What the trial was testing
The ATOMIC-MESO enrolled 249 patients with mesothelioma. The study was sponsored by Polaris Group and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was mid-stage testing (phase 2/3). Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
Median survival was 9.3 months with the new combo versus 7.7 months with standard chemotherapy alone.
JAMA oncology · 2024 · NCT02709512
These findings — that patients lived 9.3 months on average with the new combo versus 7.7 months with standard treatment — were published in the JAMA oncology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 249 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with mesothelioma, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
If you have nonepithelioid mesothelioma, this combination showed meaningful survival benefit in a large trial. The treatment is not yet FDA-approved, but these results are promising. Ask your oncologist whether this approach or similar clinical trials are available to you.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open mesothelioma trials
VMD-928 Monotherapy and in Combination With Pembrolizumab to Treat TrkA Overexpression Driven Solid Tumors or Lymphoma
This is a multicenter, open-label, Phase 1/2 study of orally administered VMD-928 monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab in adult subjects with advanced solid tumors or lymphoma that have progressed or are non responsive to available therapies and for which no standard or available curative therapy exists
PTC-Guided Therapy for Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Official Title: A Study of Key Parameters and Mechanisms in Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment Using Tumor Models Why is this study being done? This research study is for adults with a type of cancer called Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma (MPM). Currently, it is hard for doctors to know which treatment will work best for each patient after surgery. This study will test a new, personalized way to choose treatments using a model grown from a patient's own tumor in the lab, called a Patient-derived tumor-like cell cluster (PTC) model. The main goal is to see if using this PTC model to guide treatment can help patients live longer without their cancer getting worse, compared to a standard chemotherapy treatment. Who can participate? Adults aged 18 and older with a specific type of MPM (epithelioid or biphasic) who are planned to have surgery and heated chemotherapy (CRS+HIPEC) and can provide a tumor sample for the PTC model may be eligible. What will happen in the study? * Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups by chance, like flipping a coin. * Standard Treatment Group: This group will receive the standard chemotherapy combination of Gemcitabine, Oxaliplatin, and Apatinib. Additionally, if the patient's tumor tests positive for PD-L1 (≥1%), the immunotherapy drug Sintilimab will be given together with the chemotherapy. * Personalized Treatment Group: This group will have a PTC model made from their tumor. The model will be tested with different drugs (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy) in the lab. The treatment that works best on the model will be chosen for the patient. * Both groups will receive their assigned treatment for 6 cycles. * Participants will be followed for several years to see how they are doing, through clinic visits and scans. What are the possible benefits? Participants in the personalized treatment group might receive a therapy that is more effective for their specific cancer. The information from this study may help doctors better treat future patients with MPM. What are the possible risks? The risks include side effects from cancer treatments, which can include low blood cell counts, nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, liver problems, and tiredness. There is also a risk that the PTC model may not grow successfully in the lab, or that the drug that works in the model may not work as well in the body. The study team will closely monitor all participants for any side effects and manage them promptly. Who is paying for the study? This study is funded by the National Key R\&D Program of China. Where is the study taking place? The study is conducted at multiple hospitals in China, including Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, and Cangzhou Central Hospital, and Shijiazhuang People's Hospital.