Background: A novel approach for managing malignant pleural mesothelioma, surgery for mesothelioma after radiotherapy (SMART), consisting of a short accelerated course of high-dose, hemithoracic, intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy was developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical … [Read more...]
Chemo-Free Regimen Boosts OS in Mesothelioma
A chemotherapy-free combination significantly improved overall survival (OS) as initial therapy for unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), a large randomized trial showed. Patients treated with nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) had a media OS of 18.1 months versus 14.1 months for patients randomized to chemotherapy. The … [Read more...]
A multicentre randomised phase III trial comparing pembrolizumab vs single-agent chemotherapy for advanced pre-treated malignant pleural mesothelioma: the European Thoracic Oncology Platform (ETOP 9-15) PROMISE-meso trial
Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. At relapse after platinum-based chemotherapy, single-agent chemotherapy is commonly used and single-arm trials of immune-checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated encouraging activity. Patients and … [Read more...]
FDA Approves Drug Combination for Treating Mesothelioma
[On October 02, 2020], the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Opdivo (nivolumab) in combination with Yervoy (ipilimumab) for the first-line treatment of adults with malignant pleural mesothelioma that cannot be removed by surgery. This is the first drug regimen approved for mesothelioma in 16 years and the second FDA-approved systemic … [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...]
FDA clears IND application for CAR T-cell therapy for advanced mesothelioma
The FDA cleared an investigational new drug application for ATA2271, a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy [ or CAR T-cell therapy ] for the treatment of advanced mesothelioma, according to the agent’s manufacturer [which is working together with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center]. ATA2271 (Atara Biotherapeutics) is an autologous CAR … [Read more...]
Phase I Study of Novel Drug Shows Preliminary Activity in Mesothelin-Expressing Tumors
Data from a Phase I study published last week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed that Bayer’s investigational compound anetumab ravtansine (BAY 94-9343), an antibody-drug conjugate comprising an anti-mesothelin antibody linked to maytansinoid DM4, was well tolerated in patients with advanced, metastatic, or recurrent solid tumors … [Read more...]
Telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutations identify a genomically defined and highly aggressive human pleural mesothelioma subgroup
Purpose: Human malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is characterized by dismal prognosis. Consequently, dissection of molecular mechanisms driving malignancy is of key importance. Here we investigate, whether activating mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene promoter are present in MPM and associated with disease progression, … [Read more...]
Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Clinical practice guidelines for the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma were released in May 2020 by the EuropeanRespiratory Society, European Society of Thoracic Surgeons, European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, and European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology. Epidemiology Research Priorities The task force recommends … [Read more...]
Nivolumab/Ipilimumab Demonstrates Durable OS Benefit in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
[ 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...]