National Cancer Research Month 2025
May is National Cancer Research Month. Cancer research is a vital part of the cancer treatment process. Without research, we would not have the medical breakthroughs or the treatments that we have available today. It is important to research hard to treat cancers like mesothelioma because without research, they will continue to kill innocent people. This is entirely true for mesothelioma sufferers especially because they are suffering from a preventable cancer, since the main cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Thankfully, there is always research being done on mesothelioma in the form of clinical trials. Below, you will find different types of research in the form of clinical trials trying to extend and improve mesothelioma patients’ lives.
Recent research includes PORT-7, a treatment being tested on pleural mesothelioma. The researchers used laboratory animals infected with pleural mesothelioma. It was also tested alongside Keytruda and Opdivo, two immunotherapy drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors. When combined, the treatments create special immune structures in mesothelioma tumors, which then increase the amount of immune cells in the body that can then fight the cancer. Researchers are also looking at a treatment known as Port-6, which blocks a different receptor. The company behind the two treatments plans to use the treatments together to try to block the use of adenosine by mesothelioma cells, which would help the immune system notice and then fight the cancer cells.
Another topic that researchers are looking at is the role ageing plays on mesothelioma patients. With ageing comes different critical care needs of patients struggling with mesothelioma. Researchers highlighted the need for geriatric led treatment pathways, which would help reduce the need for emergency department visits. This research could also help give care to patients by giving access to care either at home or in specialized centers to ensure the needs of patients are met and they are done comfortably.
Another research focus was CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of mesothelioma. It works by targeting tumor specific antigens. CAR-T cell therapy typically targets mesothelin to treat mesothelioma, but there are problems with this because when mesothelin is targeted, the activity leads to severe lung issues. Researchers are looking at new targets including FAP, pan-ErbB receptors (EGFR and HER2), and CSPG4. When these targets were evaluated on models of mesothelioma, CAR-T cells targeting membrane-proximal epitopes showed advanced cancer infiltration and persistence. CAR-T cells can also be made more useful by combining them with other mesothelioma treatments. PD-1 antibodies or interleukin-15 can be added to boost their function. CAR-T cells can also be used alongside pembrolizumab, which is a PD-1 inhibitor. Researchers are looking to prolong the survival of CAR-T cells so they can fight cancer cells longer in the body. If they live longer in the body, they can continue to fight cancer for longer periods of time.
Were you diagnosed with mesothelioma or another cancer? Contact us today to see if you could be entitled to compensation. Call 412-471-3980 or fill out our contact form and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Sources:
Leanne Greene et al., “Assessing the reach and safety of an innovative urgent care service tailored to older adults” Australasian Journal on Ageing (January 24, 2024). [Link]
“Portage Biotech Reports Promising Preclinical Results in Mesothelioma Supporting First-In-Human Trial of PORT-7” Portage (March 27, 2025). [Link]
Yuning Wang et al., “Breaking through the treatment desert of conventional mesothelin-targeted CAR-T cell therapy for malignant mesothelioma: A glimpse into the future” Pharmacological Research (June 2024). [Link]
