New Study Says Nintedanib Inhibits Tumor Growth in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Models
A new study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research has revealed that targeted cancer drug nintedanib is active in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cell models. The drug, which is currently used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs with an unknown cause) and for a type of non-small cell lung cancer called adenocarcinoma, also inhibited angiogenesis and tumor growth in vivo.
In the LUME-Meso phase 2 MPM trial, the research team examined the “antineoplastic activity of nintedanib in various in vitro and in vivo models of human MPM,” says CCR. The team recorded and published the following results:
Nintedanib's target receptors were (co)expressed in all the 20 investigated human MPM cell lines. Nintedanib inhibited MPM cell growth in both short- and long-term viability assays. Reduced MPM cell proliferation and migration and the inhibition of Erk1/2 phosphorylation were also observed upon nintedanib treatment in vitro. Additive effects on cell viability were detected when nintedanib was combined with cisplatin, a drug routinely used for systemic MPM therapy. In an orthotopic mouse model of human MPM, survival of animals receiving nintedanib per os showed a favorable trend, but no significant benefit.
Nintedanib significantly reduced tumor burden and vascularization and prolonged the survival of mice when it was administered intraperitoneally. Importantly, unlike bevacizumab, nintedanib demonstrated significant in vivo antivascular and antitumor potential independently of baseline VEGF-A levels.
Conclusions: Nintedanib exerts significant antitumor activity in MPM both in vitro and in vivo. These data provide preclinical support for the concept of LUME-Meso trials evaluating nintedanib in patients with unresectable MPM.
Based on these “extremely” promising results, nintedanib is currently being evaluated in the confirmatory LUME-Meso phase 3 trial. Nintedanib and many other targeted therapies are also being evaluated in multiple studies for their effectiveness in treating MPM in conjunction with and/or as an alternative to traditional protocols. These studies are being conducted around the world.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, talk to your doctor about developing treatments for MPM such as nintedanib. Newer, targeted therapies such as this could be helpful in treating your specific type of mesothelioma. Talk to your doctor today.
Sources
Laszio, Viktoria, and Zsuzsanna Valko. “Nintedanib Is Active in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Cell Models and Inhibits Angiogenesis and Tumor Growth in Vivo.” Clinical Cancer Research, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), 3 May 2018.
