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...]
Talc-Based Beauty Products Found to be Contaminated with Asbestos
Talc-based beauty products have been found to be contaminated with asbestos according to some recent news headlines. How can this be? For years, cosmetics and personal care products have included a mineral ingredient called talc in their manufacturing process. Talc's original intention was to improve the texture and feel of products, absorb … [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...]
Dying Patients Denied Justice Amid COVID-Related Court Delays
Terminally ill plaintiffs, who were supposed to be guaranteed expedited trials in light of their deteriorating medical conditions, are still waiting for their day in court, according to an NBC Bay Area investigation. [ Terminally ill plaintiffs ] who are dying are supposed to be granted preferential treatment when it comes to scheduling their … [Read more...]
Mesothelioma risk among those exposed to chrysotile asbestos only and mixtures that include amphibole: a case–control study in the USA, 1975–1980
Objectives Occupational asbestos exposure is causally linked to mesothelioma. However, whether exposure to only chrysotile asbestos is associated with mesothelioma risk, and the heterogeneity in risk by different fibre types/lengths remains unclear. We investigated whether mesothelioma risk differs among workers exposed to only chrysotile … [Read more...]
Biomarker candidates could aid in earlier diagnosis of mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer mainly caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is generally diagnosed at an already advanced stage and none of the therapeutic strategies tried so far is able to eradicate the disease. So new biomarkers that could help to identify the disease at an earlier stage are urgently … [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...]