Moffitt Cancer Center
12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612
Moffitt Cancer Center, in Tampa, Florida, is one of the leading medical institutions for thoracic malignancies. The highly regarded mesothelioma cancer center welcomes patients with all types of the disease and has a specialist on staff.
Pleural Mesothelioma
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
12902 USF Magnolia Drive
Tampa, FL 33612
Dr. Jacques Fontaine
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More About Mesothelioma Treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center
Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer forming in cavity linings, requires a skilled medical team to treat. Moffitt Cancer Center is one of the top mesothelioma institutions in the United States.
The official name of the center is H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, the third-largest cancer center in the United States. This hospital is a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.
Dr. Jacques Fontaine is the section head of Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Center. He’s a highly regarded thoracic surgeon involved in clinical trials and research.
Dr. Fontaine joined Moffitt Cancer Center as a thoracic surgeon in 2011. He kick-started an official division of mesothelioma treatment. A decade later, Moffitt Cancer Center is one of the top mesothelioma hospitals in the world.
The center has around 70 cases per year of pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the lining of the lung cavity. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma. Dr. Fontaine and his team operate on approximately 14 (20%) of the pleural mesothelioma patients they see every year at Moffitt Cancer Center.
Experienced Mesothelioma Specialists
- Dr. Jacques Fontaine, section head of mesothelioma treatment
- Dr. Jhanelle Gray, Chair of Medical Oncology
- Dr. Eric Haura, medical oncologist
- Dr. Ben Creelan, medical oncologist
- Dr. Farah Khalil, pathologist
Affiliations
- University of South Florida
Treatment Specialties
- Pleurectomy/decortication surgery
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery
- Immunotherapy
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Tumor treating fields therapy
Get Connected to Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt Cancer Center is a leader in mesothelioma treatment, research and clinical trials. Dr. Jacques Fontaine started the center’s Mesothelioma Treatment department in 2011. It has one of the highest case volumes for pleural mesothelioma in the country.
Why Choose Moffitt Cancer Center?
- Clinical trials hosted at hospital
- Versatile surgeon can perform multiple operations
- Many treatment options
Protocol for Treatment With Surgery
Surgery for mesothelioma includes either pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy. Pleurectomy/decortication leaves both lungs intact and an extrapleural pneumonectomy takes out a lung. Pleurectomy/decortication removes the pleural lining, diaphragm and lining around the heart.
Patients at Moffitt Cancer Center either have surgery right away or begin systemic therapy. Surgical patients at this center usually have surgery right away to avoid tumors growing and spreading.
Systemic therapy includes immunotherapy or chemotherapy. Following surgery, patients have systemic chemotherapy. If that falters, they receive an immunotherapy regimen (either immune checkpoint inhibitors or the anti-VEGF drug bevacizumab).
Radiation Therapy Following Surgery
Following surgery, patients may also receive mesothelioma radiation on one side of the chest. This is a common option after extrapleural pneumonectomy (radiation targeted at the space where the lung was removed).
Adjuvant radiation therapy is only offered in clinical trials following pleurectomy/decortication. The presence of both lungs makes radiation tricky, as the therapy may damage healthy lung tissue.
“Even if you’re doing proton radiation — which is hard to find and not available in any center — there’s still a significant chance of burning the lung or burning the esophagus, which can be fatal,” Dr. Fontaine explained. “While there are tremendous improvements, it should be done at a center that has experience doing radiation for mesothelioma.”
Hospital Ranking
- Not listed in the U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026 Hospitals Honor Roll
- Ranked 23rd for cancer treatment
- High-performing for gastrointestinal cancer surgery
- High-performing for lung cancer surgery
Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy and Tumor Treating Fields
The aim for systemic therapy is to increase survival without decreasing quality of life. Chemotherapy can add months to a patient’s life but also causes uncomfortable side effects. Immunotherapy does not have the extended history of treating mesothelioma cancer as chemotherapy does, but it has shown great results with mesothelioma patients. Immunotherapy also causes fewer adverse reactions than chemotherapy.
“Chemotherapy has a longer track record,” Dr. Fontaine said. “We know it works. It doesn’t cure, but it extends life.”
Optune Lua, the FDA-approved tumor treating fields therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma, is an option through Moffitt Cancer Center. It sends electromagnetic waves through the chest cavity, disrupting tumor growth.
Dr. Fontaine said it’s “an exciting new technology” but he’s not sure it helps life expectancy.
“It probably doesn’t hurt patients but it’s cumbersome,” he said, noting it’s a device patients wear most of the day. “You have to wear this thing all the time, and it can cause skin irritation. It probably doesn’t hurt, but we don’t have enough to know if it helps.”
How to Treat Sarcomatoid Cell Type
For cases of sarcomatoid cell histology, surgery is typically not an option. This cell type can be difficult to remove in most cases.
These patients usually begin immunotherapy — the checkpoint inhibitors Opdivo and Yervoy — first. This option seems to benefit sarcomatoid cases immensely.
“We do have some data with nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) showing it does help, especially in the sarcomatoid patients,” Dr. Fontaine said. “It has less side effects and is better tolerated.”
How to Get Treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center
The team at Moffitt covers every aspect of multimodal treatment for mesothelioma. Aside from Dr. Fontaine, some of the medical professionals involved in treatment of this cancer are:
- Dr. Ben Creelan, medical oncologist
- Dr. Jhanelle Gray, chair of medical oncology
- Dr. Bradford Perez, radiation oncologist
- Terry Depin, RN, nurse navigator
We will be happy to help you or a loved one get in touch with the staff at Moffitt Cancer Center. The first step is reaching out to our registered nurse and patient advocate, Karen Ritter, for assistance.
Karen’s email is karen@mesotheliomaguide.com. You can also send her a message through our Contact a Patient Advocate page. She’ll be happy to help you contact a top cancer facility, such as Moffitt Cancer Center, or assist in any way possible.
Sources & Author
- Your Mesothelioma Specialists. Moffitt Cancer Center. Retrieved from: https://moffitt.org/cancers/mesothelioma/your-mesothelioma-specialists/. Accessed: 05/17/2023.
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from: https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/fl/moffitt-cancer-center-6391069. Accessed: 08/11/2025.
- Jacques Fontaine, MD. Moffitt Cancer Center. Retrieved from: https://moffitt.org/providers/jacques-fontaine/. Accessed: 10/22/2021.
- Ben Creelan, MD. Moffitt Cancer Center. Retrieved from: https://moffitt.org/providers/ben-creelan/. Accessed: 10/22/2021.
- Bradford Perez, MD. Moffitt Cancer Center. Retrieved from: https://moffitt.org/providers/bradford-perez/. Accessed: 10/22/2021.
- Department of Thoracic Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center. Moffitt Cancer Center. Retrieved from: https://moffitt.org/media/4184/thoracic-oncology-brochure_web.pdf. Accessed: 10/22/2021.
AI Summary of Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt Cancer Center, located in Tampa, Florida, is one of the most respected medical institutions for the treatment of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the linings of the chest or abdomen. Known for its advanced research and comprehensive care, Moffitt specializes in thoracic malignancies and offers expert treatment options for all types of mesothelioma. The center is a designated cancer research facility and is recognized nationally for its dedication to improving outcomes for patients facing this challenging diagnosis.
The center’s team of highly experienced specialists, led by Dr. Jacques Fontaine, focuses specifically on mesothelioma treatment, with a remarkable volume of cases managed each year. Moffitt offers a range of therapies, including surgery, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and innovative treatments like tumor treating fields therapy. Patients receive personalized care plans that aim to extend life while maintaining quality of life, often combining multiple treatment modalities for the best possible outcomes. The hospital’s multidisciplinary approach ensures that each patient is thoroughly evaluated and provided with the most appropriate options tailored to their specific condition.
Surgical options at Moffitt include procedures such as pleurectomy/decortication, which preserves the lungs, or extrapleural pneumonectomy, involving the removal of a lung. These surgeries are often followed by systemic therapies like chemotherapy or immunotherapy to target residual cancer cells. Post-surgery radiation may also be considered, especially after pneumonectomy, to help reduce the risk of recurrence. Moffitt’s surgeons and oncologists participate in ongoing clinical trials, exploring new therapies that can provide additional hope for patients. Treatments like immunotherapy, utilizing immune checkpoint inhibitors, have shown promising results, especially for certain cell types like sarcomatoid mesothelioma, which are more difficult to treat through surgery alone.
Patients seeking treatment at Moffitt will find a compassionate team ready to guide them through every step of their journey. The center’s staff, including nurse navigators and medical specialists, are committed to providing clear information and support tailored to individuals and families confronting mesothelioma for the first time. For those interested in exploring treatment options, assistance from experienced patient advocates is available to facilitate connections with Moffitt or other leading centers. Overall, Moffitt Cancer Center’s dedication to research, innovative treatments, and patient-centered care makes it a trusted choice for mesothelioma patients seeking expert support in their fight against this disease.