Immunotherapy is a newer mesothelioma treatment that has shown promise in helping patients live longer.
In a recent case study from the University of Split in Croatia, a type of immunotherapy for pleural mesothelioma called Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) helped a patient become a long-term survivor.
He is still alive over 7 years after his diagnosis and in complete remission. The average pleural mesothelioma life expectancy is 12-21 months, so the fact that this patient went into complete remission shows that Keytruda has the potential to help others live longer too.
Download our Free Immunotherapy Guide to learn more about the benefits of Keytruda and other immunotherapy drugs for mesothelioma.
How Keytruda Helped a 67-Year-Old Man Beat Mesothelioma
The patient in this case study is a 67-year-old man who underwent lung-removal surgery and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.
However, even with these mesothelioma treatments, his cancer was still spreading. At this point, his doctors recommended Keytruda, a mesothelioma immunotherapy medicine that stimulates the immune system to attack cancer cells.
“Immunotherapy has shown promise in supporting mesothelioma patients by boosting the immune system to recognize and fight cancer cells. It’s like giving your body an extra set of tools to combat the disease more effectively.”
The patient received 12 cycles of Keytruda and achieved complete mesothelioma remission. He is still cancer-free today, more than 7 years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
In September 2024, Keytruda was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat pleural mesothelioma following encouraging results in clinical trials.
Two other immunotherapy drugs, Opdivo® (nivolumab) and Yervoy® (ipilimumab), had been previously approved in 2020.
Use our Free Doctor Match to connect with mesothelioma specialists who can help you access Keytruda and other immunotherapies.
What Are the Implications for Mesothelioma Patients?
This study helps reinforce the potential benefits of immunotherapy for cancers like mesothelioma.
Many clinical trials have shown that immunotherapy can improve mesothelioma prognosis, especially if other treatments aren’t effective. Also, while long-term remission is rare with mesothelioma, this case study shows that it still may be possible.
The study also highlights the need for researchers to find biomarkers in mesothelioma patients.
Biomarkers are molecules that help doctors determine if a patient has cancer. By identifying mesothelioma biomarkers, doctors can predict which patients will benefit most from immunotherapy, as the patient in this study did.
Research like this paves the way for doctors to make mesothelioma treatment more effective and help patients live longer with this aggressive cancer.
How Does Immunotherapy Work to Treat Pleural Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma cells can sometimes hide from the body’s immune response. Immunotherapy helps stimulate the body’s immune system to locate and eradicate cancer cells.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), Keytruda works by turning off a protein called PD-1 on T cells made by the immune system. By inhibiting the PD-1 protein, the T cells can find mesothelioma cells and kill them.
Doctors can use PD-1 inhibitors with chemotherapy to help slow the spread of mesothelioma. Clinical trials continue to study how different mesothelioma immunotherapies could be used to improve survival times and quality of life.
Get Help Accessing Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma and want to receive immunotherapy, you’ll need to find a doctor who specifically treats this cancer and can determine if immunotherapy could work for you.
Mesothelioma Hope is here to help you connect with these specialists and access the best possible care.
We can also help you:
- Understand treatment-related side effects
- Access support groups and other resources
- Pursue financial compensation to cover your medical expenses
“Answering patient questions, explaining treatment options, and sometimes just listening to a patient and their loved one is the number one reason why I’m here.”
We can help at every stage of your mesothelioma journey. Don’t wait: Call us at (866) 608-8933 to get started.