Imfinzi plus platinum-pemetrexed chemotherapy induced survival improvements in patients with previously untreated, unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, compared with chemotherapy alone. Treatment with Imfinzi (durvalumab) plus platinum-pemetrexed chemotherapy was associated with improved survival among patients with previously untreated, … [Read more...]
Nivolumab versus placebo in patients with relapsed malignant mesothelioma (CONFIRM): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial
Background: No phase 3 trial has yet shown improved survival for patients with pleural or peritoneal malignant mesothelioma who have progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in these patients. Methods: This was a multicentre, … [Read more...]
Immunotherapy combination maintains OS advantage in malignant pleural mesothelioma
The combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab maintained its survival advantage over chemotherapy with at least 3 years of follow-up among patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, according to CheckMate 743 study results. Researchers observed the benefit of the first-line immunotherapy regimen despite patients having been off … [Read more...]
Gemcitabine with or without ramucirumab as second-line treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (RAMES): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial
Background: There is a preclinical rationale for inhibiting angiogenesis in mesothelioma. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the anti-VEGFR-2 antibody ramucirumab combined with gemcitabine in patients with pretreated malignant pleural mesothelioma [ as a second-line treatment ]. Methods: RAMES was a multicentre, randomised, … [Read more...]
Adding Atezolizumab to Neoadjuvant Cisplatin-Pemetrexed a Feasible Option in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
A three-agent neoadjuvant regimen that combines a PD-L1 inhibitor with chemotherapy appears feasible for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, according to an ongoing phase I trial. The findings [ about neoadjuvant therapy ] were presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer virtual World Conference on Lung Cancer, … [Read more...]
Nivo/Ipi Combo Now ‘Standard of Care’ in Mesothelioma
The [ combination immunotherapy consisting ] of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) offers a durable, long-term survival benefit over chemotherapy for patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), confirms a 3-year updated analysis of the CheckMate 743 trial. After 3 years, 23% of patients who received combination … [Read more...]
Access to care varies greatly among patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma
Access to care varied significantly among patients with stage I to stage III malignant pleural mesothelioma, according to study results. The findings — presented at International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer World Conference on Lung Cancer — showed variations in access based on factors such as distance to treatment facility, as well … [Read more...]
More Data in Support of Surgery for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) lived 6 months longer, on average, when they had surgery in addition to chemotherapy, a large retrospective analysis showed. The addition of surgery to combination chemotherapy resulted in a median overall survival (OS) of 22 months as compared with 16 months with chemotherapy alone. Twice as … [Read more...]
Appeals court reinstates suit by Solano County woman against Johnson & Johnson over baby powder
A state appeals court reinstated a lawsuit Tuesday by the widow of a Solano County man who died of cancer after using Johnson & Johnson talcum powder for most of his life. A judge had dismissed the suit by Douglas Strobel and his wife, Jo Ann Strobel, saying their medical witnesses had no firsthand evidence that the talcum in J&J’s Baby … [Read more...]
Understanding the new therapeutic options for mesothelioma
Since the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pemetrexed plus cisplatin for first-line treatment of mesothelioma in 2004, there has been a dearth of additional treatment options for this disease. Despite substantial effort, no other phase 3 study achieved a positive outcome for another 12 years, until the MAPS trial showed that the … [Read more...]