Results from a phase 3 clinical trial were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showing that a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy for mesothelioma improves patients’ survival more than chemotherapy alone. Researchers combined Keytruda, or pembrolizumab, with platinum and pemetrexed chemotherapy. The overall response rate for patients receiving[…]
New Study
A Breath Test Could Soon be Available to Detect Mesothelioma
Researchers are trying to determine if a breath test can detect malignant pleural mesothelioma in patients exposed to asbestos. Early results are promising, but more research is needed to see what can be done for patients. The study, which is known as MESOBREATH 5, uses a test to detect volatile[…]
Extended Pleurectomy and Decortication Surgery Worse than Just Receiving Chemotherapy
Extended pleurectomy decortication surgery combined with chemotherapy is associated with worse outcomes compared to just chemotherapy alone. Researchers looked at extended pleurectomy and decortication surgery alongside chemotherapy and found that there are worse survival outcomes, a higher chance of serious adverse events, and a diminished quality of life compared to[…]
Orphan Drug Status Given to New Treatment for Mesothelioma
A new treatment for mesothelioma was recently given orphan drug status by the United States FDA. The company given orphan drug status is known as Avenge Bio, which is a biotechnology company working to create a new immunotherapy treatment regimen. It announced that it was given orphan drug status back[…]
Biomarkers Could be Used to Monitor Mesothelioma Patients
Researchers from Türkiye believe that biomarkers in the blood can help determine if patients are responding well to their treatment. Biomarkers are molecules that can let doctors know what is happening in the body. Even a small number of biomarkers could potentially help point doctors to progress being made in[…]
Marine Bacteria Could Potentially Detoxify Asbestos
There may be a new way to detoxify asbestos. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Earth and Environmental Science are using bacteria from extreme marine environments. They are using a technique called bioremediation, which is a form of biotechnology that uses living organisms to remove toxins or contaminants[…]
CRS-HIPEC for the Treatment of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Researchers are studying the effectiveness of a multimodal treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma. The therapy involves cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, or CRS-HIPEC. Peritoneal mesothelioma is cancer of the abdominal lining. It is caused by inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers that travel to the lining of the abdomen. Over time,[…]
Galinpepimut-S and Nivolumab are Effective and Safe for Mesothelioma
The combination of galinpepimut-S and nivolumab is showing promising results for mesothelioma. The study looked at patients who were refractory or relapsed after at least one standard treatment. The combination met safety and efficacy standards for treatment, leading to a completed phase one trial. The median overall survival, which was[…]
Why Patients Quit PIPAC for Mesothelioma
PIPAC, or pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy, is showing promising results for mesothelioma, but patients don’t finish all their sessions. This is a problem because the patients then limit the effectiveness of their treatment. Researchers in France decided to figure out why patients are quitting their treatments early. Mesothelioma is a[…]
Increased Doses of Radiation Improve Survival in Mesothelioma Patients
Researchers are trying to find out if increasing the dose of radiation can improve survival in mesothelioma patients. Radiation is typically seen as a secondary treatment after the combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. Some doctors do not believe it is a valid treatment for mesothelioma patients because it can[…]
