Cisplatin has emerged as one of the drugs used in chemotherapy procedure for mesothelioma patients. Currently it has been combined with other drugs to enhance its strength when treating mesothelioma patients. The drugs was marked with documented effects, in which, it has been found unsuccessful but later found responsive in treating mesothelioma when administered with the drug Alimta. It generally causes a higher range of side effects than the drugs that are presently available in the market. Physicians more often use these latest medications before trying on Cisplatin due to this fact.

Alimta (Permetrexed) has been used extensively nowadays to treat mesothelioma patients. The drug was introduced first in 2005 and frequently administered with Cisplatin. According to medical specialists, Alimta is one of the most effective drugs up to now to treat pleural mesothelioma patients with constraints to undergo surgeries for several reasons. Alimta works well with malignant cells by restricting their divisions and growth.

An alternative drug for mesothelioma patients is Onconase (Ranpirnase and P-30 protein). It has been manufactured from the embryos and eggs of the northern leopard frogs. This extraction assists in breaking down cancer cells of mesothelioma patients and keeps the healthy cells untouched.

Another effective drug is Gemcitabine. Physicians employ this drug to deal with bladder, pancreas and breast cancers. It has been found that Gemcitabine is also effective with pleural mesothelioma patients. Gemcitabine generally applied with another drug to enhance its effect.

Carboplatin came to the field in early 1980 and was used widely since this drug manifests lesser side effects when compared with related medications. It is commonly administered to deal with cancers in the neck, head, lung and ovaries to include mesotheliomas.

Unlike the above cited drugs, Navelbine (Vinorelbine) has been manufactured from extractions of a plant called periwinkle. All the other drugs mentioned used to treat cancers are synthetic while Navelbine is a semi synthetic drug.