Victims of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma in Arkansas don’t need to leave the state to get excellent care. One notable cancer institute is located in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is staffed by specialists in oncology, thoracic surgery, medical oncology, and radiology.
Arkansas Cancer Treatment Centers
Arkansas is home to cancer centers that have been helping patients for decades. These facilities are dedicated to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research.
The staff includes specialists in all areas of cancer, including those who can treat and manage pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.
Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
The Rockefeller Cancer Institute, located in Little Rock, is the premier facility for cancer patients in the state. It is Arkansas’ only cancer center that focuses on both treatment and research.[1]
- The institute’s founders were inspired to bring what they learned from the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston back to their home state. They recognized that Arkansas lacked a comprehensive facility for cancer patients.
- Research and clinical trials held here give mesothelioma and other cancer patients the opportunity to benefit from emerging treatments.
- Teams of specialists in all areas of cancer care work together to develop individual treatment plans for managing mesothelioma.
- The Institute offers chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and emerging treatments, including stem cell therapy.
- The Lung Cancer Team brings a multidisciplinary approach to help patients with lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
- Additional services include support groups, social workers, nutrition services, financial counseling, a pharmacy, and chaplains.
Arkansas is also home to several other cancer treatment facilities, but they do not offer the same level of comprehensive care. Most provide radiation and chemotherapy but no major surgeries. These include the Arkansas Cancer Institute in Pine Bluff and CARTI, which has multiple locations throughout the state.
Arkansas’s Mesothelioma Experts
Mesothelioma specialists are limited in Arkansas. One noted expert is on staff at the Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Dr. Matthew Steliga is a thoracic surgeon and surgical oncologist qualified to help patients with pleural mesothelioma:[2]
- He trained at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Heart Institute, learning from experts in thoracic oncology surgery.
- He treats patients with all types of thoracic cancers, including pleural mesothelioma, and specializes in using minimally invasive procedures whenever possible.
- Dr. Steliga is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
- He is a member of the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery.
Another specialist in Arkansas who treats mesothelioma is Dr. Konstantinos Arnaoutakis. Dr. Arnaoutakis is a medical oncologist who treats lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma. He provides patients with multiple treatment options, including newer therapies like immunotherapy.
Dr. Arnaoutakis sees patients at the Rockefeller Cancer Institute, where he is involved in clinical trials. His areas of research include immunotherapies, biomarkers, and stem cells.[3]
Mesothelioma Clinical Trials in Arkansas
The Rockefeller Cancer Institute conducts research and clinical trials, emerging treatments, diagnostic techniques, medications, and surgical procedures. For a mesothelioma patient, a clinical trial represents an opportunity to try an innovative treatment not available to the general public.
One study currently ongoing in several locations, including Arkansas, is called Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Treating Patients with Rare Tumors. Researchers are recruiting peritoneal mesothelioma patients to see how effective this combination of immunotherapy drugs is. If you are interested in participating, contact your medical team to find out if you qualify.[4]
Arkansas mesothelioma patients have world-class cancer treatment right in their home state. Contact the Rockefeller Cancer Institute for diagnosis, treatment, access to clinical trials, and support in Little Rock.
