Mesothelioma News: Immunogene Therapy Clinical Trials
Posted on Tuesday, November 1st, 2016 at 9:45 am
Mesothelioma News: Immunogene Therapy Clinical Trials – March 2016
Immunotherapy is likely to be the fourth pillar of mesothelioma treatment after chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, according to Dr. Sterman. Dr. Sterman, the director of Pulmonary Medicine at New York University, will soon launch a multicenter clinical trial which involves a powerful immunogene therapy combination. It is anticipated that this immunogene therapy will change the view of mesothelioma.
The immunogene therapy will be a cocktail of drugs. It will turn mesothelioma into a chronic disease that people can live with for many years. The immunogene targets malignant pleural mesothelioma. Immunotherapy is made to force the patient’s immune system to fight the cancer. Dr. Sterman predicts that the ability of the drugs will give long term control which extends the patient’s life for many years. Furthermore, while maintaining a good quality of life. However, the drug is not a cure.
Results of Immunogene Therapy
Generally, pleural mesothelioma has a life expectancy of six to fifteen (6-15) months even with treatment which include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
A small study was conducted on forty (40) patients with unresectable pleural mesothelioma. The patient group was divided into two; some used the immunogene therapy as a first line treatment while some used it as a second line treatment.
The patient group that used the therapy as a first line treatment showed slight improvements, while the group that used it as a second line treatment along with the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib and chemotherapy agent gemcitabine. The results were promising; the mean overall survival for patients in this group was twenty one and a half (21.5) months while thirty two percent (32%) were living after twenty five (25) months.
Clinical trials
The upcoming clinical trials will copy the second line treatment used for the smaller study and include the chemotherapy agent gemcitabine. Clinical trials will start during 2016 and will be done at ten (10) or more mesothelioma centers across the country.