Immunotherapy-based treatment strategies for malignant mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a tumor of the pleura with an etiology that has been strongly linked to previous asbestos exposure. It is an almost universally fatal disease, regardless of tumor stage at the time of diagnosis. Current treatment modalities include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, although in some clinical trials none of these modalities have proven to be superior to no treatment at all. Knowledge of the tumor biology and immunology of this disease is insufficient, although several studies suggest feasibility and success for immunotherapeutic strategies. In this article, we review previous work and describe novel therapeutic approaches utilizing biological response modification for MM.