Tremelimumab for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma

Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy 2015 November 11 [Epub ahead of print] [Link]

Guazzelli A, Hussain M, Kristic-Demonacos M, Mutti L.

Abstract

Introduction

Tremelimumab demonstrated therapeutic activity in different malignancies, including malignant mesothelioma (MM); however, accurately continued research could improve the therapeutic index of this agent.

Areas Covered

This review describes tremelimumab’s clinical efficacy, administration, safety in patients affected with malignant mesothelioma and reports the state of the art clinical trials of tremelimumab. A literature search using the PubMed database was conducted using the search terms tremelimumab, malignant mesothelioma, current therapy, immune checkpoint blockage and CTLA-4. Data was also obtained from meeting abstracts and clinical trial registries.

Expert Opinion

The use of immunotherapy has been extended from melanoma to thoracic malignancies or lung cancer and MM. The first clinical trials for MM with drugs modulating immune checkpoints have been tested or are currently being tested with the first results now under critical consideration. Among these drugs tremelimumab has been attracting attention as a potential new treatment for MM. Nevertheless even though clinical efficacy has been preliminarily demonstrated, the cost/benefit ratio of this drug for this neoplasm is yet to be ascertained.