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When facing a rare and aggressive cancer like mesothelioma, finding the right treatment can be overwhelming. For many patients, mesothelioma clinical trials open the door to new hope as they provide access to new and potentially curative therapies not yet offered to the general patient population. This is especially true for treatment trials, which are designed to test how well new therapies work.
But what exactly are treatment clinical trials? Who are they for? And what do they mean for mesothelioma patients? Let’s break it down.
What Are Treatment Trials?
Treatment trials are a specific type of clinical trial that evaluate new therapies or combinations of treatments for diseases like cancer. These trials are designed to answer questions such as:
- Does this new treatment work better than the current standard of care? For example, for mesothelioma, treatment trials would test therapies against chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy.
- Does it improve survival, reduce tumor size, or enhance quality of life?
- Is it safe, and what side effects might occur?
Treatment trials are typically conducted in phases, from small safety studies (phase 1) to larger trials that compare new therapies to existing ones (phases 2 and 3) and even post-approval studies (phase 4).
Why Are Treatment Trials Important?
Treatment trials are essential for progress in medicine. Every new cancer drug available today, from chemotherapy to immunotherapy, was once tested in a treatment trial.
These studies help:
- Advance innovation by testing cutting-edge drugs and techniques
- Improve survival rates by finding more effective therapies
- Offer patients access to promising treatments that may not yet be publicly available
For rare cancers like mesothelioma, this is crucial. Mesothelioma treatment options are already limited. Therefore, participating in a treatment trial may offer an alternative when conventional care falls short. Patients can get access to emerging types of cancer treatment such as oncolytic viruses, CAR T-cell therapies, gene therapies and more.
For someone with mesothelioma, this access could save their life.
Mesothelioma Treatment Trials: Real Examples
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure, primarily affecting the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). Because it is rare and often diagnosed after tumors have spread beyond the control of chemotherapy, clinical trials are critical to advancing care.
Here are some notable examples of mesothelioma treatment trials:
CheckMate 743 (Phase 3)
- What it tested: The combination of two immunotherapy drugs, nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) for mesothelioma
- Outcome: The first study to show a significant survival benefit over chemotherapy for some mesothelioma patients
- Impact: Led to FDA approval of this combination as a first-line treatment for unresectable pleural mesothelioma
SMART Trial (Phase 2)
- What it tested: “Surgery for Mesothelioma After Radiation Therapy”, an approach using high-dose radiation followed by surgery
- Goal: Improve long-term survival by shrinking tumors before surgery
- Who it’s for: Select patients with early-stage mesothelioma who can tolerate aggressive treatment
ATOMIC-Meso (Recruiting)
- What it’s testing: ADXS-503, a novel immunotherapy, in combination with chemotherapy
- Target: People with types of mesothelioma other than sarcomatoid cells
- Status: Actively recruiting patients for safety and early efficacy evaluation
Tazemetostat in Mesothelioma (Phase 2)
- What it tested: A targeted drug called tazemetostat for mesothelioma with specific gene mutations (BAP1)
- Why it matters: Personalized medicine is becoming increasingly relevant in treating rare cancers like mesothelioma
Final Thoughts: Should You Consider a Treatment Trial?
If you or a loved one is living with mesothelioma, talking to your oncologist about clinical trial options can be a critical part of your treatment journey. Treatment trials offer access to cutting-edge therapies, the chance to contribute to medical progress, and most importantly, hope.
You can search for active trials at https://clinicaltrials.gov/.
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