When it comes to dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis and its treatment, patients and their physicians are faced with many decisions. Recently, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, through its MesoTV program, interviewed several medical oncologists to discuss their approach to treatment considering the currently available treatment protocols. This panel features Hedy Kindler, MD, a medical oncologist at the University of Chicago Medicine and Sanjay Popat, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist of the The Royal Marsden Hospital. The panel is moderated by Marjorie Zauderer, MD who is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and chair of the board of directors of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. While watching the video, non-medical viewers are encouraged to consult this brief article listing some of the terms used in the video along with their brief definitions.
Expanding Menu of Treatment Options
Until recently, mesothelioma patients had only one FDA-approved treatment available to them. It was a chemotherapy combination of pemetrexed (Alimta)/cisplatin approved in 2004. It took over 16 years (until 2020) for the next approval: an immunotherapy combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab. And with a number of promising clinical trials currently underway, medical oncologists have a host of options available to them when determining the best course of treatment for a patient.
So how do medical oncologists make certain decisions about treatment? Our panelists offer us a unique glimpse into their thought process.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options Discussed
- Front-line chemotherapy (usually pemetrexed with a platinum-based drug)
- New approved front-line combination immunotherapy of nivolumab + ipilimumab
- Combination chemotherapy immunotherapy (clinical trials are underway)
- Combination chemotherapy with bevacizumab, a VEGF inhibitor (large clinical trial showed benefit of the triplet treatment)
- Optune Lua tumor treating fields (phase 2 trial data only)
- Impact, or lack thereof, of PD-1/PD-L1 expression on impact PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors immunotherapy
- Impact of various treatments on tumor depending on histology (epithelial vs. sarcomatoid vs. biphasic)
- Surgery with neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy vs. surgery alone
Sponsors
MesoTV is a program by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. This program is made possible by our generous sponsors: Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC (MRHFM); Belluck & Fox; Bristol Myers Squibb; Novocure; Merck; The Gori Law Firm; Early Lucarelli Sweeney & Meisenkothen.
