National Cancer Institute

More About Mesothelioma Treatment at the National Cancer Institute

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the United States federal government’s agency of cancer research and training. The NCI was established in 1937 as part of the National Institutes of Health, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center is the largest hospital devoted 100% to medical research.

NCI’s primary mission is to conduct cancer research initiatives across different malignancies, including the rare and aggressive cancer known as mesothelioma. This spearheading of cancer research is collectively called the National Cancer Program, which is the largest funding platform for cancer research in the entire world. The data reaches cancer centers and doctors throughout the country to improve the clinical trials and studies conducted at different institutions.

Dr. Raffitt Hassan is the Senior Investigator of Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies. He is in charge of all cancer research related to mesothelioma and helps improve detection of and treatment for mesothelioma.

The two types of mesothelioma are:

• Pleural mesothelioma, a thoracic cancer forming in the lining of the lungs
• Peritoneal mesothelioma, a gastrointestinal cancer forming in the lining of the abdominal cavity

Experienced Mesothelioma Specialists

• Dr. Raffitt Hassan, Chief of Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies
• Dr. Chuong D. Hoang, investigator

Affiliations

• National Institutes of Health
• Department of Health and Human Services

Treatment Specialties

• Clinical trials and research

Get Connected to the National Cancer Institute

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the only government-funded hospital dedicated solely to clinical research for cancer. Mesothelioma is one cancer their research focuses on – mostly through clinical trials and testing. National Cancer Institute is a leading center for conducting clinical trials for this rare disease.

Why Choose NCI?

• Affiliation with and funding from the National Institutes of Health
• Ongoing clinical trials at the cancer center
• Collaboration with other cancer centers in the United States

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Collaboration With Other Cancer Hospitals

NCI designates other cancer centers around the country for their treatment, patient care, and patient comfort. This designation is a badge of honor for cancer hospitals and proof of their high-quality medical care.

As of July 2024, the mesothelioma hospitals – or hospitals featuring at least one mesothelioma specialist – with an NCI designation as a leading center are:

• Baylor College of Medicine Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center (Houston, Texas)
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, Massachusetts)
• Duke Cancer Institute (Durham, North Carolina)
• Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Institute (New York City)
• Johns Hopkins University Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (Baltimore, Maryland)
• Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota)
• Mayo Clinic (Phoenix, Arizona)
• Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville, Florida)
• Michigan University Medicine Rogel Cancer Institute (Ann Arbor)
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York City)
• Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa, Florida)
• NYU Langone Health Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center (New York City)
• Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Buffalo, N.Y.)
• Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (New Brunswick)
• University of California Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
• University of California San Diego Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center
• University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center
• University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center
• University of Hawaii Cancer Center (Honolulu)
• University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center
• University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
• University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center (Philadelphia)
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center
• University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston)
• Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (Nashville, Tennessee)
• Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)

Database of Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

If you’re looking to enroll in a clinical trial for mesothelioma, the National Cancer Institute is the place to start your search. NCI takes part in more than a dozen studies involving mesothelioma, some dedicated just to this disease. A few examples are immunotherapy trials, photodynamic therapy studies, and even a peritoneal mesothelioma trial using immunotherapy.

Linda P., who died in 2020 of mesothelioma, was able to extend her survival  thanks to a clinical trial at NCI. She received immunotherapy plus an anti-mesothelin drug LMB-100. Her family credit the doctors and nurses at NCI for slowing the growth of tumors and giving Linda more time to spend with her family.

Linda’s story is an example of the power of the National Cancer Institute’s work for cancer patients, particularly those with rare diseases like mesothelioma.

Get Connected to NCI

Please reach out to our patient advocate team for help visiting the National Cancer Institute. Karen Ritter, our lead patient advocate, is a registered nurse and cancer survivor. She communicates with patients and their families about their options for treatment along with tips for going through the therapeutic process.

Email Nurse Karen at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com for help. She’d be happy to assist you in contacting NCI or giving you a list of the recruiting clinical trials happening right now.

Sources & Author

1. National Cancer Institutes. National Institute of Health. Retrieved from: https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/national-cancer-institute-nci. Accessed: 03/09/2022.
2. Mesothelioma. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from: https://ccr.cancer.gov/staff-directory/principal-investigators/disease-focuses/mesothelioma. Accessed: 05/17/2023.
3. Find a Cancer Center. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find. Accessed: 07/21/2024.
4. Raffit Hassan, M.D. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from: https://ccr.cancer.gov/staff-directory/raffit-hassan. Accessed: 05/17/2023.

About the Writer, Karen Ritter, RN BSN

Karen Ritter, a registered nurse, is the lead patient advocate for Mesothelioma Guide. She has a deep passion for patient care, which includes helping patients and their families search for treatment options at the top mesothelioma cancer centers. She finds the balance between encouraging patients to receive the best treatment possible while enjoying their time with loved ones and friends. Karen is a valuable asset for patients due to her knowledge of mesothelioma, compassion for the victims of this disease and dedication to guiding patients through their treatment journey.