Spanish Mesothelioma Study Shows Improved Progression Free Survival

For those diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, an additional few months of feeling good and being able to maintain a normal quality of life is a great gift, and that is what researchers from Madrid’s 12 de Octubre University Hospital are seeing from their testing of a new first-line treatment called ONCOS-102. According to principal investigator Luis G. Paz-Ares, MD, PhD, professor, and chair of the hospital’s Medical Oncology department, “Although the data are preliminary and still maturing, it is encouraging to see signals of numerically improved median PFS in the ONCOS-102-treated group.”

Innovative Mesothelioma Treatment Provides Hope

Though the greatest goal of mesothelioma researchers is to eventually find a cure for the rare and fatal form of cancer, their main focus is to achieve progression free survival and disease control. The clinical trial being conducted in Spain is providing patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma a combination of the ONCOS-102 treatment with the traditional pemetrexed/cisplatin chemotherapy that most mesothelioma patients receive.

In comparing the results achieved when one set of mesothelioma patients were provided chemotherapy and the other group received chemotherapy in combination with ONCOS-102, researchers found that patients receiving the combination treatment achieved progression-free survival nine months later. 

Mesothelioma Patients Stay Healthy Longer and See Immune Activation

The researchers’ study reminded readers of the challenges of both treating mesothelioma and gauging success. They conclude that progression free survival is likely the earliest indicator of clinical effectiveness of their treatment, which is an immune-priming granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor–coding adenovirus. In addition to the treatment’s effectiveness at providing progression free survival, researchers are encouraged by the immune activation seen in those receiving the protocol.

The mesothelioma study has already demonstrated a positive safety profile for ONCOS-102, and has included patients with unresectable, advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma. Though primary focus was first line treatment, patients were enrolled no matter where they were in their mesothelioma journey. 

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, there are numerous clinical trials and treatments available. For information on the many treatment approaches available to you, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net at  1-800-692-8608.

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri