Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure, presents significant treatment challenges. The disease, often diagnosed at an advanced stage, has historically been treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Standard chemotherapy regimens, typically involving cisplatin and pemetrexed, aim to control tumor growth and alleviate symptoms. Surgery, such as pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy, may be considered for early-stage disease to remove affected tissues and improve patient quality of life.

Recent advances have been made through clinical trials, providing new hope for mesothelioma patients. Notably, the CheckMate 743 trial has been a landmark study in the treatment of mesothelioma. This trial evaluated the efficacy of nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting PD-1, in combination with ipilimumab, a CTLA-4 inhibitor, compared to standard chemotherapy. Results showed that the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. This breakthrough underscores the growing role of immunotherapy in enhancing treatment outcomes for this challenging cancer.

Building on these advancements, the Evolve Meso clinical trial, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Papadatos-Pastos at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), is exploring novel treatment combinations.