New Mesothelioma Immunogene Clinical Trial Set to Launch

For more than a decade, pulmonologist Dr. Dan Sterman has believed immunotherapy would become the catalyst for major advancements in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Today, he is closer than ever to proving that point. Sterman, director of pulmonary medicine at New York University, soon will help launch a multicenter clinical trial involving a powerful immunogene therapy combination that may change the way this deadly asbestos-related cancer is viewed. “I believe that immunotherapy will become the fourth pillar of treatment for mesothelioma (joining chemotherapy, radiation and surgery),” Sterman told Asbestos.com. “It won’t be one immunotherapy drug, but a cocktail of drugs that together will help turn mesothelioma into a chronic disease that people can live with for a long time.” Pleural mesothelioma typically comes with a prognosis of a six- to 15-month life expectancy, even with a multidisciplinary approach. Immunotherapy involves sparking a patient’s own immune system to fight the cancer. Sterman is not predicting a cure, but an ability to provide long-term control where patients can extend their lives and maintain a good quality of life for many years. A recent, smaller study of 40 patients with unresectable pleural mesothelioma performed in medical centers at New York University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Maryland initiated the upcoming trial. All three centers have mesothelioma-specific programs. Most...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Research & Clinical Trials Source Type: news