Can Chemoembolization Help Mesothelioma Patients?

Chemoembolization treatment is more effective as it allows a far higher concentration of anti-cancer drugs (20 times higher than conventional chemotherapy drugs) in direct contact with the tumour for a longer duration. It works best in patients where the tumour is more localised. The treatment was pioneered by Professor Thomas Vogl, and his clinic is in Germany. Many patients who have been treated by professor Vogl for mesothelioma have had positive outcomes such as improved life quality and prolonged life.

What is chemoembolization?

Chemoembolization is a procedure where a tube is put into the femoral artery in the groin and fed up to the vein supplying blood to the tumour. A mixture of chemotherapy drugs are injected directly into the vein. In addition to this a synthetic material called an embolic agent is added inside the blood vessels that supply blood to the tumor. This in traps the chemotherapy within the tumor, and temporarily shuts off the blood supply to that part of the cancer and starves it of oxygen, hence – the chemotherapy drugs are more concentrated on damaging cancer cells and inhibitiing  cancer formation.

Chemoembolization treatment for mesothelioma is not currently available in the UK, but it is used in the treatment of liver cancer.

Profesor Thomas Vogl

CONTACT – PROFESSOR THOMAS VOGL:

Johann Wolfgang Goethe
University Clinic (23c)
Theodor Stern Kai 7
760590
Frankfurt am Main

Tel : 00496963017277
Email :
T.Vogl@em.uni-frankfurt.de