Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer mainly caused by asbestos exposure. One treatment that is giving hope to patients and caregivers is the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. A new study from Australia has raised questions about the effectiveness and safety of this novel treatment. In order to best care for patients, caregivers need to understand the details of immunotherapy and its impact on the body. A new article from the Journal of Thoracic Oncology shows the real-world results from Australia on immunotherapy for mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma treatment has changed due to the approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors like ipilimumab and nivolumab. Clinical trials show promise, but real world-evidence is more complex. Evidence from real world uses of immune checkpoint inhibitors highlight high drug discontinuation rates, serious side effects, and the need for more treatments. It is crucial to carefully consider the benefits and the risks of treatment for each individual patient. One important factor in the response to immunotherapy is the histological subtype of mesothelioma. Patients with some subtypes benefit but others face severe side effects with no clear benefit. People with the epithelioid subtype often experience adverse events with no survival benefits. Non-epithelioid patients meanwhile may see some improvement. More research is needed to compare these differences and to identify who best fits as an immunotherapy patient.
Patients or caregivers should discuss immunotherapy’s risks and benefits with healthcare providers. Not everyone is able to take immune checkpoint inhibitors, despite their benefit to some patients. There are different factors that affect whether someone should take immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment including health, goals, and cancer type. Newer clinical trials are now checking for the safety and effectiveness of immunotherapies in various patient groups. The goal of these clinical trials is to show how best to use immunotherapy for mesothelioma.
Treatment for mesothelioma is very complex, especially when it involves immunotherapy. Staying informed, asking questions, and working closely with doctors can help patients and their caregivers to make the right treatment decisions. The decisions should focus on the patient’s health. The future is uncertain for the treatment of mesothelioma, but different research approaches are showing promise for the treatment of mesothelioma and are improving outcomes for patients globally.
Clinical trials are an important part of the cancer treatment process. Without clinical trials, we would not have the treatments that we have today in the fight against cancer.
