MATES: Maintenance Thalidomide in Mesothelioma Patients. A phase III trial of anti-angiogenic agent Thalidomide in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma after first line chemotherapy.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a tumour in the lining outside of the lung. This type of tumour is closely linked to exposure to asbestos fibres. The purpose of this study is to determine if treatment with thalidomide for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma will delay the time until the disease gets worse and also if it will keep people feeling better. Thalidomide was originally used as a sedative during pregnancy in the late 1950s, with detrimental effects on the embryo. However since then, it has been found that thalidomide may delay tumour growth in people with mesothelioma. The formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), plays an important role in tumour growth and spread. Thalidomide stops or delays the formation of new blood vessels (anti-angiogenic effect), which may prevent or slow down the return of cancer. The research is being done because it is not clear if treatment with thalidomide after treatment with pemetrexed can offer better results than the usual care, which is to have no further chemotherapy treatment after treatment with pemetrexed.