Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, chest, abdomen or heart. It is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos, which was commonly used in many industries, including construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing, until it was banned in the late 1970s. Mesothelioma has a poor prognosis, with a median survival of 12-21 months. However, there are several clinical trials underway that are testing new treatments and therapies for mesothelioma.
Immunotherapy Trials: Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Mesothelioma patients are being enrolled in several clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy drugs. One such drug is pembrolizumab, a checkpoint inhibitor that blocks the PD-1 protein, which cancer cells use to evade the immune system. Another drug, ipilimumab, targets the CTLA-4 protein, which also helps cancer cells evade the immune system. A combination of pembrolizumab and ipilimumab is being tested in a clinical trial to see if it can improve the response rate and survival of mesothelioma patients.
Targeted Therapy Trials: Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that targets specific genes or proteins that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells. Several clinical trials are underway to test targeted therapy drugs in mesothelioma patients. One such drug is bevacizumab, which targets the VEGF protein that helps tumors grow new blood vessels. Another drug, crizotinib, targets the ALK gene, which is mutated in some mesothelioma patients. A combination of bevacizumab and crizotinib is being tested in a clinical trial to see if it can improve the response rate and survival of mesothelioma patients.
Gene Therapy Trials: Gene therapy is a type of treatment that involves altering or replacing genes in order to treat or prevent diseases. Several clinical trials are underway to test gene therapy in mesothelioma patients. One such trial involves injecting a virus that has been modified to carry a gene that kills mesothelioma cells into the pleural cavity of mesothelioma patients. Another trial involves injecting a virus that has been modified to carry a gene that makes mesothelioma cells more susceptible to chemotherapy drugs into the pleural cavity of mesothelioma patients.
Chemotherapy Trials: Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Several clinical trials are underway to test new chemotherapy drugs or combinations of drugs in mesothelioma patients. One such drug is pemetrexed, which is currently the standard chemotherapy drug used to treat mesothelioma. Another drug, cisplatin, is often used in combination with pemetrexed. A clinical trial is currently testing the efficacy of a new chemotherapy drug called TSR-042 in combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin.
Radiation Therapy Trials: Radiation therapy is a type of treatment that uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. Several clinical trials are underway to test new radiation therapy techniques or combinations of radiation therapy with other treatments in mesothelioma patients. One such trial involves using a type of radiation therapy called intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to deliver high doses of radiation to the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. Another trial involves using a combination of radiation therapy and immunotherapy to treat mesothelioma patients.
In conclusion, there are several clinical trials underway to test new treatments and therapies for mesothelioma. These trials are testing a variety of approaches, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, gene therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. While mesothelioma remains a challenging disease to treat, these clinical trials offer hope for improving the outcomes and quality of life of mesothelioma patients. It is important for mesothelioma patients to talk to their doctors about participating in clinical trials and to stay informed about the latest developments in mesothelioma research.
