A mesothelioma study presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Annual Meeting suggests that treatment with neoadjuvant nivolumab, pemetrexed, and platinum may allow more patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma to choose lung-sparing surgery as an option.
Treatment May Expand Eligibility for Pleurectomy/Decortication
The days after patients are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma are filled with confusion. While they attempt to take in the news, their medical teams are busy assessing their conditions to determine the best options for moving forward. Though a lung-sparing surgery called pleurectomy and decortication frequently offers the best prognosis, not every patient is eligible for the procedure because of the size and location of their tumors.
To address this issue, a group of mesothelioma researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center treated 22 patients whose diffuse mesothelioma tumors were considered operable with two cycles of neoadjuvant nivolumab, pemetrexed, and platinum. The goal was to see whether they would be able to undergo the surgery within 30 days of their planned surgery date.
Results of Mesothelioma Study Show Promise of Treatment
Dr. Michael Offin’s presentation of their results showed that 19 of the 22 patients underwent the surgery. Of the three who hadn’t two had experienced disease progression and one opted out of the procedure. Of the 19 who did have the surgery, the median overall survival was 33.9 months with a median progression-free survival of 14 months, which may have been impacted by whether patients’ physicians had administered adjuvant therapy after the surgery.
These results offer significant hope of improved outcomes with innovative uses of immunotherapy and other successful protocols. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help you understand your options and provide you with helpful resources. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.
