Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare and universally fatal cancer linked to exposure to asbestos. Until recently, standard of care treatment was chemotherapy; a treatment resulting in a minimal survival extension, and not improved upon for almost twenty years. However, the advent of cancer immunotherapy – and in particular the immune checkpoint inhibitor class of drugs - has resulted in recently approved new treatment options, with more currently under investigation.

Citation:
Nowak AK, Chin WL, Keam S, Cook A. Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Lung Cancer. 2021;162:162-8.

Keywords:
Asbestos; Checkpoint blockade; Chemo-immunotherapy, biomarkers; Immunotherapy; Mesothelioma

Abstract:
Mesothelioma is a rare and universally fatal cancer linked to exposure to asbestos. Until recently, standard of care treatment was chemotherapy; a treatment resulting in a minimal survival extension, and not improved upon for almost twenty years. However, the advent of cancer immunotherapy – and in particular the immune checkpoint inhibitor class of drugs - has resulted in recently approved new treatment options, with more currently under investigation.