The second explanation is that fibers that lodge in the lungs can move into the lymphatic system and be transported to the peritoneum. Thus it is not known whether only one fiber can cause a tumor to develop or whether it takes many fibers, or what the exact conditions and predispositions are for this change to happen. At this time there are treatments, but no known cure, for peritoneal mesothelioma. The prognosis depends on various factors, including the size and stage of the tumor, its extent, the cell type, and whether or not the tumor responds to treatment. However, the options for relief and treatment of people with peritoneal mesothelioma have improved, especially for those whose cancer is diagnosed early and treated vigorously.
Many people receive a combination of therapies, sometimes known as multimodal therapy .
There are also clinical trials and various experimental treatments like gene therapy and immunotherapy , and antiangiogenesis drugs .