There is no standard second line treatment in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Pembrolizumab has shown to be active in in small phase II studies in MPM. Its activity however, is limited, with a response rate up to 20%. So, there is a need for new treatment combinations with drugs that might exhibit a synergistic interaction with pembrolizumab.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Heated Intra-peritoneal Chemotherapy With Doxorubicin and Cisplatin for the Treatment of Resectable, Refractory, or Recurrent Abdominal or Pelvic Tumors in Pediatric Patients, T.O.A.S.T. I.T. Study
This early phase I trial studies how well heated intra-peritoneal chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cisplatin work for the treatment of abdominal or pelvic tumors that can be removed by surgery (resectable), does not respond to treatment (refractory), or has come back (recurrent). Heated intra-peritoneal chemotherapy is a procedure performed in combination with abdominal surgery for cancer that has spread to the abdomen. It involves the infusion of a heated chemotherapy solution that circulates into the abdominal cavity. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Heating a chemotherapy solution and infusing it directly into the abdomen may kill more cells.
Pain Shows the Success or Failure of a Pleurodesis
Mesothelioma is a painful cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. Patients who are diagnosed must live with multiple uncomfortable symptoms, but thankfully there are some treatments available to help improve a patient’s quality of life. One of these procedures is a pleurodesis, which helps to drain fluid surrounding the[…]
Shorter Survival for Mesothelioma Patients Linked to Specific Biomarker
Mesothelioma is a very aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. When diagnosed, patients can sometimes be given just a few months to live. Doctors and researchers are continuing to find treatment options to help cure, extend, or at least make patients’ lives better. Some researchers are looking at biomarkers, which[…]
Upcoming Mesothelioma Events in 2020
If you are interested in learning more about mesothelioma, we have a curated list of different events coming up in 2020. If you live near or are able to travel to these events, they can help you and your loved ones understand the disease better. Mayo Clinic Radiation Oncology: Current[…]
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy vs Pleurectomy and Decortication
There are different procedures to help those suffering from mesothelioma, including the extrapleural pneumonectomy and the combination of pleurectomy and decortication. Both procedures have their benefits and drawbacks, but doctors have not tested to see which procedure has a better outcome for patients. Both surgeries remove tumors from the patients’[…]
Pembrolizumab and Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MESO-PRIME)
This is a multi-centre non-randomised open-label phase 1 trial of pembrolizumab given in combination with SBRT to part of a pleural-based lesion in patients with unresectable MPM. This study will recruit up to 18 patients whose MPM has progressed beyond first-line of palliative chemotherapy, with a platinum-based doublet, and now requires further palliative systemic treatment, or have declined first-line palliative chemotherapy, however must have been considered suitable for a platinum doublet chemotherapy.
A Study of Nivolumab and Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery for Mesothelioma
This study will test whether giving nivolumab in combination with pemetrexed and either cisplatin or carboplatin before surgery is a safe and effective approach to treating resectable mesothelioma without delaying surgery.
Mesothelioma Early Detection by VOCs (MED-VOC)
This is a two phase study, The first phase (phase 1) will identify potential biomarkers among asbestos exposed individuals with pleural mesothelioma. The second phase (phase 2), is a double blinded case-matched controlled study to determine the predictive capability, sensitivity, and specificity of these biomarkers in detecting early stage pleural mesothelioma. Biomarkers in the form of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in exhaled breath samples from subjects with either pleural mesothelioma or pleural plaques, will be evaluated. A biomarker present in serum will also be concurrently evaluated in the same cohort. The soluble serum biomarker mesothelin related peptides (SMRP), which has been posited as a biomarker for mesothelioma, will be analyzed for its relationship to the breath VOC profile.
First FDA Approved Mesothelioma Treatment in 15 Years to be Used Soon
A new cancer treatment using electricity has been approved for use in mesothelioma patients. The NovoTTF-100L uses Tumor Treating Fields, which are electric signals tuned to a specific frequency, to disrupt cancerous cell division. The fields are applied to the patient with adhesive bandages and are used for at least[…]