During this call, Dr. Alley was interviewed by Mary Hesdorffer, the Meso Foundation’s executive director and experienced nurse practitioner. He discussed his new clinical trial for pleural mesothelioma patients, which is looking into an agent that would inhibit the PD-L1 protein.
PD-L1 is a protein believed to play a role in suppressing the immune system. Generally, it is associated with pregnancy and autoimmune diseases. In cancer, a high tumor expression of PD-L1 is linked with more aggressive disease and a poorer prognosis. Research into PD-L1 inhibitors has already shown much promise in melanoma, renal cell carcinoma and lung cancer, evidencing both tumor shrinkage and durable response, and prompting a number of mesothelioma centers to open trials testing similar agents.
Dr. Alley is part of the Penn Mesothelioma and Pleural Program team and the interim chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
