Latest Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Opens at Memorial Sloan Kettering

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City has opened its latest clinical trial for patients with pleural mesothelioma, studying the effectiveness of an immunotherapy and chemotherapy combination prior to aggressive surgery. The novel feasibility study will determine if the use of Opdivo (nivolumab) with Alimta (pemetrexed) and either cisplatin or carboplatin — without delaying scheduled surgery — can significantly extend patient survival time. The hope is to duplicate earlier effectiveness of that same combination with other cancers. “It has been tried with promising results,” Memorial Sloan Kettering thoracic surgeon Dr. Prasad Adusumilli told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “Let’s wait and see what we learn here, but perhaps with this, we can prolong survival beyond standard treatment.” Adusumilli Leads Mesothelioma Program Patients selected for the study will undergo two cycles of the Opdivo and chemotherapy combination prior to the extensive pleurectomy and decortication surgery. The initial outcome measure will be the number of patients progressing to surgery within 30 days of the originally planned operation. Failure will be a toxicity-induced delay of surgery for more than 30 days. Either Adusumilli or Dr. Valerie Rusch likely will be the primary surgeon involved in the study. The Cancer Center is expecting 35 patients in the clinical trial and an estimated completion by November of 2022. Adusumilli is co-director of the mesotheli...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news