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The Evolving Therapeutic Landscape for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

  • Lung Cancer (H Borghaei, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

For patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, prognosis is poor with extremely low 5-year survival rates and limited therapeutic options. Here, we review the current treatment landscape for mesothelioma and highlight promising future therapeutic directions.

Recent Findings

Evolving frontline therapeutic options for mesothelioma include VEGF inhibition in combination with chemotherapy and dual immune checkpoint inhibition, with synergisms between the therapies and response prediction via biomarkers also being explored. Evolving experimental treatments for mesothelioma include PARP and ALK inhibitors, dendritic and CAR T-cell therapies, anti-mesothelin vaccines, and oncolytic viral therapies, representing timely advances in the field.

Summary

The therapeutic landscape for malignant pleural mesothelioma is evolving and preferred treatment in the frontline and later settings will likely evolve with it. However, this does not preclude the evidence for including multi-modal therapies spanning angiogenesis and immune checkpoint inhibitors, and biomarker utilization, in current clinical trials and management.

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  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Nirosha D. Perera

  2. Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Aaron S. Mansfield

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Nirosha D. Perera declares no conflict of interest. A.S.Mansfield reports grants and other support from the NCI, DoD, the Mark Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, and Verily; other support to his institution from Rising Tide, TRIPTYCH Health Partners Expert Think Tank, Janssen, BeiGene, Chugai Pharmaceutical (Roche), Ideology Health, Miami Int’l Mesothelioma Symposium Presenter, AXIS Medical Education CME Presentation, Johnson & Johnson Global Services, Intellisphere CME Presentation, Answers In CME, Roche, AbbVie Advisory Board, AstraZeneca Advisory Board, Bristol-Myers Squibb Advisory Board; personal fees from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Kanker Instituutt–CME Presenter; and Genentech/Roche Advisory Board outside the submitted work; and is a Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation–Non-remunerated Director.

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Perera, N.D., Mansfield, A.S. The Evolving Therapeutic Landscape for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Curr Oncol Rep 24, 1413–1423 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-022-01302-3

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