Raffit Hassan, MD, head of Thoracic and Solid Tumor Immunotherapy Section at the National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research discusses immunotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

There are 2 major forms of immunotherapy used to treat mesothelioma, both of which are in advanced clinical testing. Amatuximab is used in the frontline setting and targets the anti-mesothelin tumor. The other is anetumab ravtansine, which is an antibody-drug conjugate in the second-line setting.

The other class of immunotherapy drugs that might potentially benefit patients with mesothelioma are checkpoint inhibitors. Fifteen percent to 20% of patients with mesothelioma have seen long-lasting shrinkage in their tumors, although it is not yet determined who will benefit. No drug has been approved since 2004, making the outcome of the clinical trials for mesothelin-targeted agents and immune checkpoint antibodies vital to the future treatment of mesothelioma.

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Dr. Hassan on Immunotherapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Raffit Hassan, MD, Co-Chief Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Senior Investigator Head, Thoracic and Solid Tumor Immunotherapy Section at the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, discusses a recent phase IB trial investigating avelumab in unresectable mesothelioma.

Avelumab was found to be well-tolerated, with minimal, manageable grade one and two toxicities, said Hassan.

There were also hints of activity seen, with 15% of patients experiencing an objective partial response, and 45% of patients experiencing stable disease. There was an overall disease control rate of 60%, which was a very exciting result, said Hassan.

Raffit Hassan, MD, Co-Chief Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Senior Investigator Head, Thoracic and Solid Tumor Immunotherapy Section at the Center for Cancer Research,
National Cancer Institute, discusses a recent phase IB trial investigating avelumab in unresectable mesothelioma. 

Raffit Hassan, MD

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Dr. Hassan on Immunotherapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Dr. Raffit Hassan on Avelumab in Unresectable Mesothelioma