Pleural Mesothelioma

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Does not Improve Survivability in Pleural Mesothelioma Patients

April 21, 2020
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Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is typically used to shrink tumors before surgery to make it easier to remove them. It has been thought that the combination of drugs and surgery can help patients survive longer, but a study at Duke has found that it does not increase survival in pleural mesothelioma patients. The study is showing that…

Direct Injection of Poly-ICLC (Hiltonol®) Vaccine In Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

April 17, 2020
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The purpose of this study is to offer a novel cancer vaccine called poly-ICLC (Hiltonol®) for subjects with malignant pleural mesothelioma by directly injecting the vaccine into the tumor.

Nivolumab to Help Treat Mesothelioma

April 8, 2020
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A new study found that the PD-L1 inhibitor nivolumab is effective in mesothelioma. It was tested on patients and showed that it could be a safe and effective treatment for those whose first line treatments have failed. Nivolumab is an immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system fight cancer cells. This specific drug, which is…

Nivolumab and Ipilimumab +/- UV1 Vaccination as Second Line Treatment in Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma (NIPU)

March 13, 2020
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The objective of the study is to induce a meaningful progression-free survival benefit in patients with Malign Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) after progression on first line standard platinum doublet chemotherapy, by treating with nivolumab and ipilimumab with or without UV1 vaccine.

Doctors Will Soon be Able to Test if Surgery is Safe for Mesothelioma Patients

March 6, 2020
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Doctors could soon know if surgery is the best option for mesothelioma patients. Surgery is one of the most effective ways to improve patients’ lives. The problem is that undergoing surgery is very stressful on people’s bodies, especially when they have cancer. It is better to know if surgery can be done before operating on…

Pembrolizumab Plus Lenvatinib In Second Line and Third Line Malignant Pleural mesotheLioma Patients (PEMMELA)

February 28, 2020
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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.

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

January 24, 2020
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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

January 17, 2020
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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 lungs. A common and uncomfortable…

Shorter Survival for Mesothelioma Patients Linked to Specific Biomarker

January 10, 2020
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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 can help show doctors what…

Upcoming Mesothelioma Events in 2020

December 27, 2019
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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 Practice and Future Direction This…