The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Bulletin on July 14 featured a new clinical trial for a combination immunotoxin and chemotherapy regimen to treat pleural mesothelioma. This is a Phase I Study of SS1 (dsFv)-PE38 Immunotoxin in combination with Pemetrexed Disodium and Cisplatin in patients with unresectable malignant epithelial pleural mesothelioma (NCI-08-C-0026).

The principal investigator for the studay is Dr. Raffit Hassan of the NCI Center for Cancer Research.

According to the NCI bulletin, researchers hope an experimental immunotoxin called SS1 (dsFv)-PE38 (or SS1P) can improve the outcome of patients with unresectable (or inoperable) mesothelioma. Clincial trial information says that SS1P is a “genetically engineered biological agent in which part of a bacterial toxin is linked to an antibody that recognizes the protein mesothelin.”

Mesothelin is the protein found on the surface of epithelial mesothelioma cells and other types of cancer cells. It is hoped that combining SS1P with chemotherapy will lead to increased antitumor activity, as compared with either treatment alone.

“Given the marked synergy between SS1P and chemotherapy in preclinical studies, combining them could potentially result in increased antitumor activity in patients,” Dr. Hassan is quoted in the Bulletin.

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Find trial contact information online or call the NCI Clinical Trials Referral Office at 1-888-NCI-1937. The call is toll-free and confidential.