[ An Opdivo plus Yervoy combination ] significantly improved overall survival (OS) versus chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, according to findings from a prespecified analysis of the phase 3 CheckMate-743 trial (NCT02899299) that were presented during the 2020 International … [Read more...]
Questioning the prognostic role of BAP-1 immunohistochemistry in malignant pleural mesothelioma: A single center experience with systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: The prognostic role of BRCA1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a matter of debate. We aimed to clarify whether MPM patients with loss of BAP1 expression have better overall survival (OS) compared to BAP1 positive patients. Methods: [ BRCA1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) ] … [Read more...]
Study finds drug beneficial for shrinking mesothelioma tumors
A drug that is designed to boost the immune system against mesothelioma, when combined with immunotherapy, was found to be beneficial in a small study involving ten patients. The results, which appeared July 1, 2020, in Science Translational Medicine, suggest that the drug LMB-100 could prolong the life of some patients with advanced … [Read more...]
[Transforming Growth Factor Alpha] Promotes Chemoresistance of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Background: There is no standard chemotherapy for refractory or relapsing malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Our previous reports nevertheless indicated that a combination of an anthracycline (doxorubicin) and a lysine deacetylase inhibitor (valproic acid, VPA) synergize to induce the apoptosis of MPM cells and reduce tumor growth in mouse … [Read more...]
Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo-Yervoy combo helps mesothelioma patients live longer
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo-Yervoy combo is awaiting some critical decisions in non-small cell lung cancer, but in the meantime, it’s making its mark in a smaller indication, too. The immuno-oncology [ Opdivo-Yervoy combo ] topped chemo at extending the lives of phase 3 trial patients with previously untreated malignant pleural mesothelioma … [Read more...]
Comparative analysis of prognostic histopathologic parameters in subtypes of epithelioid pleural mesothelioma
Aims: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare malignancy with dismal prognosis. While [ epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma ] is associated with more favorable outcome, additional factors are needed to further stratify prognosis and to identify patients who can benefit from multimodal treatment. As [ epithelioid malignant … [Read more...]
The Role of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Resectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma – An Institutional and National Analysis
BACKGROUND: There is no standard of care with respect to the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). We performed an intention-to-treat analysis with data from a single institution and the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to identify whether the use of [ neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) ] impacts … [Read more...]
Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis: a rare case and review of literature
Background: Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis is a rare tumour which comprises less than 1% of all mesotheliomas. Case presentation: 69-years old patient with painful hard mass and hydrocele in the right scrotum to whom a right hydrocelectomy was performed. Any history of scrotal trauma or exposure to asbestos was not … [Read more...]
Lurbinectedin as Second- or Third-Line Palliative Therapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
BACKGROUND: Systemic second- and third-line therapies for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) result in a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of <2 months and median overall survival (mOS) of 6-9 months. Lurbinectedin binds to the regulatory region DNA whilst inhibiting tumour-associated macrophage transcription. In early trials, … [Read more...]
Malignant Diffuse Mesothelioma in Women — A Study of 354 Cases
We reviewed 354 cases of malignant diffuse mesothelioma (MM) in women from a database of 2858 histologically confirmed MM cases. There was a pleural predominance with 78% [ pleural malignant mesothelioma ] and 22% [ peritoneal malignant mesothelioma ]. The pleural tumors consisted of 72% epithelioid, 19% biphasic, and 9% sarcomatoid variant. The … [Read more...]