New Drug Combination Shows Promise for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston have uncovered a new, promising treatment option for patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, potentially filling a gaping void that exists today. The immunotherapy drug combination of Tecentriq and Avastin, known generically as atezolizumab and bevacizumab, respectively, showed unusual efficacy in a recent study of 20 patients with this rare cancer. Although some patients have previously found significant success and extended survival with the cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy combination, or HIPEC, those with unresectable disease have been left with no good options. Until now, possibly. The unique synergy between the study’s two drugs produced a safe and durable response with mesothelioma patients regardless of tumor mutational burden or biomarkers previously thought to predict effectiveness. Cancer Discovery published the study July 14. “The combination of bevacizumab and atezolizumab showed promising tumor shrinkage,” MD Anderson Cancer Center oncologist and lead study author Dr. Kanwal Raghav told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “This combination is a very good and reliable second-line option for patients.” Efficacy of Drug Combination Impresses Researchers According to the study, all participants started second-line treatment after experiencing disease progression following earlier standard chemotherapy, the aggressive surgical procedure or both...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news