Abstract Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a treatment-resistant tumor originating in the mesothelial lining of the pleura or the abdominal cavity with very limited treatment options. More effective therapeutic approaches are urgently needed to improve the poor prognosis of MM patients. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has emerged as a … [Read more...]
Study seeks to identify biological markers that predict mesothelioma response to treatment
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has granted a $2.5 million, five-year R37 MERIT Award to Dr. Bryan Burt, associate professor of surgery and chief of the Division of General Thoracic Surgery, for his research project titled, “Proteomic Determinants of Response to Checkpoint Blockade in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.” “Malignant pleural … [Read more...]
Durvalumab with first-line chemotherapy in previously untreated malignant pleural mesothelioma (DREAM): a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial with a safety run-in
Background: There is a strong unmet need to improve systemic therapy in mesothelioma. Chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed improves survival in malignant pleural mesothelioma, and immune checkpoint inhibitors are an emerging treatment in this disease. We aimed to evaluate the activity of durvalumab, an anti-PD-L1 antibody, given during … [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...]
Secretome of pleural effusions associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and malignant mesothelioma: therapeutic implications
Introduction: We compared the secretome of metastatic (non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)) and primary (mesothelioma) malignant pleural effusions, benign effusions and the published plasma profile of patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), to determine factors unique to neoplasia in pleural effusion (PE) and those accompanying … [Read more...]
Keytruda Survival Benefits Similar to Chemo for Relapsed Mesothelioma, Phase 3 Trial Finds
Treatment with the immunotherapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) appears to be as effective as conventional chemotherapy for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma patients who relapse after one course of platinum-based chemotherapy, data from a Phase 3 trial show. Although more of these advanced cancer patients responded to Keytruda than to … [Read more...]
Survival results in biphasic malignant pleural mesothelioma patients: A multicentric analysis
Objective: The best strategy of care for biphasic malignant pleural mesothelioma (Biph-MPM) is controversial. In this study, a large dataset of Biph-MPM cases was reviewed to identify prognostic factors and to evaluate the role of a multimodal approach, including cancer-directed surgery. Methods: A total of 213 patients with Biph-MPM treated … [Read more...]
Intracavitary cisplatin-fibrin chemotherapy after surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma: A phase I trial
Objectives: Intracavitary chemotherapy is a promising concept to improve local tumor control for malignant pleural mesothelioma with reported high morbidity rates. We have demonstrated that administration of cisplatin loaded to fibrin increased local drug concentration and reduced systemic toxicity in preclinical models. We present a phase I trial … [Read more...]
Owkin’s mesothelioma AI discovers new biomarkers from lung biopsy images
By scanning thousands of tissue samples, [ Owkin’s mesothelioma AI program ] was able to help identify new types of patients with mesothelioma and predict which may respond better to certain therapies. Using whole biopsy slide images taken from nearly 3,000 patients with the aggressive and potentially fatal disease, [ Owkin’s mesothelioma AI … [Read more...]