Researchers Say “Unprecedented” Mesothelioma Response Possible with Skin Cancer Drug, According to Surviving Mesothelioma
Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) May 06, 2015 -- Doctors who have done preliminary tests of the drug pembrolizumab recently reported what they are calling “unprecedented” tumor control in mesothelioma patients. Surviving Mesothelioma has just posted an article on the new research. Click here to read it now.
University of Pennsylvania oncologists gave pembrolizumab to 25 mesothelioma patients between March and December 2014. They presented their findings at the AACR meeting in April.
“Pembrolizumab… provides robust antitumor activity in patients with advanced PD-L positive malignant pleural mesothelioma,” stated Evan Alley, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center. “The 76% disease control rate in this previously treated MPM population is unprecedented and warrants further study.”
The results came out of a phase 1B clinical trial known as KEYNOTE-028. In the trial, 19 previously treated mesothelioma patients responded to pembrolizumab.
“Although pemetrexed-based chemotherapy is the gold standard for mesothelioma drug treatment, most patients have only limited success with it,” says Alex Strauss, Managing Editor of Surviving Mesothelioma. “If further trials of pembrolizumab produce similar results to the KEYNOTE trial, it could be very hopeful news for mesothelioma patients.”
To read more about the new research, see Skin Cancer Drug Produces Exceptional Results in New Mesothelioma Trial, now available on the Surviving Mesothelioma website.
Alley, E et al, “Clinical Safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: Preliminary results from KEYNOTE-028”, April 19, 2015, Presentation Abstract, American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2015. Philadelphia, PA. http://www.abstractsonline.com/Plan/ViewAbstract.aspx?sKey=3171368d-7633-4bfb-b1f8-7c6b5038762e&cKey=6c8dbe8c-c521-4a0b-9705-e737819336dd&mKey=%7b19573A54-AE8F-4E00-9C23-BD6D62268424%7d
For nearly ten years, Surviving Mesothelioma has brought readers the most important and ground-breaking news on the causes, diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. All Surviving Mesothelioma news is gathered and reported directly from the peer-reviewed medical literature. Written for patients and their loved ones, Surviving Mesothelioma news helps families make more informed decisions.
Michael Ellis, Cancer Monthy, http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com, +1 (919) 570-8595, [email protected]
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