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Disease

Mesothelioma

Late-stage therapeutic developmentEmerging researchRising momentum
MeSHMesothelioma
3
Publications
18
Clinical trials
12
Associated genes
3
Related proteins
2021
Latest publication
Current focus
Dihydrofolate reductase biologyTherapeutic developmentThymidylate synthase biology
Latest activity
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Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this disease.

What's happening now

An analyst briefing on current research, clinical, regulatory and industry activity surrounding this disease.

Executive briefingUpdating summary…Momentum: Moderate
Key developments
  • 3 clinical trials expected to report results, the earliest in Q3 2028.
  • 2 industry developments reported.
Upcoming Milestones
Major developments
Upcoming trial readoutHigh impact
A Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter, Global Study of Volrustomig (MEDI5752) in Combination With Carboplatin Plus Pemetrexed Versus Platinum Plus Pemetrexed or Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Participants With Unresectable Pleural Mesothelioma (eVOLVE-Meso)
Results expected Q4 20282026-10-23
Major trial resultsHigh impact
A Multicentre Randomised Phase III Trial Comparing Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab and Standard Chemotherapy Versus Bevacizumab and Standard Chemotherapy as First-line Treatment for Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Results posted2026-05-14
Product authorisation endedWorth watching
Product authorisation ended — Pemetrexed
Malignant pleural mesothelioma Pemetrexed medac in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancer Pemetrexed medac in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Pemetrexed medac is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed medac is indicated as monotherapy for the second line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology.2026-08-28
Clinical Milestones6View
Results posted 2
Results expected 3
Other updates 1
Industry & Market2View
Regulatory Updates1View
  • 2026-08-28Product authorisation ended — PemetrexedMalignant pleural mesothelioma Pemetrexed medac in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancer Pemetrexed medac in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Pemetrexed medac is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed medac is indicated as monotherapy for the second line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology.
Activity timeline9

Therapeutic landscape

Therapies with a regulatory footing for this condition, alongside the wider set of agents co-studied with it in the literature.

Approved & established therapies
Pemetrexedapproved

Product authorisation ended — Malignant pleural mesothelioma Pemetrexed medac in combination with cisplatin is indicate… (2026)

Nivolumabapproved

Original application approval — Melanoma Opdivo as monotherapy or in combination with ipilimumab is indicated for the tr… (2015)

Pembrolizumabapproved

Original application approval — Melanoma Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adults and adolescents… (2015)

Ipilimumabapproved

Original application approval — Melanoma Yervoy as monotherapy or combination with nivolumab is indicated for the treatme… (2011)

Clinical trials

16 sponsors · 1 new · 1 completed in the last 12 months (net +0)

The current development programme across all trial phases.

Clinical programme
18
All trials
6
Active
11
Late-stage
6
Completed
Late-stage studies

PHASE III STUDY WITH ATEZOLIZUMAB VERSUS PLACEBO IN MALIGNANT PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA PATIENTS AFTER PLEURECTOMY/DECORTICATION

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Gruppo Oncologico Italiano di Ricerca Clinica

A Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter, Global Study of Volrustomig (MEDI5752) in Combination With Carboplatin Plus Pemetrexed Versus Platinum Plus Pemetrexed or Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Participants With Unresectable Pleural Mesothelioma (eVOLVE-Meso)

Phase 3 · Active, not recruiting · AstraZeneca

A Phase 3, Open-Label, Randomized, Parallel Group Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intrapleural Administration of Adenovirus-Delivered Interferon Alpha-2b (rAd-IFN) in Combination With Celecoxib and Gemcitabine in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Phase 3 · Completed · Ferring Ventures Limited

DREAM3R: DuRvalumab (MEDI4736) With chEmotherapy as First Line treAtment in Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma - A Phase 3 Randomised Trial

Phase 3 · Completed · PrECOG, LLC.

A Multicentre Randomised Phase III Trial Comparing Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab and Standard Chemotherapy Versus Bevacizumab and Standard Chemotherapy as First-line Treatment for Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Phase 3 · Completed · ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation

Individualized Pemetrexed Dosing in Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer or Mesothelioma Based on Renal Function to Improve Treatment Response

Phase 4 · Completed · Radboud University Medical Center
Recruiting

PHASE III STUDY WITH ATEZOLIZUMAB VERSUS PLACEBO IN MALIGNANT PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA PATIENTS AFTER PLEURECTOMY/DECORTICATION

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Gruppo Oncologico Italiano di Ricerca Clinica

FAPI PET in Pleural Mesothelioma: The Diagnostic Accuracy and Clinical Value of FAPI PET at Diagnosis, Primary Staging, and the Feasibility of FAPI PET for Response Evaluation

Phase 2 · Recruiting · Aalborg University Hospital

Efficacy and Safety of Ivonescimab (AK112) in Combination with Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Pretreated Pleural Mesothelioma: a Phase II Multicenter, Single-Arm Clinical Trial

Phase 2 · Recruiting · The First Hospital of Jilin University

Phase 2 Study of Sacituzumab Govitecan-hziy in Patients With Previously Treated Mesothelioma

Phase 2 · Recruiting · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

ICARuS II (Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy After cytoReductive Surgery): A Multicenter, Randomized Phase II Trial of Normothermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy and Intravenous Chemotherapy After Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Phase 2 · Recruiting · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Recently completed

DREAM3R: DuRvalumab (MEDI4736) With chEmotherapy as First Line treAtment in Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma - A Phase 3 Randomised Trial

Phase 3 · Completed · PrECOG, LLC.

A Phase II/III Randomized Study of Pembrolizumab in Patients With Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Phase 2/3 · Completed · Canadian Cancer Trials Group

A Phase 3, Open-Label, Randomized, Parallel Group Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intrapleural Administration of Adenovirus-Delivered Interferon Alpha-2b (rAd-IFN) in Combination With Celecoxib and Gemcitabine in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Phase 3 · Completed · Ferring Ventures Limited

Individualized Pemetrexed Dosing in Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer or Mesothelioma Based on Renal Function to Improve Treatment Response

Phase 4 · Completed · Radboud University Medical Center

A Multicentre Randomised Phase III Trial Comparing Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab and Standard Chemotherapy Versus Bevacizumab and Standard Chemotherapy as First-line Treatment for Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Phase 3 · Completed · ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation

A Phase III, Randomized, Open Label Trial of Nivolumab in Combination With Ipilimumab Versus Pemetrexed With Cisplatin or Carboplatin as First Line Therapy in Unresectable Pleural Mesothelioma

Phase 3 · Completed · Bristol-Myers Squibb

Regulatory timeline

Drug regulatory events matched to this condition by indication — EMA.

Product approvals and authorisations
2016emaGeneric approval — Pemetrexed· Malignant pleural mesothelioma Pemetrexed Fresenius Kabi in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancer Pemetrexed Fresenius Kabi in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Pemetrexed Fresenius Kabi is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed Fresenius Kabi is indicated as monotherapy for the second line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. source ↗
2016emaGeneric approval — Pemetrexed· Malignant pleural mesothelioma Pemetrexed Accord in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancer Pemetrexed Accord in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Pemetrexed Accord is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed Accord is indicated as monotherapy for the second line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. source ↗
2016emaOriginal application approval — Pemetrexed· Malignant pleural mesothelioma Pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancer Pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Pemetrexed is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed is indicated as monotherapy for the second line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. source ↗
2015emaGeneric approval — Pemetrexed· Malignant pleural mesothelioma Pemetrexed medac in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancer Pemetrexed medac in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Pemetrexed medac is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed medac is indicated as monotherapy for the second line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. source ↗
2015emaGeneric approval — Pemetrexed· Malignant pleural mesothelioma Pemetrexed Pfizer in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancer Pemetrexed Pfizer in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Pemetrexed Pfizer is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed Pfizer is indicated as monotherapy for the second-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. source ↗
2015emaOriginal application approval — Pembrolizumab· Melanoma Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older with advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma. Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older with Stage IIB, IIC, or with Stage III melanoma and lymph node involvement who have undergone complete resection. Non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) Keytruda, in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, and then continued as monotherapy as adjuvant treatment, is indicated for the treatment of resectable non small cell lung carcinoma at high risk of recurrence in adults Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adults with non-small cell lung carcinoma who are at high risk of recurrence following complete resection and platinum based chemotherapy (for selection criteria, see section 5.1). Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the first line treatment of metastatic non small cell lung carcinoma in adults whose tumours express PD L1 with a ≥ 50% tumour proportion score (TPS) with no EGFR or ALK positive tumour mutations. Keytruda, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of metastatic non squamous non small cell lung carcinoma in adults whose tumours have no EGFR or ALK positive mutations. Keytruda, in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or nab paclitaxel, is indicated for the first line treatment of metastatic squamous non small cell lung carcinoma in adults. Keytruda  as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non small cell lung carcinoma in adults whose tumours express PD L1 with a ≥ 1% TPS and who have received at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. Patients with EGFR or ALK positive tumour mutations should also have received targeted therapy before receiving KEYTRUDA. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) Keytruda, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, is indicated for the first‑line treatment of adults with unresectable non-epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma. Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients aged 3 years and older with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma who have failed autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or following at least two prior therapies when ASCT is not a treatment option. Urothelial carcinoma Keytruda, in combination with enfortumab vedotin, as neoadjuvant treatment and then continued after radical cystectomy as adjuvant treatment, is indicated for the treatment of adults with resectable muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are ineligible for cisplatin‑containing chemotherapy. Keytruda, in combination with enfortumab vedotin, is indicated for the first-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in adults. Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in adults who have received prior platinum containing chemotherapy.Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in adults who are not eligible for cisplatin containing chemotherapy and whose tumours express PD L1 with a combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 10. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as neoadjuvant treatment, continued as adjuvant treatment in combination with radiation therapy with or without concomitant cisplatin and then as monotherapy in adults whose tumours express PD-L1 with a CPS ≥ 1. Keytruda, as monotherapy or in combination with platinum and 5 fluorouracil (5 FU) chemotherapy, is indicated for the first line treatment of metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in adults whose tumours express PD L1 with a CPS ≥ 1. Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in adults whose tumours express PD L1 with a ? 50% TPS and progressing on or after platinum containing chemotherapy. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) Keytruda, in combination with axitinib, is indicated for the first line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma in adults. Keytruda, in combination with lenvatinib, is indicated for the first line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma in adults. Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adults with renal cell carcinoma at increased risk of recurrence following nephrectomy, or following nephrectomy and resection of metastatic lesions (for selection criteria, please see section 5.1). Microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) cancers Colorectal cancer (CRC)Keytruda as monotherapy is indicated for theadults with MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer in the following settings: first line treatment of metastatic microsatellite instability high (MSI H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer in adults; treatment of unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer after previous fluoropyrimidine based combination therapy.  Non-colorectal cancersKeytruda as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of the following MSI H or dMMR tumours in adults with: advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma, who have disease progression on or following prior treatment with a platinum containing therapy in any setting and who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation; unresectable or metastatic gastric, small intestine, or biliary cancer, who have disease progression on or following at least one prior therapy. Oesophageal carcinoma Keytruda, in combination with platinum and fluoropyrimidine based chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic carcinoma of the oesophagus in adults whose tumours express PD L1 with a CPS ≥ 10. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) Keytruda, in combination with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, and then continued as monotherapy as adjuvant treatment after surgery, is indicated for the treatment of adults with locally advanced, or early stage triple negative breast cancer at high risk of recurrence. Keytruda, in combination with chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple negative breast cancer in adults whose tumours express PD L1 with a CPS ≥ 10 and who have not received prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Endometrial carcinoma (EC) Keytruda, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, is indicated for the first-line treatment of primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy.  Keytruda, in combination with lenvatinib, is indicated for the treatment of advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma in adults who have disease progression on or following prior treatment with a platinum containing therapy in any setting and who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. Cervical cancer Keytruda, in combination with chemoradiotherapy (external beam radiation therapy followed by brachytherapy), is indicated for the treatment of FIGO 2014 Stage III - IVA locally advanced cervical cancer in adults who have not received prior definitive therapy.  Keytruda, in combination with chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab, is indicated for the treatment of persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer in adults whose tumours express PD L1 with a CPS ≥ 1. Gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma Keytruda, in combination with trastuzumab, fluoropyrimidine and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma in adults whose tumours express PD-L1 with a CPS ≥ 1. Keytruda, in combination with fluoropyrimidine and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma in adults whose tumours express PD L1 with a CPS ≥ 1 (see section 5.1). Biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) Keytruda, in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin, is indicated for the first-line treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic biliary tract carcinoma in adults. Ovarian Cancer Keytruda, in combination with paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, is indicated for the treatment of platinum‑resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma in adults whose tumours express PD‑L1 with a CPS ≥ 1 and who have received one or two prior systemic treatment regimens. source ↗
2015emaOriginal application approval — Nivolumab· Melanoma Opdivo as monotherapy or in combination with ipilimumab is indicated for the treatment of advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older.Relative to nivolumab monotherapy, an increase in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the combination of nivolumab with ipilimumab is established only in patients with low tumour PD-L1 expression (see sections 4.4 and 5.1). Adjuvant treatment of melanoma Opdivo as monotherapy is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with Stage IIB or IIC melanoma, or melanoma with involvement of lymph nodes or metastatic disease who have undergone complete resection (see section 5.1). Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Opdivo in combination with ipilimumab and 2 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy is indicated for the first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in adults whose tumours have no sensitising EGFR mutation or ALK translocation. Opdivo as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after prior chemotherapy in adults. Neoadjuvant treatment of NSCLC Opdivo in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy is indicated for the neoadjuvant treatment of resectable non-small cell lung cancer at high risk of recurrence in adult patients whose tumours have PD-L1 expression ≥ 1% (see section 5.1 for selection criteria). Neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment of NSCLC Opdivo, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, followed by OPDIVO as monotherapy as adjuvant treatment, is indicated for the treatment of resectable non-small cell lung cancer at high risk of recurrence in adult patients whose tumours have PD-L1 expression ≥ 1% (see section 5.1 for selection criteria). Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) Opdivo in combination with ipilimumab is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) Opdivo as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma after prior therapy in adults. Opdivo in combination with ipilimumab is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with intermediate/poor-risk advanced renal cell carcinoma (see section 5.1). Opdivo in combination with cabozantinib is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (see section 5.1). Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) Opdivo in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (AVD) is indicated for adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Opdivo as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and treatment with brentuximab vedotin. Opdivo in combination with brentuximab vedotin is indicated for the treatment of children 5 years of age and older, adolescents and adults up to 30 years of age with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma after one prior line of therapy (see section 5.1). Squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) Opdivo as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic squamous cell cancer of the head and neck in adults progressing on or after platinum-based therapy (see section 5.1). Urothelial carcinoma Opdivo in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Opdivo as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in adults after failure of prior platinum-containing therapy. Adjuvant treatment of urothelial carcinoma Opdivo as monotherapy is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adults with muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma (MIUC) with tumour cell PD-L1 expression ≥ 1%, who are at high risk of recurrence after undergoing radical resection of MIUC (see section 5.1). Mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancer (CRC) Opdivo in combination with ipilimumab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with mismatch repair deficient or microsatellite instability-high colorectal cancer in the following settings:- first-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer;- treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer after prior fluoropyrimidine-based combination chemotherapy (see section 5.1). Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) Opdivo in combination with ipilimumab is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma with tumour cell PD-L1 expression ≥ 1%. Opdivo in combination with fluoropyrimidine‑ and platinum‑based combination chemotherapy is indicated for the first‑line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma with tumour cell PD‑L1 expression ≥ 1%. Opdivo as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma after prior fluoropyrimidine‑ and platinum‑based combination chemotherapy. Adjuvant treatment of oesophageal or gastro‑oesophageal junction cancer (OC or GEJC) Opdivo as monotherapy is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with oesophageal or gastro‑oesophageal junction cancer who have residual pathologic disease following prior neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (see section 5.1). Gastric, gastro‑oesophageal junction (GEJ) or oesophageal adenocarcinoma Opdivo in combination with fluoropyrimidine‑ and platinum‑based combination chemotherapy is indicated for the first‑line treatment of adult patients with HER2‑negative advanced or metastatic gastric, gastro‑oesophageal junction or oesophageal adenocarcinoma whose tumours express PD‑L1 with a combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 5. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Opdivo in combination with ipilimumab is indicated for the first‑line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. source ↗
2011emaOriginal application approval — Ipilimumab· Melanoma Yervoy as monotherapy or combination with nivolumab is indicated for the treatment of advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older (see section 4.4).  Yervoy in combination with nivolumab is indicated for the treatment of advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma in adults. Relative to nivolumab monotherapy, an increase in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the combination of nivolumab with ipilimumab is established only in patients with low tumour PD-L1 expression (see sections 4.4 and 5.1). Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) Yervoy in combination with nivolumab is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with intermediate/poor-risk advanced renal cell carcinoma (see section 5.1). Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Yervoy in combination with nivolumab and 2 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy is indicated for the first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in adults whose tumours have no sensitising EGFR mutation or ALK translocation. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) Yervoy in combination with nivolumab is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancer (CRC) Yervoy in combination with nivolumab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with mismatch repair deficient or microsatellite instability high colorectal cancer in the following settings: first-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer; treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer after prior fluoropyrimidine based combination chemotherapy (see section 5.1). Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) Yervoy in combination with nivolumab is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma with tumour cell PD-L1 expression ≥ 1%.Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Yervoy in combination with nivolumab is indicated for the first line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. source ↗
Other regulatory activity
2026emaProduct authorisation ended — Pemetrexed· Malignant pleural mesothelioma Pemetrexed medac in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancer Pemetrexed medac in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Pemetrexed medac is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed medac is indicated as monotherapy for the second line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. source ↗
2025emaProduct authorisation ended — Pemetrexed· Malignant pleural mesotheliomaPemetrexed Baxter in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancerPemetrexed Baxter in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology (see section 5.1). Pemetrexed Baxter is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy (see section 5.1). Pemetrexed Baxter is indicated as monotherapy for the second line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology (see section 5.1). source ↗
2024emaProduct authorisation ended — Pemetrexed· Malignant pleural mesothelioma Pemetrexed Sandoz in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naive patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancer Pemetrexed Sandoz in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Pemetrexed Sandoz is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy. Pemetrexed Sandoz is indicated as monotherapy for the second-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. source ↗
2023emaProduct authorisation ended — Pemetrexed· Malignant pleural mesothelioma Ciambra in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy naïve patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Non-small cell lung cancer Ciambra in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. Ciambra is indicated as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology in patients whose disease has not progressed immediately following platinum-based chemotherapy. Ciambra is indicated as monotherapy for the second line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer other than predominantly squamous cell histology. source ↗

European Medicines Agency (CC BY 4.0). Events are matched to this condition by drug indication text — approvals/updates for drugs indicated for it, not disease-specific acts.

Research activity

3 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this disease, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time
2016–2021
Most influential

Human CAR T cells with cell-intrinsic PD-1 checkpoint blockade resist tumor-mediated inhibition.

The Journal of clinical investigation · 2016 · 856 cites

Assessing Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Solid Tumors: A Practical Review for Pathologists and Proposal for a Standardized Method from the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarkers Working Group: Part 2: TILs in Melanoma, Gastrointestinal Tract Carcinomas, Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma and Mesothelioma, Endometrial and Ovarian Carcinomas, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck, Genitourinary Carcinomas, and Primary Brain Tumors.

Advances in anatomic pathology · 2017 · 607 cites

A Phase I Trial of Regional Mesothelin-Targeted CAR T-cell Therapy in Patients with Malignant Pleural Disease, in Combination with the Anti-PD-1 Agent Pembrolizumab.

Cancer discovery · 2021 · 444 cites
Recent publications

A Phase I Trial of Regional Mesothelin-Targeted CAR T-cell Therapy in Patients with Malignant Pleural Disease, in Combination with the Anti-PD-1 Agent Pembrolizumab.

Cancer discovery · 2021 · 444 cites

Assessing Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Solid Tumors: A Practical Review for Pathologists and Proposal for a Standardized Method from the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarkers Working Group: Part 2: TILs in Melanoma, Gastrointestinal Tract Carcinomas, Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma and Mesothelioma, Endometrial and Ovarian Carcinomas, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck, Genitourinary Carcinomas, and Primary Brain Tumors.

Advances in anatomic pathology · 2017 · 607 cites

Human CAR T cells with cell-intrinsic PD-1 checkpoint blockade resist tumor-mediated inhibition.

The Journal of clinical investigation · 2016 · 856 cites
Major themes2
  • Mesothelioma1
  • Pleural Diseases1
Leading journals3
  • Advances in anatomic pathology1
  • Cancer discovery1
  • The Journal of clinical investigation1
Leading researchers8
  • Adusumilli PS2
  • Jones DR2
  • Sadelain M2
  • Adams S1
  • Allison KH1
  • Allory Y1
  • André F1
  • Araujo Filho JA1
Affiliations (unnormalised)6
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center2
  • Cellular Therapeutics Center1
  • Center for Cell Engineering1
  • Center for Cell Engineering and1
  • Laboratory of Experimental Immunology1
  • Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre1

Associated genes

12 matches

Genes associated with this disease in the canonical knowledge graph (Open Targets evidence). Number shows the association score.

TYMS0.59DHFR0.58BCL100.42MSLN0.14HEG10.09PTGFRN0.05UPK3B0.04ENOX20.04CHST40.03DOCK110.01BACC10.00EMC90.00

Disease biology

3 matches

Proteins whose encoding gene is associated with this disease, reached through the canonical gene→disease graph. Number shows the gene's association score.

Thymidylate synthasevia TYMS0.59Dihydrofolate reductasevia DHFR0.58Mesothelinvia MSLN0.14

Reference

Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.

Defined in MeSH

A tumor derived from mesothelial tissue (peritoneum, pleura, pericardium). It appears as broad sheets of cells, with some regions containing spindle-shaped, sarcoma-like cells and other regions showing adenomatous patterns. Pleural mesotheliomas have been linked to exposure to asbestos. (Dorland, 27th ed)

Identifiers
MeSHMesothelioma
References & data sources
  • Disease identity & definition — NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), public domain
  • Clinical trials — ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
  • Research activity — Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI) + OpenAlex-derived paper links
  • Related entities are derived from literature co-mention (studied together) — associative, not causal.