The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has released four educational recordings addressing questions frequently faced by people diagnosed with mesothelioma: Which treatments are being studied? How do specialists weigh treatment options? What can genetic testing reveal? And how can nutrition support a person undergoing treatment?
Posted November 12, 2026, the recordings come from the Foundation’s October 21–23 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma in The Woodlands, Texas. Each can be viewed directly on the Foundation’s YouTube channel, with a link below to its original session page.
These recordings expand access to patient education. They do not announce a newly approved mesothelioma treatment or establish that an experimental therapy improves survival.
1. What is new in mesothelioma clinical trials?
Presenter: Marjorie G. Zauderer, MD — Westchester Medical Center, New York.
Watch Dr. Zauderer’s clinical-trials presentation on YouTube ↗
View the Foundation’s original session page
Dr. Zauderer, section chief of hematology and medical oncology at Westchester Medical Center and a professor of medicine at New York Medical College, presents an overview of the developing mesothelioma clinical-trial landscape.
Clinical trials may investigate new medicines, combinations of treatments, immunotherapy, cellular therapies, molecular targets or approaches to supportive care. A trial's existence does not mean that its experimental treatment has been shown to help patients. Eligibility and potential risks differ by study.
Questions to discuss with a treating physician: Are any registered studies relevant to my diagnosis and past treatments? Should trial eligibility be considered before my next treatment decision? What are the potential risks, travel requirements and costs of participating?
2. How do specialists approach pleural mesothelioma treatment decisions?
Panelists: Prasad S. Adusumilli, MD; Raphael Bueno, MD; Chuong Hoang, MD; Melina Marmarelis, MD; Michael Offin, MD; and Daniel H. Sterman, MD.
Watch the pleural mesothelioma expert panel on YouTube ↗
View the Foundation’s original panel page
Managing pleural mesothelioma may require input from medical oncologists, thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists and other clinicians. The best approach for an individual depends on the type and extent of disease, prior treatment, symptoms, overall health and the patient's preferences.
Several panelists practice in New York. Drs. Adusumilli and Offin co-direct Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Mesothelioma Program. Dr. Sterman practices pulmonary medicine and interventional pulmonology at NYU Langone Health.
Questions to discuss: Has my pathology been reviewed by an experienced mesothelioma team? Would a multidisciplinary evaluation help? What are the goals and limitations of the treatments being considered? Should I ask about trials or specialized symptom management?
Related H&S resources: Mesothelioma Treatment Options and Finding a Mesothelioma Specialist.
3. What can genetics tell us about mesothelioma?
Presenter: Alexandra Lebensohn, MS.
Watch the genetics presentation on YouTube ↗
View the Foundation’s original genetics session
Genetic changes detected in a tumor are not the same as inherited variants that can affect cancer susceptibility. The distinction matters when patients and families consider molecular testing and genetic counseling.
BAP1 is relevant to both mesothelioma diagnosis and inherited cancer susceptibility. Loss of BAP1 expression in a tumor does not, by itself, establish that someone inherited a disease-associated BAP1 variant. Nor does a molecular finding automatically identify an approved targeted treatment.
Questions to discuss: Has my tumor undergone relevant testing? Would genetic counseling be appropriate based on my personal or family history? Might a finding affect clinical-trial eligibility or follow-up recommendations?
Related H&S research: What Patients Should Know About BAP1 Diagnostic Testing.
4. How can nutrition support patients during treatment?
Presenter: Jessica Tilton, MS, RD, LD.
Watch the nutrition presentation on YouTube ↗
View the Foundation’s original nutrition session
Mesothelioma and its treatments can create challenges such as appetite loss, fatigue, unintended weight loss and difficulty eating. A registered dietitian with oncology experience may help patients address nutrition as part of a broader, individualized care plan.
Questions to discuss: Should I meet with an oncology dietitian? What should I do if I begin losing weight or have trouble eating? How should nutritional support fit with my treatment and symptom-management plan?
No diet or supplement should be represented as a cure for mesothelioma or a replacement for evidence-based medical care.
New York specialists contribute to the Foundation’s educational programming
Four physicians associated with New York medical institutions are among the presenters: Dr. Zauderer at Westchester Medical Center; Drs. Adusumilli and Offin at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; and Dr. Sterman at NYU Langone Health. Their participation reflects the range of specialties involved in caring for people with mesothelioma.
These presentations are part of the Foundation’s independent educational programming. References to participating physicians and their institutions do not suggest they are affiliated with or endorse Humpleby & Strauss.
How patients and families can use the recordings
Patients need not watch every presentation at once. A person weighing a treatment change might begin with clinical trials or the pleural panel; someone with questions about inherited risk might begin with genetics; someone experiencing appetite or weight changes may find nutrition particularly relevant.
A useful next step is to note questions raised by a recording and discuss them with the patient's own clinical team. Education can help prepare for medical appointments, but it cannot replace a personal evaluation or determine which treatment or trial is suitable.
Original recordings and sources
- Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation — What's New in Clinical Trials, November 12
- Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation — Pleural Panel, November 12
- Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation — Understanding the Genetics of Mesothelioma, November 12
- Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation — Nutrition in Mesothelioma Care, November 12
- WMCHealth — Dr. Zauderer's institutional affiliation
- MSK — Dr. Adusumilli; MSK — Dr. Offin; NYU Langone — Dr. Sterman
Editorial scope: H&S reviewed the Foundation's published session descriptions and direct video links, not the complete spoken content or transcripts of the recordings. The questions above are H&S's general suggestions for discussion with treating clinicians, not quotations or individualized recommendations from any presenter.
Medical information notice: This article is for general educational purposes, not medical advice. Humpleby & Strauss, P.C. is a law firm and does not provide medical care. References to the Foundation, physicians and institutions do not imply an affiliation or endorsement. Diagnosis, treatment, genetic testing, nutrition and clinical-trial participation should be discussed with qualified medical professionals. Editorial standards.