Tag Archives: immunotherapy

The Power of Immunotherapy: T Cells and Mesothelioma Treatment

The Power of Immunotherapy: T Cells and Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma patients with more immune cells called CD8+ T cells might respond better to immunotherapy. This is the finding of a team of scientists from Japan. Their study was published in the scientific journal Thoracic Cancer. Typical Treatment Plan Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is both rare and aggressive. It grows in the cells lining the surface of organs like the lungs. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to a toxic mineral called asbestos. Because it is rare and grows quickly, mesothelioma can be hard for doctors to diagnose and treat. A patient usually needs to have many tests before a doctor can diagnose them with mesothelioma. This can include imaging scans, blood tests, and biopsies. Once mesothelioma has … Continue reading The Power of Immunotherapy: T Cells and Mesothelioma Treatment »

Treating Relapsed Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Treating Relapsed Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Researchers from China explored whether immunotherapy or chemotherapy was a better option as a second-line treatment for relapsed malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). There is currently no standard of care for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) that comes back after initial treatment. Because of this, it can be hard for doctors to make good care decisions for MPM patients who relapse. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma MPM is a rare but serious cancer that grows on the lining of the lungs. It is caused by exposure to a toxic substance called asbestos. A healthy pleura is thin and flexible and expands to accommodate the lungs during respiration. In a person with mesothelioma, this membrane becomes thick and stiff, constricting the lungs and causing shortness … Continue reading Treating Relapsed Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma »

Mesothelioma Response to Immunotherapy

Mesothelioma Response to Immunotherapy

A new study published in Frontiers in Immunology shows that doctors may be able to tell which patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma will respond better to immunotherapy. If doctors can tell which patients will benefit from immunotherapy, they can create better treatment plans for this aggressive type of cancer. Treatment Options Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs. It is caused by asbestos and is tough to treat. MPM is a rare cancer, and the standard therapies are limited. This usually involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Mesothelioma patients can move from one type of treatment to another and, if their doctors agree, can sometimes use them in combination. Even with treatment, the … Continue reading Mesothelioma Response to Immunotherapy »

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors to Treat Mesothelioma

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors to Treat Mesothelioma

A new study supports the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. The study authors caution that immune checkpoint inhibitors should be used carefully because they can be an expensive treatment. Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. It develops from cells of the mesothelium, the lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year. Since mesothelioma is so rare, standard treatment options are limited. Standard therapies include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. If more than one of these therapies is used, it may be called multimodal therapy. Immunotherapy has emerged in … Continue reading Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors to Treat Mesothelioma »

Immunotherapy as Effective Second-Line Treatment for Mesothelioma

Effective Second-Line Treatment for Mesothelioma

A study from Taiwan has identified an effective second-line treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma. When a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma and begins treatment, the first treatment is called the “first-line treatment.” If that treatment does not work or stops working, a “second-line treatment” is given to the patient. For mesothelioma, treatment usually consists of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The exact treatment plan will depend on many factors. Doctors will consider the type of mesothelioma, the condition of the patient, and how much the cancer has spread. A common first-line treatment for mesothelioma patients is chemotherapy with drugs called pemetrexed and cisplatin. When this treatment works properly, it stops cancer cells from growing and multiplying. It is for patients whose … Continue reading Immunotherapy as Effective Second-Line Treatment for Mesothelioma »

Cost Comparison of Immunotherapy vs. Traditional Chemotherapy in Mesothelioma

Cost Comparison of Immunotherapy vs. Traditional Chemotherapy in Mesothelioma

A new study does a cost comparison of immunotherapy over traditional chemotherapy. Immunotherapy and chemotherapy are common in the first-line treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. The news came from Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology. Traditional Chemotherapy In 2004, the FDA approved pemetrexed for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pemetrexed is often taken together with cisplatin. It is for patients whose disease is either inoperable or who are not candidates for surgery. Pemetrexed + cisplatin/carboplatin are chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy is a group of toxic drugs that kill cells by damaging their DNA. They target both cancerous and healthy cells. Patients with this chemo regimen also take folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements. This helps to reduce side effects from the … Continue reading Cost Comparison of Immunotherapy vs. Traditional Chemotherapy in Mesothelioma »

10 New Clinical Practice Guidelines on Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma

10 New Clinical Practice Guidelines on Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) organized a multidisciplinary panel of experts to develop new clinical practice guidelines on the use of immunotherapy in mesothelioma treatment. Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment. It uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapy has changed lung cancer care in recent years. It can help some patients survive longer. There is a new type of immune treatment called Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). ICI’s are used to treat patients with mesothelioma. The use of ICIs to treat mesothelioma tumors has quickly become part of clinical practice. Immune checkpoint inhibitors block mesothelioma’s natural resistance to immune system Challenges remain on how to identify patients who might benefit from ICIs. A panel of … Continue reading 10 New Clinical Practice Guidelines on Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma »

A Bright Future for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Mesothelioma Treatment

A Bright Future for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Mesothelioma Treatment

A new report shows that immune checkpoint inhibitors can be a practical and rational therapeutic approach to treating mesothelioma patients. The use of ICIs to treat human tumors has quickly become part of clinical practice. Immune checkpoint inhibitors block mesothelioma’s natural resistance to immune system attack. They are among the most promising approaches to combating this intractable cancer. Researchers from the Cellular and Molecular Research Center report the use of ICIs in tumor immunotherapy. What is Tumor Immunotherapy? Malignant mesothelioma is a frustrating disease for patients and doctors. Conventional cancer treatments often do not work. If cancer recurs, doctors can try other approved treatments, even if they are not part of the official treatment guidelines. Immunotherapy is also referred to … Continue reading A Bright Future for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Mesothelioma Treatment »

Adoptive Cell Therapy and Interventional Oncology in Mesothelioma

Adoptive Cell Therapy in Mesothelioma

New data suggests that adoptive cell therapy is a powerful, targeted way to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a deadly cancer of the lining around the lungs. It is caused by asbestos exposure and is notoriously difficult to treat. Now, a new study suggests that cell therapy may help mesothelioma drug treatments work even better. What is Adoptive Cell Therapy? Adoptive cell therapy is a form of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy treatments harness the immune system to help fight cancer. Immunotherapy works alone or in combination with other treatments like chemotherapy or surgery. Many researchers and doctors believe that immunotherapy is the future of mesothelioma treatment. This therapy is a more targeted way to deliver these cancer-fighting drugs. It does … Continue reading Adoptive Cell Therapy and Interventional Oncology in Mesothelioma »

First-Line Chemotherapy versus Immunotherapy versus Maintenance Therapy

Chemotherapy versus Immunotherapy versus Maintenance Therapy

A recent study compared mesothelioma patients’ survival by physician’s choice of treatment. Is first-line chemotherapy the best choice? Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects older adults. Mesothelioma patients often have other comorbidities making real-world treatment decisions challenging. The first was by choice of first-line chemotherapy. The second was the physician’s choice of second-line chemotherapy versus immunotherapy. And the third was by the physician’s choice of use of maintenance therapy. Physician’s Choice of First-Line Chemotherapy Drugs This is the largest real-world study of U.S. patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. Scientists analyzed physicians’ choice of first-line chemotherapy, second-line therapy, and maintenance therapy. In the first-line chemotherapy analysis, there was no significant difference in patient survival. As of this writing, the only … Continue reading First-Line Chemotherapy versus Immunotherapy versus Maintenance Therapy »