Mesothelioma is associated with asbestos exposure

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is associated with a history of asbestos exposure in about 70 to 80 percent of all cases and there is no approved or very effective chemotherapy for the disease.

Researchers hypothesized that pemetrexed might prove effective in treating this disease because it targets key enzymes (molecules that speed up chemical reactions in the body) thought to play a role in allowing the rapid growth of this tumor.