CTLA4 blockade in mesothelioma: finally a competing strategy over cytotoxic/target therapy?

• Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy Vol. 64; no. 1; pp. 105 - 112
• Main Authors: Calabrò, Luana, Ceresoli, Giovanni Luca, di Pietro, Alessandra, Cutaia, Ornella, Morra, Aldo, Ibrahim, Ramy, Maio, Michele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.01.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Cancer Research; Cancer therapies; Cell death; Chemotherapy; CTLA-4 Antigen - antagonists & inhibitors; Cytotoxicity; Disease control; Focussed Research Review; Humans; Immunology; Immunotherapy; Ligands; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Medical prognosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Melanoma; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma - drug therapy; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Oncology; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology; Toxicity; United States > US; Italy; Tremelimumab; Mesothelioma; NIBIT-2013; Immunotherapy; Anti-CTLA4 mAb
• ISSN: 0340-7004; 1432-0851
• DOI: 10.1007/s00262-014-1609-9

No second-line treatment significantly prolongs the survival of malignant mesothelioma patients who have a high unmet medical need. Here, we comment on the therapeutic potential of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein (CTLA)4-blockade by the anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) tremelimumab of refractory malignant mesothelioma patients. We also focus on the critical role of an accurate tumor assessment in the course of treatment with immunomodulating mAb. Finally, treatment with potentially effective, second-generation checkpoint(s) inhibiting mAb, as well future combination strategies in this deadly disease, will be discussed.