Editing UCLA Health (section)

== What Treatment Approaches Does UCLA Offer? ==

UCLA's mesothelioma program offers comprehensive multimodal treatment options, with a distinctive emphasis on lung preservation.<ref>[https://mesotheliomaattorney.com/mesothelioma/treatment/best-centers/ Top Mesothelioma Treatment Centers], Mesothelioma Attorney</ref>

'''Surgical Options'''

* '''Pleurectomy/Decortication (P/D):''' UCLA's signature procedure, removing the diseased pleural lining while preserving the lung
* '''Extended Pleurectomy/Decortication:''' More extensive tissue removal when indicated, still sparing the lung
* '''Cytoreductive Surgery with HIPEC:''' For peritoneal mesothelioma patients, combining surgery with heated intraoperative chemotherapy

'''Medical Oncology'''

* Chemotherapy regimens including pemetrexed and cisplatin combinations
* Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab, ipilimumab, pembrolizumab)
* Targeted therapies based on tumor molecular profiling
* Participation in cutting-edge clinical trials

'''Radiation Therapy'''

* Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
* SMART therapy (Surgical, Molecular, And Radiation Therapy approach)
* Post-surgical adjuvant radiation

'''Specialized Capabilities'''

UCLA has developed particular expertise in treating sarcomatoid mesothelioma—the most aggressive cell type with the poorest prognosis.<ref>[https://mesothelioma.net/california-mesothelioma-treatment-and-doctors/ California Mesothelioma Treatment], Mesothelioma.net</ref> The medical team uses chemotherapy treatments typically employed for sarcomas in other body areas instead of standard mesothelioma drugs, often followed by surgery and radiation in a multimodal approach.

The program also pioneered the use of cryoablation—freezing technology—as an adjunctive therapy in mesothelioma treatment, offering patients additional options beyond traditional modalities.