Recent News
Pembrolizumab in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma
Purpose:This phase II trial studies how well pembrolizumab works in treating patients with malignant mesothelioma, a cancer of the linings around the lungs (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). Monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, work by blocking a protein called programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) which may stimulate an immune response and kill tumor cells.
The Importance of Clinical Trials – Especially for Mesothelioma Victims
A rare and aggressive malignancy, mesothelioma, is cancer affecting the lining that surrounds various organs and cavities within the body. Mesothelioma gets its name from this lining, which is called the…
Dendritic Cells Loaded With Allogeneous Cell Lysate in Mesothelioma Patients (MesoCancerVa)
Purpose:Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive pleural disease, related to asbestos exposure. At present, cytotoxic chemotherapy is the only evidence based treatment for the disease, but efficacy is limited. The investigators have shown both in a murine model, as for the first time in patients, that dendritic cell-based immunotherapy induces tumor specific T-cell responses. However the quality and quantity of the autologous tumor cell lysate to load the dendritic cells was a major impediment for these trials. The investigators have now developed a clinical grade allogeneic tumor cell lysate which can be used to load dendritic cells of patients.
Safety and Efficacy of Oshadi D and Oshadi R for Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment
Purpose:Malignant mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm that arises most commonly from the mesothelial surfaces of the pleural cavity, occasionally from the peritoneal surface, and rarely from the tunica vaginalis or pericardium. It has an extremely poor prognosis with a median survival of 4 to 13 months for untreated patients 1 and 6 to 18 months for treated patients, regardless of the therapeutic approach.
The anticancer activity of Oshadi D and Oshadi R treatment was tested in preclinical studies and in phase I clinical study. Four metastatic mesothelioma patients are treated for 5 to 12 months. The Oshadi D and Oshadi R combination treatment was generally well-tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities observed.
Reduced Immunogenicity Mesothelin-Targeted Immunotoxin LMB-100 in People With Malignant Mesothelioma
Purpose:LMB-100 is a man-made protein. It is attracted to the mesothelin protein. This is found in many tumors, including mesothelioma. But it is found in only a very small number of normal tissues. After binding to mesothelin on tumors, LMB-100 attacks and kills cancer cells. Researchers want to test LMB-100 in people with advanced mesothelioma. The objective is o find a safe dose and anti-tumor activity of LMB-100 for people with advanced mesothelioma.
Intrapleural Measles Virus Therapy in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Purpose: This phase I clinical trial investigates the side effects and the best dose of local (intrapleural measles virus therapy in treating patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The investigators anticipate that the intrapleural of the vaccine strain measles virus will enable the virus to specifically infect and kill cancer cells and spare, without damaging normal cells. Furthermore, the investigators expect the measles virus to trigger an anti-tumor immune response which will result in additional destruction of the tumor by immune cells
Scientists Focus on Enzymes and Proteins to Develop New Treatments
Scientists are continually exploring new opportunities for drugs to combat mesothelioma and recently, scientists have zeroed in on a particular enzyme that is said to be “overexpressed” in pleural mesothelioma.…
Medical Marijuana: A New Treatment for Mesothelioma?
Earlier this month, Ohio legislators approved a bill that would allow patients with malignant mesothelioma to buy and use marijuana for medical purposes – legally. The bill will now move…
Phase II Trial of Alisertib (MLN8237) in Salvage Malignant Mesothelioma
Purpose: The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if alisertib can help to control mesothelioma. The safety of this drug will also be studied. This is an investigational study. Alisertib is not FDA-approved or commercially available. It is currently being used for research purposes only. Alisertib is a drug that targets a protein called aurora A kinase in cancer cells. Aurora kinase is involved in cancer cell growth and by targeting it with an inhibitor like alisertib, researchers think the study drug can lead to cancer cell death. In the laboratory, alisertib was able to cause cancer cell death in several different types of cancer cells. Based on early data reported in the literature and other laboratory studies, aurora kinase is a relevant target in mesothelioma therapy. Alisertib is a novel compound that has a reasonable safety profile and may help this population of patients. The study doctor can explain how the study drug is designed to work.
Up to 58 participants will be enrolled in this study. All will take part at MD Anderson.
New Law Could Ban Asbestos in United States
There have been some exciting new developments with regards to the country’s Chemical Safety Regulations. Asbestos, the known carcinogen once used as a flame retardant and in insulation could possibly…
