Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is always considered fatal. The average survival time for the aggressive cancer is approximately 18 months, but researchers are working every day to extend and improve that prognosis, as well as patients’ quality of life. Following up on previous studies that suggested that statin drugs boost the effectiveness of certain forms of immunotherapy, a team of Korean scientists set out to learn why, and believe they now understand the mechanism.
Biochemists Demonstrate How Anti-Cholesterol Drugs Work to Kill Mesothelioma Cells
The researchers from Konkuk University in Seoul, Korea specifically investigated why statins – usually prescribed to lower cholesterol – make immunotherapy drugs like Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Imfinzi (durvalumab) more effective in treating malignant mesothelioma cells. Both of these cancer drugs specifically target PD-1, a protein that’s been shown to help mesothelioma cells rebuff the body’s immune system.
Though PD-1 is generally a positive aspect of the body’s biochemistry, its normal job of protecting healthy tissues from the immune system is leveraged by mesothelioma cells, which generate additional PD-1 to protect themselves. This allows the cancerous cells to grow and metastasize. This mechanism has led to significant efforts by cancer researchers to target PD-1 with drugs like Keytruda, which are known as PD-1 inhibitors.
Statins Enhance Role of PD-1 Inhibitors and Chemotherapy in Mesothelioma Patients
Though previous research has shown that statin drugs alone do nothing to kill cancer cells of any kind, several studies have demonstrated that when the drugs are combined with PD-1 inhibitors, they enhance their ability to suppress PD-1 growth in mesothelioma cells. Statin drugs have also been shown to improve the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed.
The Korean researchers identified what they have called a “synergistic effect” between the anti-cholesterol drugs and PD-1 inhibiting drugs. In tests of four different statins, the level of PD-1 expressed by cancer cells was diminished, making them more vulnerable to the body’s natural immune response.
Speaking of their findings, the researchers concluded, “Our cellular and molecular studies provide inspiring evidence for extending the clinical evaluation of statins for use in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor-based cancer therapy.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, studies like these provide real hope for extended survival. For information on other resources, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
