Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma

What Is Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma?

Immunotherapy for mesothelioma is a treatment that uses your own immune system to fight this asbestos-related cancer. Unlike chemotherapy or radiation, which directly attack cancer cells, immunotherapy boosts the body’s natural defenses to recognize and destroy mesothelioma cells. 

Mesothelioma immunotherapy has become a standard part of care for many patients in recent years, offering new hope for those with difficult-to-treat tumors. Doctors often use immunotherapy alongside other mesothelioma treatments, such as chemo or surgery, to improve outcomes.

Key Facts About Mesothelioma Immunotherapy

1. Combining immunotherapy with chemo often works better than chemotherapy alone, improving response rates and survival for many patients.
2. Clinical trials have shown it can extend survival. For example, some patients lived more than 1 year longer with immunotherapy than those who received only chemo.
3. More patients are accessing immunotherapy every year. In a recent patient survey, 40% of people with mesothelioma said they had tried immunotherapy as part of their treatment plan.
4. Immunotherapy is now one of the top treatments for malignant mesothelioma.

Dr. Andrea Wolf, thoracic surgeon and director of the New York Mesothelioma Program at Mount Sinai shares with us, “I’ve treated mesothelioma patients who had exhausted older chemotherapy regimens. But improved surgical management and additional immunotherapy options have helped extend their lives in ways we never thought possible just a decade ago.” 

How Does Immunotherapy Work to Treat Mesothelioma?

Immunotherapy for mesothelioma can trick the immune system into ignoring cancer cells. This treatment kickstarts your immune system’s ability to find and kill cancer cells. It’s similar to how your body fights off infections: Immune cells, like T-cells, seek out invaders (in this case, tumor cells) and destroy them.

Mesothelioma tumors often hide, using special proteins (such as PD-L1) to put the “brakes” on immune cells. Immunotherapy drugs release these brakes and expose the cancer. For example, immune checkpoint inhibitors like Keytruda (pembrolizumab) or Opdivo (nivolumab) block the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway that tumors use to evade detection.

Ipilimumab, or Yervoy, enhances the immune system’s ability to combat mesothelioma, blocking CTLA-4, a protein that aids T-cells in targeting cancer tumors. This treatment can slow tumor growth and reduce tumor size while causing fewer side effects than chemo, which often damages healthy cells.

FDA-Approved Mesothelioma Immunotherapy Drugs

Immunotherapy has become a standard treatment for inoperable pleural mesothelioma thanks to several recent FDA approvals. These immunotherapy drugs use the body’s natural immune response to recognize and fight mesothelioma cancer cells, improving survival outcomes for many patients. FDA-approved drugs such as Opdivo, Yervoy and Keytruda have significantly changed the standard of care for mesothelioma. 

Immunotherapy Drugs Approved to Treat Mesothelioma

• Keytruda (pembrolizumab): Approved in September 2024 for treating unresectable pleural mesothelioma with standard chemo (pemetrexed and platinum), Keytruda shows better tumor response rates and survival than chemo alone.
• Opdivo (nivolumab): FDA-approved with Yervoy (ipilimumab) for first-line treatment of adults with unresectable pleural mesothelioma. Trials like CheckMate 743 demonstrated this combination improves overall survival over traditional chemotherapy.
• Yervoy (ipilimumab): Approved with Opdivo for first-line treatment of unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, Yervoy targets the CTLA-4 immune checkpoint, enhancing the immune system’s ability to destroy cancer cells.

These immunotherapy treatments represent the current gold standard for mesothelioma patients who can’t undergo surgery. While Keytruda combined with chemo offers strong results for many patients, the Opdivo and Yervoy combination has shown particular effectiveness for non-epithelioid mesothelioma. 

Experimental Mesothelioma Immunotherapies & Clinical Trials

Research on immunotherapy for mesothelioma is advancing, with promising therapies in clinical trials, including CAR T-cell therapy, cancer vaccines and oncolytic viruses.  In May 2024, the FDA fast-tracked Keytruda’s review with chemo for pleural mesothelioma.

Trials like DREAM3R and CheckMate 743 compare immunotherapy to chemo to identify the most effective treatment. Participation in clinical trials allows patients to access innovative therapies early. Researchers want to make these methods available to all to help people with mesothelioma live longer and better lives.

CAR T-Cell and Protein Therapies

CAR T-cell therapy is a type of treatment in which doctors take immune cells (T-cells) from the patient’s blood, modify them in a lab to better fight cancer, and then return these powerful cells to the patient’s body. This approach helps the immune system more effectively target and attack mesothelioma tumors.

Several mesothelioma clinical trials using CAR T-cell therapies are recruiting participants in the U.S. One major trial at the National Cancer Institute combines mesothelin-targeted CAR T-cells with pembrolizumab to enhance treatment. These trials improve CAR T-cell therapy for safer, stronger and longer-lasting responses against mesothelioma tumors.

Mesothelioma Cancer Vaccines

Cancer vaccines train the body’s immune system to recognize and attack mesothelioma cells. Unlike regular vaccines that prevent diseases like the flu, cancer vaccines help fight cancer that is already present. These vaccines expose the immune system to proteins unique to mesothelioma, teaching it to target and destroy the cancer cells more effectively.

Several mesothelioma vaccine trials are ongoing in the U.S. The WT1 vaccine (galinpepimut-S) targets a protein in mesothelioma cells and shows promise in improving survival. Another trial studies CRS-207, using modified bacteria to stimulate an immune response against mesothelioma. These trials offer hope that vaccines may be crucial for future treatments.

Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are synthetic proteins that act like guided missiles in immunotherapy. They locate and attach themselves to specific targets on cancer cells, helping the immune system recognize and destroy these harmful cells. Monoclonal antibodies that work this way are a type of immunotherapy for mesothelioma.

In mesothelioma treatment, monoclonal antibodies like amatuximab target mesothelin, a protein commonly found on mesothelioma cells. Another antibody, tremelimumab, targets CTLA-4 to enhance the immune response. Currently, multiple trials involving monoclonal antibodies for mesothelioma are active and recruiting patients.

Virotherapy

Virotherapy, or oncolytic virus therapy, is an immunotherapy that uses engineered viruses to target and kill mesothelioma cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. These viruses infect mesothelioma cells, causing them to burst and release substances that activate the immune response against cancer. 

Researchers are exploring several viruses as immunotherapy for mesothelioma, including adenoviruses, measles, herpesviruses and reoviruses. Though virotherapy is still experimental, early results have shown promising potential for future mesothelioma treatments, shrinking tumors and boosting the immune response in mesothelioma.

Benefits of Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma

Immunotherapy offers fewer side effects, targeted action and several other key benefits for mesothelioma patients that set it apart from conventional treatments. JAMA Network Open in 2024 published a study on the success of immunotherapy and noted that while results can vary, many patients experience longer survival and a better quality of life with immunotherapy.

Mesothelioma immunotherapy greatly improves outcomes, providing longer survival and better cancer control. Many people live 2 to 5 years beyond their prognosis. Compared to chemo, immunotherapy for mesothelioma typically has fewer side effects, enabling patients to maintain their daily activities. 

Mesothelioma Immunotherapy Success Rates

• Keytruda offers 18 months of survival for recurrent cases.
• Mesothelioma patients who underwent immunotherapy have a 41% 2-year survival rate, compared to 27% with chemotherapy.
• Opdivo and Yervoy provide an average survival of 18.1 months.

These therapies specifically target cancer cells, protecting healthy tissues. Treatment is personalized based on each patient’s cancer markers, increasing the chances of success. Plus, immunotherapy complements chemotherapy or surgery to improve patient outcomes. 

The most significant benefit of immunotherapy for mesothelioma is hope for a cure. Mesothelioma patients and families now have more options to try, even after standard treatments. Seeing tumors shrink from immunotherapy or hearing that a therapy keeps the cancer stable can be highly encouraging. 

Dr. Berlinda Love

Verified Asbestos.com Survivor

Immunotherapy Helps Pastor With Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Pastor, podcaster, writer and pericardial mesothelioma survivor Dr. Berlinda Love tells us after months of chemo, she began immunotherapy and is feeling great. She says with chemo, “I was tired quite a bit, lethargic a lot. I wanted to sleep for 2 or 3 days, but I don’t have those symptoms now.”

Dr. Berlinda Love

Verified Asbestos.com Survivor

See Brenda’s Story

Who Is a Candidate for Mesothelioma Immunotherapy?

Eligibility for immunotherapy can depend on several factors, including previous mesothelioma treatments, overall health and specific tumor characteristics. Each patient is unique, and specialists evaluate these factors individually. Even those who haven’t responded well to earlier treatments may benefit from immunotherapy. 

Factors Influencing Candidacy for Mesothelioma Immunotherapy

• Cell type: Patients with nonepithelioid mesothelioma (sarcomatoid or biphasic) often respond better to immunotherapy than chemotherapy.
• Overall health and performance status: Doctors use the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status to assess whether a patient is healthy enough for immunotherapy.
• PD-L1 biomarker status: High PD-L1 levels may predict better response, but patients with low or negative PD-L1 can still benefit from immunotherapy.
• Previous treatment response: Patients whose mesothelioma progressed or returned after chemotherapy may qualify for immunotherapy as a second-line treatment.
• Stage and operability: Patients with advanced, metastatic, or unresectable mesothelioma are typically prime candidates for immunotherapy.

Dr. Catherine Perrault, a medical officer with The Mesothelioma Center’s Medical Outreach Program, discussed the role mesothelioma cell types play in eligibility in a our recent webinar on Keytruda. She noted people with different mesothelioma cell types may respond differently to immunotherapy. But having a specific type doesn’t necessarily disqualify a patient from receiving immunotherapy.

Mesothelioma clinical trials may also provide immunotherapy options when standard therapies aren’t suitable or available. They can offer new hope for improved quality of life and extended survival.

Mesothelioma Immunotherapy Side Effects

Immunotherapy can greatly improve mesothelioma outcomes, but it may also cause side effects. These often happen because the immune system becomes overactive, leading to flu-like symptoms or mild autoimmune reactions.

Side effects such as coughing and shortness of breath can be confusing since they’re similar to symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Because of this overlap, clear communication between patients and doctors about any new or worsening symptoms during treatment is critical.

Common Immunotherapy Side Effects

• Appetite changes: loss of appetite or mild digestive troubles
• Coughing: may be mistaken for mesothelioma symptoms, so requires close monitoring
• Diarrhea or constipation: usually mild and treated with medication
• Fatigue: common but usually manageable with rest
• Fever or chills: flu-like signs indicating immune system activity
• Headaches: typically mild and short-lived
• Joint or muscle pain: arthritis-like aches, often eased with mild pain relievers
• Nausea: often less severe than with chemo.

Since mesothelioma affects lung function, respiratory side effects like coughing or shortness of breath need close monitoring to distinguish disease progression from treatment effects. Report these symptoms quickly, allowing your medical team to provide the best care and symptom relief. Regular check-ups and open communication help maintain comfort and quality of life during immunotherapy.

Serious Side Effects

Although rare, some people with mesothelioma can experience serious immune-related side effects. These happen when the immune system becomes too aggressive and starts attacking healthy tissues instead of just cancer cells. This can cause severe inflammation in organs. Doctors need to act quickly to manage these side effects to prevent lasting damage or treatment interruptions.

Severe Immunotherapy Side Effects

• Colitis: severe inflammation of the colon that causes ongoing diarrhea, abdominal pain or blood in the stool
• Endocrine gland disorders: problems with glands that lead to hormone imbalances, fatigue, mood changes or a fast heartbeat
• Hepatitis: inflammation of the liver causing yellowing of the skin (jaundice), dark urine or belly pain
• Kidney inflammation (nephritis): swelling, less urine output or lower back pain from kidney inflammation
• Pneumonitis: lung inflammation that causes chest pain, severe cough and trouble breathing

Doctors usually treat these serious side effects with steroids or other medicines that reduce immune system activity. Patients are carefully watched with blood tests and regular exams to catch problems early.

If serious side effects occur, your mesothelioma doctor may pause or stop immunotherapy to keep you safe. Report any new or worsening symptoms promptly and discuss them with your doctor.

Common Questions About Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma

Does insurance cover immunotherapy?

Yes, insurance usually covers immunotherapy for mesothelioma if the treatments are FDA-approved. Medicare, private insurance and VA health care typically pay for drugs like Keytruda, Opdivo and Yervoy, which lowers out-of-pocket costs. Although immunotherapy can be expensive, as much as $100,000 or more annually for some checkpoint inhibitors, financial aid programs and clinical trials can help pay for it for those who qualify.

How long do patients stay on immunotherapy?

Mesothelioma patients usually stay on immunotherapy until their cancer worsens or side effects become hard to handle, often lasting from a few months to about 2 years. In clinical trials, immunotherapy is often given for 2 years. However, how long treatment lasts can differ based on each patient’s response and health situation.

Is immunotherapy equally effective for men and women?

Studies show that both men and women benefit from immunotherapy for mesothelioma, but the response rates may be a bit different. Men may have a slightly better survival rate, but both genders can benefit from these treatments. Doctors recommend all eligible mesothelioma patients to consider immunotherapy options.

Is immunotherapy better than chemotherapy?

Immunotherapy isn’t always better than chemo, but it usually has fewer side effects and helps people live longer. It works well for people with nonepithelioid mesothelioma, who often don’t respond well to chemo. A mix of immunotherapy and chemo often gives the best results, combining the benefits of both types of treatment.

How can I access mesothelioma immunotherapy treatment?

To begin immunotherapy, talk to a mesothelioma specialist or oncologist to see if FDA-approved or experimental options are right for you. Our Patient Advocates can help you find treatment centers, set up appointments and handle insurance or VA claims. If FDA-approved therapies aren’t available, they can also help you look for clinical trials to access new treatments early.

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