scholarly journals Hitting the Bull’s-Eye: Mesothelin’s Role as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 3932
Author(s):  
Dannel Yeo ◽  
Laura Castelletti ◽  
Nico van Zandwijk ◽  
John E. J. Rasko
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Drug Conjugates ◽  
Aggressive Cancer ◽  
Immunotherapy Target ◽  
Bull's Eye

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. MPM originates from the mesothelial lining of the pleura. Mesothelin (MSLN) is a glycoprotein expressed at low levels in normal tissues and at high levels in MPM. Many other solid cancers overexpress MSLN, and this is associated with worse survival rates. However, this association has not been found in MPM, and the exact biological role of MSLN in MPM requires further exploration. Here, we discuss the current research on the diagnostic and prognostic value of MSLN in MPM patients. Furthermore, MSLN has become an attractive immunotherapy target in MPM, where better treatment strategies are urgently needed. Several MSLN-targeted monoclonal antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates, immunotoxins, cancer vaccines, and cellular therapies have been tested in the clinical setting. The biological rationale underpinning MSLN-targeted immunotherapies and their potential to improve MPM patient outcomes are reviewed.

New Era for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Updates on Therapeutic Options

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne S. Tsao ◽  
Harvey I. Pass ◽  
Andreas Rimner ◽  
Aaron S. Mansfield
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Predictive Biomarkers ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Frontline Treatment ◽  
Rare Malignancy

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare malignancy with few treatment options. Recent advances have led to US Food and Drug Administration approvals and changes in the standard of care with a novel biomedical device approved for use with platinum-pemetrexed, and also for immunotherapy agents to be included as a frontline treatment option in unresectable disease. Although predictive biomarkers for systemic therapy are not currently in use in clinical practice, it is essential to correctly identify the MPM histology to determine an optimal treatment plan. Patients with nonepithelioid MPM may have a greater magnitude of benefit to dual immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitors and this regimen should be preferred in the frontline setting for these patients. However, all patients with MPM can derive benefit from immunotherapy treatments, and these agents should ultimately be used at some point during their treatment journey. There are ongoing studies in the frontline unresectable setting that may further define the frontline therapy space, but a critical area of research will need to focus on the immunotherapy refractory population. This review article will describe the new developments in the areas of biology with genomics and chromothripsis, and also focus on updates in treatment strategies in radiology, surgery, radiation, and medical oncology with cellular therapies. These recent innovations are generating momentum to find better therapies for this disease.

scholarly journals Pre-Clinical Research Advancements Relating to Improving the Diagnosis and Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Review

Onco ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-82
Author(s):  
Ben Johnson ◽  
Kenneth Lee ◽  
Yuen Yee Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Research ◽  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Latency Period ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Diagnostic Biomarkers ◽  
Disease Biology ◽  
Long Latency

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare, aggressive cancer of the lung lining that is predominantly associated with occupational exposure to asbestos. MPM is responsible for thousands of deaths worldwide every year, with the median survival of MPM of 8–14 months. There are limited biomarkers available in the clinic to effectively diagnose MPM, an invasive biopsy procedure is usually required to provide a definitive diagnosis. Due to the long latency period associated with MPM disease presentation, the cancer is usually at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis where treatment options are largely ineffective at controlling disease progression. Previous MPM-based pre-clinical studies have made significant strides in determining the exact molecular mechanisms associated with asbestos carcinogenesis. Exploring less invasive blood-based biomarkers and treatment strategies involving targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and virotherapy is particularly important. Research in these areas is of crucial importance in relation to improving the rate of novel diagnostic biomarkers and treatment strategies progressing through to clinical trials and ultimately into the clinical setting. This review comprehensively summarises both previous and current pre-clinical research developments that have specifically contributed to an improved understanding of MPM disease biology, and the development of novel diagnostic biomarkers and treatment strategies.

scholarly journals A review of malignant pleural mesothelioma in a large North East UK pleural centre

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Declan C. Murphy ◽  
Alexander Mount ◽  
Fiona Starkie ◽  
Leah Taylor ◽  
Avinash Aujayeb
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Pleural Thickening ◽  
North East ◽  
Total Cohort ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
One Year

AbstractObjectivesThe National Mesothelioma Audit 2020 showed Northumbria to have low rates of histopathological confirmation, treatment and one-year survival rates for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). We hypothesized that an internal analysis over a 10-year period provides valuable insights into presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.MethodsA single-centre retrospective case series of all confirmed MPM patients between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2019 was performed. Demographics, clinical, radiological and histopathological characteristics and outcomes were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V26.0.ResultsA total of 247 patients had MPM. About 86% were male, mean age 75.7 years. Dyspnoea (77.4%) and chest pain (38.5%) were commonest symptoms. 64.9 and 71.4% had pleural thickening and effusion, respectively. About 86.8% had at least one attempt to obtain a tissue biopsy, but histopathological confirmation in only 108 (43.7%). About 66.3% with PS 0 and 1 (62.7% of total cohort) had at least one anti-cancer therapy. Death within 12 months was associated with disease progression within 6 months (p≤0.001). Chemotherapy (p≤0.001) and epithelioid histological subtype (p=0.01) were protective.ConclusionsThis study confirms known epidemiology of MPM, demonstrates variability in practices and highlights how some NMA recommendations are not met. This provides the incentive for a regional mesothelioma multi-disciplinary meeting.

scholarly journals Identification of Redox-Sensitive Transcription Factors as Markers of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1138
Author(s):  
Martina Schiavello ◽  
Elena Gazzano ◽  
Loredana Bergandi ◽  
Francesca Silvagno ◽  
Roberta Libener ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Antioxidant Defense ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Predictive Biomarkers ◽  
Antioxidant Systems ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Related Factor ◽  
Aggressive Cancer

Although asbestos has been banned in most countries around the world, malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a current problem. MPM is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis, so it is crucial to identify new markers in the preventive field. Asbestos exposure induces oxidative stress and its carcinogenesis has been linked to a strong oxidative damage, event counteracted by antioxidant systems at the pulmonary level. The present study has been focused on some redox-sensitive transcription factors that regulate cellular antioxidant defense and are overexpressed in many tumors, such as Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2), Ref-1 (Redox effector factor 1), and FOXM1 (Forkhead box protein M1). The research was performed in human mesothelial and MPM cells. Our results have clearly demonstrated an overexpression of Nrf2, Ref-1, and FOXM1 in mesothelioma towards mesothelium, and a consequent activation of downstream genes controlled by these factors, which in turn regulates antioxidant defense. This event is mediated by oxidative free radicals produced when mesothelial cells are exposed to asbestos fibers. We observed an increased expression of Nrf2, Ref-1, and FOXM1 towards untreated cells, confirming asbestos as the mediator of oxidative stress evoked at the mesothelium level. These factors can therefore be considered predictive biomarkers of MPM and potential pharmacological targets in the treatment of this aggressive cancer.

Biomarkers for malignant pleural mesothelioma: a meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 1320-1331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina N Gillezeau ◽  
Maaike van Gerwen ◽  
Julio Ramos ◽  
Bian Liu ◽  
Raja Flores ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Disease ◽  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Aggressive Cancer ◽  
Comparison Groups ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Differences ◽  
Healthy Participants

Abstract Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare but aggressive cancer, and early detection is associated with better survival. Mesothelin, fibulin-3 and osteopontin have been suggested as screening biomarkers. The study conducted a meta-analysis of the mean differences of mesothelin, osteopontin and fibulin-3 in blood and pleural samples. PubMed searches were conducted for studies that measured levels of mesothelin, osteopontin and fibulin-3 in participants with MPM compared with malignancy, benign lung disease or healthy participants. Thirty-two studies with mesothelin levels, 12 studies with osteopontin levels and 9 studies with fibulin-3 levels were included in the meta-analysis. Statistically significant mean differences were seen between MPM patients and all other comparison groups for mesothelin blood and pleural levels. Statistically significant differences in blood osteopontin levels were seen between participants with benign lung disease and healthy participants compared with participants with MPM, but not when comparing participants with cancer with MPM participants. There were not enough studies that reported osteopontin levels in pleural fluid to complete a meta-analysis. Statistically significant differences were seen in both blood and pleural levels of fibulin-3 in MPM patients compared with all other groups. On the basis of these results, mesothelin and fibulin-3 levels appear to be significantly lower in all control groups compared with those with MPM, making them good candidates for screening biomarkers. Osteopontin may be a useful biomarker for screening healthy individuals or those with benign lung disease but would not be useful for screening patients with malignancies.

scholarly journals Patient-derived malignant pleural mesothelioma cell cultures: a tool to advance biomarker-driven treatments

Thorax ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 1004-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos I Kanellakis ◽  
Rachelle Asciak ◽  
Megat Abd Hamid ◽  
Xuan Yao ◽  
Mark McCole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cultures ◽  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Cytotoxic T Cells ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Ex Vivo Model ◽  
High Throughput Drug Screening ◽  
Aggressive Cancer ◽  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Cell

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer, associated with poor prognosis. We assessed the feasibility of patient-derived cell cultures to serve as an ex vivo model of MPM. Patient-derived MPM cell cultures (n=16) exhibited stemness features and reflected intratumour and interpatient heterogeneity. A subset of the cells were subjected to high-throughput drug screening and coculture assays with cancer-specific cytotoxic T cells and showed diverse responses. Some of the biphasic MPM cells were capable of processing and presenting the neoantigen SSX-2 endogenously. In conclusion, patient-derived MPM cell cultures are a promising and faithful ex vivo model of MPM.

A feasibility study of induction pemetrexed plus cisplatin followed by pleurectomy/decortication for malignant pleural mesothelioma (Japan Mesothelioma Interest Group 1101 Trial).

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8518-8518
Author(s):  
Seiki Hasegawa ◽  
Kohei Yokoi ◽  
Morihito Okada ◽  
Fumihiro Tanaka ◽  
Mototsugu Shimokawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Technique ◽  
Pulmonary Function ◽  
Induction Chemotherapy ◽  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Primary Endpoint ◽  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Acceptable Risks

8518 Background: Although pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) has become a preferred surgical technique for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), only a few prospective, multi-center clinical trials have been conducted. Here we present final results of a nationwide, prospective, multi-institutional study to evaluate the feasibility of induction chemotherapy followed by P/D. Methods: Eligibility criteria: a histologically confirmed diagnosis of MPM; clinical T1–3, N0–2, M0 disease; no prior treatment for the disease; age between 20 and 75 years; ECOG performance status of 0 or 1; and written informed consent. Treatment methods: Induction chemotherapy of pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 for 3 cycles, followed by P/D. Intraoperative conversion from P/D to extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) was permitted. Pulmonary function tests were performed at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after surgery. Primary endpoint was macroscopic complete resection (MCR) rate regardless of the surgical technique. Results: Of 24 patients enrolled, 20 patients were eligible: median age 66 (48–74); M/F: 17/3, Clinical stage I/II/III: 8/9/3; Histology epi/sar/bi: 19/1/0. Two discontinued protocol before surgery due to deteriorated FEV1 or adverse effect (AE) of chemotherapy, and the remaining 18 patients completed surgery with MCR: P/D in 15 patients and EPP in 3. The trial met the primary endpoint with MCR rate of 90% (18/20). There was no treatment-related 30- and 90-day mortality. There were two cases of chemotherapy-related grade 4 AEs, but no surgery-related grade 4 AE occurred. The overall survival rates at 1 and 2 years and median survival time (MST) after registration were 95.0% (95% CI, 69.5 to 99.3), 70.0% (45.1 to 85.3), and 41.4 months (19.7 to NA), respectively. The progression-free survival rates at 1 and 2 years and MST after registration were 84.7% (60.0 to 94.8), 42.4% (20.5 to 62.7), and 22.9 months (12.7 to 28.4), respectively. Recurrence occurred in 17 patients, and initial relapse sites were local in 17 (100%) and distal in 6 (35.3%). The best values of FVC and FEV1 during postoperative period were 78.0% and 82.5% of preoperative values, respectively. Conclusions: Induction chemotherapy plus P/D yielded a MST over 40 months with acceptable risks. Postoperative pulmonary function was approximately 80% of preoperative value. Clinical trial information: UMIN000009092.

scholarly journals Recent Advances in Trop 2 Targeted Therapy for Solid Tumors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shutan Liao ◽  
Bing Wang ◽  
Rong Zeng ◽  
Haifeng Bao ◽  
Xiaomin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Options ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Multiple Tumor ◽  
Epithelial Cancers ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Transmembrane Glycoprotein ◽  
Drug Conjugates ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Heavily Pretreated ◽  
Tumor Types

Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop 2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed in various cancer types with relatively low or no baseline expression in most of normal tissues. Its overexpression is associated with tumor growth and poor prognosis; Trop 2 is therefore, an ideal therapeutic target for epithelial cancers. Several Trop 2 targeted therapeutics have recently been developed for the treatment of cancers, such as anti-Trop 2 antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), as well as Trop 2-specific cell therapy. In particular, the safety and clinical benefit of Trop 2-based ADCs have been demonstrated in clinical trials across multiple tumor types, including those with limited treatment options, such as triple-negative breast cancer, platinum-resistant urothelial cancer, and heavily pretreated non-small cell lung cancer. In this review, we elaborate on recent advances in Trop 2 targeted modalities and provide an overview of novel insights for future developments in this field.

scholarly journals The Emerging Roles of ATP-Dependent Chromatin Remodeling Complexes in Pancreatic Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1859
Author(s):  
Nesrin Hasan ◽  
Nita Ahuja
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Pancreatic Tumors ◽  
Stem Cell Maintenance ◽  
Aggressive Cancer ◽  
Frequent Mutations ◽  
Chromatin Remodeling Complexes ◽  
Cancer Types

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer with low survival rates. Genetic and epigenetic dysregulation has been associated with the initiation and progression of pancreatic tumors. Multiple studies have pointed to the involvement of aberrant chromatin modifications in driving tumor behavior. ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes regulate chromatin structure and have critical roles in stem cell maintenance, development, and cancer. Frequent mutations and chromosomal aberrations in the genes associated with subunits of the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes have been detected in different cancer types. In this review, we summarize the current literature on the genomic alterations and mechanistic studies of the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in pancreatic cancer. Our review is focused on the four main subfamilies: SWItch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF), imitation SWI (ISWI), chromodomain-helicase DNA-binding protein (CHD), and INOsitol-requiring mutant 80 (INO80). Finally, we discuss potential novel treatment options that use small molecules to target these complexes.

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