Mesothelioma researchers continue to search for the best approach to the rare, asbestos-related disease. A recent report indicated that immune checkpoint inhibitors can have a positive impact when administered with chemotherapy prior to surgery.
Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy Useful in Mesothelioma Treatment
Speaking at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer World Conference on Lung Cancer, Dr. Anne Tsao of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center shared the results of her study of mesothelioma patients treated pre-surgically with immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy.
Taking advantage of the immune checkpoint inhibitors’ ability to stop mesothelioma cells from producing a protective protein, she and her colleagues treated 24 pleural mesothelioma patients with at least two cycles of both Tencentriq and the standard chemotherapy treatment prior to their planned surgeries.
Mesothelioma Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor and Chemotherapy Before Surgery
The study, conducted between 2017 and 2020, included pleural mesothelioma patients slated for either pleurectomy with decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy surgeries. Eighteen of the participants responded positively, with no progression of their tumors, and proceeded with the planned procedure. After, fifteen of them continued taking the immune checkpoint inhibitor to continue providing protection against the cancer’s return.
According to Dr. Tsao, patients had minimal adverse effects or complications from the use of Tencentriq, and those who had the treatment and surgery demonstrated a median progression-free survival well past the average expected for those with the rare asbestos-related disease. Still, speaking of their outcome, Dr. Tsao pointed to the challenges presented by mesothelioma, saying, “We need to conduct more research with window-of-opportunity studies to identify biomarkers predictive of benefits to these different treatments we give our patients.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, staying current on medical research is a challenge. For help finding the best resources for your situation, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
