fluid continues to build or recur, doctors may recommend chest tube drainage and chemical pleurodesis. Chemical pleurodesis is a technique in which a sclerosing agent is used in treatment. It is used to abrade the pleural surfaces producing an adhesion between the parietal and visceral pleurae, which prevents from further effusion by eliminating the space in pleura. Talc is considered the most effective agent for pleurodesis.