New Immunotherapy Clinical Trial Targets Common Mesothelioma Protein

A biotechnology company specializing in innovative cancer therapeutics has opened a clinical trial examining an immunotherapy drug targeting a protein found in 90 percent of malignant mesothelioma tumors. It is the first clinical trial to specifically study a patient population characterized by this protein expression. The target is known as VISTA, a surface protein which inhibits the immune system from working properly and allows the mesothelioma to grow. The drug is CA-170, an orally available molecule and the only anti-VISTA drug being studied today in a cancer clinical trial. And the potential could be huge. “The hope is that by inhibiting VISTA — which is very prominent in mesothelioma — it would inhibit the cancer growth and allow the immune system to attack the cancer better,” Dr. Robert Martell, head of Research and Development at Curis Inc., told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “The goal is that patients will be able to control this cancer.” Mesothelioma Cohort Part of Larger Study A larger study of CA-170 — looking at other advanced solid tumors and lymphomas — has been active since 2016, but the drug targets a different protein. A mesothelioma cohort within the larger study was added only recently. The first patient enrolled earlier this year. “What we’ve seen so far [with the other cancers] is excellent safety. The drug is well tolerated, with no significant toxicity,” Martell said. “We’ve also seen clear signs of tumor shrinkage...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news