Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive asbestos-related tumour with poor prognosis. To date, a multimodality treatment, including chemotherapy and surgery, with or without radiotherapy, is the gold standard therapy for selected patients with epithelioid and early-stage MPM. In this setting, the goal of surgery is to achieve the … [Read more...]
First-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus chemotherapy in patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma: 3-year outcomes from CheckMate 743
Background: In the phase 3 CheckMate 743 study (NCT02899299), first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab significantly improved overall survival (OS) versus chemotherapy in patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma [(unresectable MPM)]. We report updated data with 3-year minimum follow-up. Patients and methods: Adults with previously … [Read more...]
Surgical Risk and Survival Associated With Less Invasive Surgery for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
We compared less invasive surgery with conventional surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with MPM who received surgery at Hyogo College of Medicine between July 2004 and April 2016. Patients underwent multimodal treatment comprising chemotherapy (neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant) and surgery … [Read more...]
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Extend Survival for Mesothelioma
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies have ushered in an exciting new phase of clinical research and treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), offering more effective and less toxic treatment options for patients. The research and clinical oncology communities eagerly await the completion of several upcoming trials focused on … [Read more...]
Nivolumab plus ipilimumab confers sustained OS benefit in malignant pleural mesothelioma
Nivolumab plus ipilimumab conferred a durable survival benefit compared with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, according to randomized phase 3 trial data released by the manufacturer. The open-label, multicenter CheckMate-743 trial included 605 patients who received six cycles of pemetrexed and … [Read more...]
Malignant pleural mesothelioma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
INCIDENCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY Incidence Incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is generally higher in males than females and is attributed to historical differences in exposures with world-standardised incidence rates per 100,000 persons of 0.7 and 0.3 in the USA and 1.7 and 0.4 for Europe (for males and females, respectively). [ … [Read more...]
Imfinzi-Chemo Combo Improves Survival for Mesothelioma
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...]