Immunotherapy for Malign Mesothelioma and Other Thoracic Malignancies

Yakup ERGÜNa
aPrivate Batman World Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Batman, Türkiye

Ergün Y. Immunotherapy for malign mesothelioma and other thoracic malignancies. In: Şendur MAN, ed. Current Immunotherapy Landscape for Solid Tumors. 1st ed. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2024. p.52-7.

ABSTRACT
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer that originates from mesothelial surfaces and is often caused by asbestos exposure. The prognosis for MPM is poor, with a median overall survival of 8-16 months. However, recent studies have shown that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can effectively treat MPM. Monotherapy with ICIs, such as anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD1 inhibitors, has shown some positive results in terms of objective response rates and survival outcomes. Combination therapies with ICIs, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, have also been explored and have shown promise in improving overall survival compared to standard chemotherapy. Additionally, chemoimmunotherapy combinations with drugs like durvalumab have shown potential in the first-line treatment of MPM. Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) pose challenges for treatment due to autoimmune disorders. Pembrolizumab showed promising results for advanced TETs, but adverse events limit its use in thymomas. It can be considered as a second-line option for thymic carcinoma.

Keywords: Mesothelioma; thymoma; immune checkpoint inhibitor; prognosis; survival

Referanslar

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