A study published in a recent issue of the medical journal Lung Cancer reports that Italian cancer researchers have reported that use of immune checkpoint inhibitors yielded successful antitumor activity in a patient diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Renowned Cancer Center Tests Innovative Treatment in Mesothelioma Patient
The study reports on a patient diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma being treated at Italy’s I.R.S.T., a center that has been approved for cancer research by the Italian Ministry of Health and acknowledged internationally as a center of excellence for cancer management and research. The patient profiled is a 45-year-old woman whose condition had previously been diagnosed, who presented at the hospital with pleural effusions that were identified as epithelioid pleural mesothelioma.
In assessing the patient’s condition, researchers determined that in addition to her pleural mesothelioma she was suffering from brain metastasis and peritoneal carcinosis. She was given three treatment cycles of chemotherapy which stabilized her disease, then underwent pleural decortication, but her condition rapidly progressed, and she was started on another course of chemotherapy. Following two cycles she experienced seizures caused by her brain tumor, which was surgical removed and identified as metastasis from the original mesothelioma.
Use of Keytruda Yields Excellent Results in Mesothelioma Patient
Following the removal of the brain lesion, the mesothelioma patient was initially treated with Alectinib, which was unsuccessful. As the disease progressed it was decided to stop the use of Alectinib and turn to Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug that is getting significant attention in recent days for its success in treating challenging cancers. Fifteen days later it was determined that the patient’s condition had improved, allowing her to return to oral feeding. The brain metasis stopped, as did the peritoneal carcinosis, bone lesions and nodal metases, and there was a partial response in the pleural and pulmonary nodules. The patient is continuing on the immunotherapy and is currently showing no symptoms
Commenting on their findings, the study’s authors concluded, “Our findings indicate that the use of immunotherapy in MPM warrants further investigation. Furthermore, the impressive clinical response obtained by our patient suggests that immune checkpoint inhibitors could help in the management of the disease after the failure of other treatments.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, there are innovative treatments that may provide significant improvement and improved quality of life. For information, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net at 1-800-692-8608.
