Mesothelioma researchers have long favored targeted cancer therapies, and this week that approach was supported by the results of a study out of the University of California San Diego. Following the establishment of a multidisciplinary molecular tumor board at the renowned facility, doctors found that those patients who were treated using precision medicine strategies experienced longer periods without disease progression or of overall survival.
Allowing Molecular Tumor Makeup to Guide Treatment Can Benefit Mesothelioma Patients
It is not immediately clear whether there were any mesothelioma patients among the 429 patients evaluated by the Moore’s Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health molecular tumor board. According to lead scientist and senior author of the study Razelle Kurzrock, MD, director of the Center for Personalized Cancer, the study ‘s conclusions were specifically written to address all types of cancer.
The board was created so that physicians treating cancer patients could be advised on precision medicine care options based upon their individual molecular tumor makeup. Their follow-up revealed that 62 percent of patients were provided at least one of the drugs that the board recommended, and twenty percent were provided the exact course of treatment suggested.
Mesothelioma Patients Hope for Similar Positive Results from Personalized Medicine Approach
Mesothelioma physicians have long been working towards providing a tailored approach for their patients. These most recent results, published in the October 2, 2020 online issue of Nature Communications, encourages their previous work.
“Patients who underwent a molecular tumor board-recommended therapy were better matched to genomic alterations in their cancer and had improved outcomes,” said Kurzrock. “The three-year survival for patients with the highest degree of matching and who received a personalized cancer therapy was approximately 55 percent compared to 25 percent in patients who received therapy that was unmatched or had low degrees of matching.” Physicians chose not to follow the tumor board’s recommendation in 38 percent of cases, opting for a traditional approach instead. Their patients suffered for it, experiencing lower overall survival rates and shorter periods of progression-free survival.
By working with physicians with expertise in personalized medicine, mesothelioma patients can experience better outcomes. For information on where to find these practitioners, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
