Mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure, poses significant treatment challenges. Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and Duke University are conducting a clinical trial to test a new treatment strategy, which could improve outcomes for patients. Mesothelioma is known for its aggressive progression, leading to a five-year survival rate of less than 10%. Though immunotherapy has offered some improvement, increasing three-year survival rates to 23% when used alone, the overall effectiveness of current treatments remains limited.
The combination of surgery and chemotherapy has traditionally provided the longest survival rates for patients with Mesothelioma. Despite these methods, the need for more effective treatment options is clear, as survival rates and patient quality of life need improvement.
BCM and Duke University’s trial examines whether a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy before surgery can lead to better treatment results for Mesothelioma patients. This study represents an important effort to find more effective treatments.
Participants in the trial will receive either immunotherapy alone or chemoimmunotherapy before their surgery. The goal is to enroll 23 patients at both Baylor and Duke. Dr. R. Taylor Ripley, associate professor of surgery at BCM and part of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, detailed the trial’s approach, which includes administering three cycles of treatment before evaluating patients for surgery. After surgery, patients will continue on immunotherapy for a year.
The trial is available to any patient with Mesothelioma, with evaluations scheduled before enrollment, before surgery, and throughout follow-up. The study aims to ensure that patients are both at the correct disease stage and physically capable of undergoing the treatment. Eligible patients will then be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups.
Led by Dr. Ripley, along with Dr. Jeff Clarke and Dr. David Harpole from Duke University, the study aims to improve survival rates without recurrence and explore the effectiveness of combining these treatments. The team is focused on achieving better outcomes for Mesothelioma treatment through this clinical trial.
To enroll in this trial, contact 713-798-6376 or lungsched@bcm.edu.
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