The International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig) biannual meeting kicked off in earnest today with its 2021 virtual program. The conference was initially slated to take place in 2020 in Brisbane, Australia, however the Covid pandemic forced the organizers to postpone the meeting.
The iMig meeting is a unique scientific meeting in that it focuses solely on mesothelioma, and covers all aspects of mesothelioma research regardless of the focused discipline of participants. Sessions feature basic scientists who study biomarkers and molecular processes, but also pathologists, oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, nurses, and representatives from nonprofit organizations such as the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation or MesoUK.
Today’s meeting actually opened up with pre-conference workshops last week.
The future of mesothelioma
The session, “The Future of Mesothelioma: What Might the Next Decade Look Like for our Patients” featured Dr. Bruce Robinson from the University of Western Australia, Dr. Michele Carbone from the University of Hawaii, Dr. Melvin Chin of NCARD (Australian National Center for Asbestos-Related Diseases), and Dr. Dean Fennell of the University of Leicester.
Dr. Fennell discussed genomic drivers of mesothelioma and the potential in the future to create therapies that target certain genetic mutations in mesothelioma patients. He detailed studies that have already seen promise in this area.
Dr. Carbone discussed the role of the BAP1 gene mutation in mesothelioma development and prognosis of patients with this characteristic. He also listed several clinical trials that will continue exploring this area.
Dr. Robinson’s presentation focused on the role of immunotherapy in how mesotheliomas are treated in the future. He believes that in the future, immunogenic chemotherapies will have a prominent role in treatment. This is a concept built on using chemotherapy to expose certain immune targets which then can be attacked by the immune system. (Put simply, chemotherapy, in the process of killing tumor cells, causes them to release certain protein biproducts. Those proteins are then recognized by the immune system and attacked). Radiation therapy may also provide a similar pathway for accelerating the immune response, although research into that is in the early stages.
“When you think of the future of mesothelioma immunotherapy, I think it’s about reducing guesswork,” said Dr. Robinson in his presentation.
“We have the tools now, very sophisticated immunotherapy tools just developed in the last few years,” he added.
Dr. Robinson concluded his presentation by emphasizing an area gaining consensus among mesothelioma experts – like many of his colleagues, he sees the future of mesothelioma therapy, including immunotherapy, tied to the patients’ specific genomic characteristics.
Nursing Workshop
A second pre-conference workshop was the “ITONF at iMig 2021 Nursing Workshop.” While medical and scientific sessions tend to focus on the mesothelioma tumor and the impact of treatments on the tumor, the nursing session covers research into the patient experience as a whole, with a focus on quality of life and patient care.
Melissa Culligan of the University of Maryland kicked off the session with a literature review of recent studies. She then profiled the mesothelioma nursing programs around the world, including the one at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.
Buerkley Rose of the University of Chicago discussed “The Clinical Trial Landscape of Mesothelioma.” She began her presentation by acknowledging the significant impacts of Covid on clinical trials. The include delays in surgeries and other treatments, travel restrictions making it more difficult for patients to participate in clinical trials, and clinical trial pauses to conserve resources. Despite these challenges, since January 1, 2020, 26 new clinical trials specific to mesothelioma have opened.
Stay tuned for more recaps from iMig on curemeso.org. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to stay informed.
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to eradicate mesothelioma and end this national tragedy. Its programs include the funding of promising and peer-reviewed research, education, support, and advocacy. The organization strives to bring together thought leaders in the field to identify the most direct path to a cure.
