|

Recent Advances in Immunotherapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink
Recent Advances in Immunotherapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is rare and often has a poor outlook in cancer treatment. Immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, has brought hope. It shows potential for better outcomes in mesothelioma patients.

A new article in Open Respiratory Archives provides a history of recent advances in immunotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients.

Understanding Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma starts in pleural cavity cells and comes from asbestos exposure. It has three types: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, or biphasic. They show its diversity and complexity. Treatments may use the immune system or genetic information to help boost effectiveness.

Immunotherapies are used to treat mesothelioma cancer. Immunotherapy is also referred to as biological therapy, and utilizes the patient’s immune system to treat mesothelioma. These treatments typically attempt to stimulate an immune response in the patient’s body to fight the cancer. Several of these approaches have been tried in treating mesothelioma.

Checkpoint inhibitors are changing cancer treatment. Checkpoint inhibitors use the immune system against cancer. For mesothelioma, trials with PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors are promising. Nivolumab and ipilimumab, when combined, boost survival. This is good news for advanced mesothelioma patients.

New technology has also revealed the complex genes behind mesothelioma. This knowledge helps identify possible treatments. Mutations in CDKN2A, NF2, and BAP1 guide research and lead to advanced treatments. Knowing these genetic details is crucial for tailoring therapies to mesothelioma patients.

Unveiling Molecular Insights

Mesothelioma is challenging, but immunotherapy has made a big difference and is boosting survival. Yet, more research is needed to find markers and resistance factors. This research will also optimize treatments for patients. Teamwork and research are key to a better future for mesothelioma patients.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a tough cancer. However, immunotherapy offers new hope. We’re discovering more about the disease’s molecules. We’re also learning to use the immune system better. This progress allows for customized treatments. Our dedication and teamwork will open up new ways to beat this cancer.

Source:

López-Castro, Rafael, Álvaro Fuentes-Martín, Andrea Medina del Valle, Tania García Peña, José Soro García, Leticia López González, and Ángel Cilleruelo Ramos. “Advances in Immunotherapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: From Emerging Strategies to Translational Insights.” Open Respiratory Archives 6, no. 3 (July 1, 2024): 100323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.opresp.2024.100323.

 

Similar Posts

  • | |

    Mesothelioma Study Finds New Treatment Target

    ByAlex Strauss

    Immunotherapy, which involves reprogramming T-cells to find and attack cancer cells, is one of the fastest-growing areas of cancer research. One of the biggest challenges of immunotherapy is how to harness the power of T-cells against cancer without also turning them against healthy cells. A new study conducted in Switzerland and published in the Journal of Translational Medicine addressed the problem by reprogramming T-cells to recognize and attack mesothelioma cells that express a specific protein. Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) is expressed on the surface of tumor-associated fibroblast cells which are found in the connective tissue of mesothelioma tumors. FAP is also found in mesothelioma cells and may play a role in the start of cancer, as well as the growth…

  • | |

    Macrophages May Hold Key to Fighting Mesothelioma

    ByAlex Strauss

    Researchers in Western Australia are investigating new ways of bolstering the immune system in an effort to fight cancers like mesothelioma. Like most types of cancer, malignant mesothelioma occurs primarily in people over 65. That is also the time in life when the immune system typically weakens. Researchers from Curtin University and the University of Western Australia say it is no coincidence that people become more susceptible to mesothelioma as their immunity wanes. In addition to age-related immune dysfunction, mesothelioma patients experience a further decline in immunity caused by the growing tumor itself. To better understand the connection between declining immunity and the onset of mesothelioma, the researchers are focusing on a particular type of immune system cell called a macrophage….

  • |

    Mesothelioma Symptoms May Benefit from Tuberculosis Drugs

    ByAlex Strauss

    Pleural effusion is the one of most uncomfortable and life-limiting symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. The buildup of fluid in the pleural space around the lungs, which can happen in late stage mesothelioma as well as several other types of cancer, limits breathing and can be painful. Effusion is often one of the primary reasons that mesothelioma patients in the late stages of the disease have trouble taking a full breath and complain of chest pain and fatigue. While pleural fluid can be drained off through thoracentesis or chemically absorbed through pleurodesis, these treatments are painful, risky, and not always effective. Now, a team of researchers in China say they may have discovered a non-invasive method for dealing with pleural effusion caused…

  • |

    Asbestos Mesothelioma Risk Increased By Other Fibers

    ByAlex Strauss

    Asbestos is a fibrous mineral mined and used for decades in products ranging from insulation to cement, floor and ceiling tiles, adhesives, and friction products. It has been more than forty years since scientists confirmed the link between asbestos and malignant pleural mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining around the lungs and its use is now heavily regulated in the U.S. In recent years, another mineral called erionite, has also been implicated in mesothelioma cases. Now, a study conducted in France suggests that two other types of mineral particles used in industry may increase the risk of mesothelioma, particularly in people who are also exposed to asbestos. Researchers in Bordeaux, France compared the cases of 1,199 male industrial workers with…

  • |

    Localized Mesothelioma May Provide Longer Survival

    ByAlex Strauss

    Patients with a rare, localized form of pleural mesothelioma may have a better survival outlook than patients with the more common, diffuse variety. That conclusion comes from a team of thoracic surgeons at Cambridge University. Their goal was to determine what, if any, difference in survival could be expected between people with localized malignant mesothelioma (LMM) of the pleura and those with standard pleural mesothelioma. Most pleural mesothelioma patients have a type of cancer that tends to spread quickly in a sheet across the thin membrane that surrounds the lungs. While patients with LMM have identical mesothelioma cells, from a histological perspective, the growth pattern exhibited by these cells is distinctly different. Instead of spreading across the mesothelium, LMM presents as…

  • |

    Pleurodesis for Mesothelioma: Hard to Predict Success

    ByAlex Strauss

    Pleurodesis is a procedure often used to help relieve some of the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, but there is still no way to predict how effective it will be in any individual patient. That is the conclusion of Australian researchers who performed a retrospective study on 390 mesothelioma patients enrolled in the Western Australian Mesothelioma Registry over 5 years. Just over 42% of those patients underwent pleurodesis. The procedure is used to reduce pleural effusions, the buildup of fluid between the layers of lung lining that can cause shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain. Pleurodesis for mesothelioma can be performed either surgically or chemically. Surgical pleurodesis involves mechanically irritating the parietal pleura, causing it to swell and adhere to the visceral…