Immunotherapy has proven to be among the most exciting medical breakthroughs in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. The technology leverages the body’s own immune system to fight back against malignancy. Though much has already been learned, there is even more yet to be discovered. A study conducted by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine has now revealed that using the protocol prior to surgery can deliver favorable clinical outcomes for patients.
Study Reports Favorable Outcomes for Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Mesothelioma
Researchers from the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor set out to determine whether neoadjuvant immunotherapy would be helpful for patients who have resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Neoadjuvant is a term that describes a treatment given prior to a primary treatment: In this case, it means giving patients immunotherapy before they undergo surgical tumor removal.
The group that conducted the mesothelioma research was led by Dr. Bryan Burt, professor and chief of the David J. Sugarbaker Division of Thoracic Surgery. Working with the knowledge that immune checkpoint inhibitors have already proven effective in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, they hoped that increasing immune reactivity to the tumor pre-operatively would lead to a persistent immune response that would help the body reject the cancer’s return.
Mesothelioma Patients in Study Received Two Types of Immunotherapy Treatment
The mesothelioma patients in the study were split into two groups, with the first receiving a single cycle of the PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab and the second receiving both durvalumab and tremelimumab, a CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitor. The latter group saw the most significant and favorable changes to the tumor microenvironment, with an increase in the number of “soldier” cells that would kill and remember the tumor in the future.
Speaking of their work for the future of mesothelioma treatment, Dr. Burt said, “Surgery itself may not be curative, however combining surgery with some other modality of therapy often provides benefit. Our trial is an important step to evaluate whether checkpoint inhibitors are safe and feasible to give before surgery.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, studies like these provide a reason for hope. For information on this and other breakthroughs, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
