A new Mesothelioma clinical trial has just opened in Southampton. The Select Meso Trial has been formulated to test whether a bio-marker guided drug can be used to specifically target commonly known genomic alterations within their individual mesothelioma tumours and therefore harness the genetic differences of their mesothelioma tumours to control the progression of their illness.
Mesothelioma patients who have had first line treatment and whose scans show progression of their Mesothelioma (whether pleural or otherwise) can be considered for inclusion in the Select Meso Trial.
This exciting approach of using an individual’s bio marker and genetic profiles to target therapies offers real hope of a breakthrough in the treatment of Mesothelioma.
Historically, it was difficult for clinical teams to predict how well an individual patient would do on a particular treatment. The Select Meso Trial hopes to give clinicians a way to tell which treatment is likely to work best for each patient.
Professor Dean Fennell of Leicester has been studying Mesothelioma for many years. The Select Meso Trial follows on from significant earlier research project that he lead in Leicester to explore how the particular make up of Mesothelioma tumours influences patient outcomes and their response to therapies. In a study of over 277 patients, he mapped the genetic landscape of their tumours to identify patterns of tumour growth and immune response. His findings in that study have informed the Select Meso Clinical Trial.
Professor Fennell found that almost half of Mesothelioma patients have a deletion of a particular gene – called the MTAP gene – in their cancer which makes the cancer more aggressive and less likely to respond well to existing treatments. However, the absence of this MTAP gene actually that healthy cells do not have makes the cancer cells vulnerable to targeted treatment.
I recently heard Dean Fennell speak about the Select Meso Trial which he confirmed holds real promise of a significant breakthrough in the development of targeted treatment for Mesothelioma and effective treatment for previously very hard to treat patients.
The Select Meso Trial is supported by the UK3CR Mesothelioma Clinical Research Group which is chaired by Dean Fennell and has the remit to develop clinical trials for Mesothelioma in the UK.
Patients who are suitable for Select Meso Trial will have samples of their tumour biopsies assessed and if they are suitable are then assigned to a candidate specific trial based on their molecular profile. There is also the possibility of those who do not meet the molecular criteria for a candidate specific trial being able to enter into a non-bio marker selective candidate specific trial.
Patients who are suitable for participation in the trial will receive treatment for up to 24 weeks with blood tests and scans throughout, and a re-biopsy to assess how well they are responding to the treatment.
Although the Select Meso trial has recently opened in Southampton, other sites will follow – including at the Royal Marsden as well as in Sheffield and Manchester. The treatment is administered via an oral drug and the feedback so far is that the treatment is usually very well tolerated.
It is hoped that if the results from this clinical trial are successful in time they will change the treatment of mesothelioma by the NHS. Pursuing a claim for compensation can also allow people to access bespoke medical treatment, include cutting edge treatments that may not yet be available on the NHS, giving mesothelioma patients and their families great peace of mind.
Anyone diagnosed with Mesothelioma should discuss the possibility of participating in clinical trials with their specialist nurse and treating physician.
Helen Childs
Partner/ Head of Respiratory Disease Claims
RWK Goodman
