As any reader of this blog knows, we specialize in helping mesothelioma victims and their families, and it is a common topic on this blog. To that end, a new treatment may now be available for mesothelioma patients, at least according to a new study.
The therapy regimen
The new therapy regimen is the combination of the chemotherapy agents, pemetrexed and cisplatin (or carboplatin), combined with the immunotherapy agent, durvalumab. According to a new study, this treatment option has been effective for inoperable pleural mesothelioma. This is the version that attacks the lungs’ tissue lining.
The study
The study was a Phase II clinical trial that was done by the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, known as multicenter study PrE0505 (NCT02899195). In the study, 55 mesothelioma patients were given a combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin (or carboplatin) for up to six cycles, along with intravenous durvalumab once every three weeks.
The results
The survival rate was over 20 months, which is a significant improvement to the normal 12 months for similarly situated patients. And, for those with the most common subtype of mesothelioma, epithelioid tumors, the survival rate increased to over 24 months. Plus, there were no unexpected toxicity levels.
Options for mesothelioma patients
There are medical options for Seattle, Washington, mesothelioma patients that are discovered periodically. This, most recent, example is encouraging. However, it is still not a long-term treatment or curative option. As such, many patients are looking for a way to help protect and help their families after they pass. This is why it is so important to initiate legal action quickly, especially as there is a three-year statute of limitation.
