Key Takeaways
- A new clinical trial tested pegargiminase combined with chemotherapy specifically for patients with non-epithelioid pleural mesothelioma — the most aggressive and hardest-to-treat subtypes (sarcomatoid and biphasic).
- The results were remarkable: median survival for enrolled patients went from 1.6 months to 36 months — a dramatic improvement for a subtype that historically has the worst prognosis.
- The trial was conducted at 43 centers across five countries, involving 429 patients, from August 2017 to August 2021.
- Mesothelioma remains difficult to diagnose because symptoms mimic common conditions like colds and asthma. Many patients are not diagnosed until later stages, when treatment options are more limited.
- Approximately 27 million Americans experienced asbestos exposure between the 1940s and 1970s. Due to mesothelioma’s latency period of up to 50+ years, about 3,000 new cases are still diagnosed annually.
Mesothelioma is traditionally very hard to treat. For years research has been done to try to determine new and innovative combinations of treatments that are most effective, depending on the type of mesothelioma. There is a new clinical trial for mesothelioma using a novel chemotherapy that has had promising results.
Misdiagnosing Mesothelioma
Correctly diagnosing mesothelioma has been a constant issue. The symptoms of mesothelioma mock those of other more common diseases, such as a cold or asthma, and often the cancer is misdiagnosed. Also, due to the rarity of the disease, many doctors may not be thinking that the patient has mesothelioma and may believe it is something else entirely. Another issue is properly staging the mesothelioma. In many instances treatment options are determined by the stage of the cancer. There are four stages of mesothelioma. Usually, once a patient reaches stage four, surgery is no longer an option and other treatment methods such as chemotherapy must be used.
Early Detection is Important
If the cancer is detected early enough, this new clinical trial for mesothelioma could help to prolong life expectancy and enhance overall quality of life for patients.
The number of mesothelioma cases is not decreasing every year. This is because of the long latency period between asbestos exposure and the development of an asbestos-related disease. Symptoms can take up to 50 or more years to develop, so people continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. There are about 3,000 new mesothelioma cases each year in the United States. Those who are most affected are the people who worked around the carcinogen, such as construction workers and Navy veterans.
About 27 million people experienced asbestos exposure between the 1940s and the 1970s. These people are at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma. In 2019, it was estimated that about 40,764 Americans died from asbestos-related diseases. This highlights the importance of innovative research.
New Clinical Trial for Mesothelioma – Results
This new clinical trial for mesothelioma tested pegargiminase-chemotherapy in patients with non-epithelioid pleural mesothelioma. Testing was done at 43 different centers in five countries, consisting of 429 patients. The trial took place from August 2017 to August 2021. The results showed that the median survival of the patients that were enrolled went from 1.6 months to 36 months.
Mesothelioma treatment can be extremely costly as treatment can be very extensive. Seeking compensation for your diagnosis can help pay for medical expenses. Our team has a vast knowledge of the ins and outs of asbestos litigation and, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, we want to help you get your rightful compensation. We also have information on our website about different places to treat mesothelioma in and around Pennsylvania. We offer information about mesothelioma as well as legal help and we are there to support you. For more information or for a free case evaluation, call us at (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pegargiminase and how does it treat mesothelioma?
Pegargiminase is a drug that works by depleting arginine — an amino acid that certain cancer cells depend on for growth. Non-epithelioid mesothelioma cells (sarcomatoid and biphasic) are particularly dependent on arginine, making pegargiminase especially effective against these aggressive subtypes. When combined with standard chemotherapy, pegargiminase attacks the cancer through two pathways simultaneously: arginine depletion starves the tumor cells while chemotherapy disrupts their ability to divide.
How significant are the trial results?
The results are exceptionally significant — particularly for non-epithelioid mesothelioma, which has historically had the worst prognosis of any mesothelioma subtype. Median survival went from 1.6 months to 36 months in enrolled patients. For context, the average life expectancy for sarcomatoid mesothelioma is approximately 8.5 months. A treatment that extends survival to 36 months represents a transformative improvement for patients with these aggressive subtypes.
Which mesothelioma patients does this trial apply to?
This trial specifically tested pegargiminase-chemotherapy in patients with non-epithelioid pleural mesothelioma — meaning sarcomatoid and biphasic subtypes. These are the most aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of mesothelioma. The trial was not designed for epithelioid mesothelioma (the most common subtype), which already has a relatively better response to existing treatments.
Is this the same as the ADI-PEG20 / ATOMIC-meso trial?
Yes — this appears to be the same trial. ADI-PEG20 (pegargiminase) was tested in the ATOMIC-meso trial, which was conducted at 43 sites across five countries. The drug works by depleting arginine levels to suppress tumor growth. Both this post and the ATOMIC-meso research describe the same treatment approach, trial structure, and results.
Why is mesothelioma so often misdiagnosed?
Mesothelioma is misdiagnosed for several reasons. Its symptoms — shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, fatigue — closely mimic common conditions like colds, asthma, and pneumonia. The disease is also rare (~3,000 cases/year in the U.S.), so it may not be a doctor’s first consideration. Additionally, mesothelioma can take up to 50 years to develop after asbestos exposure, so patients and doctors may not connect current symptoms to exposure that happened decades ago. This is why mentioning your asbestos exposure history to your doctor is so important.
What should I do if I’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, understanding your treatment options — including emerging therapies like pegargiminase — and your legal rights is essential. Mesothelioma treatment can be extremely costly, and compensation may be available to help cover medical expenses and lost wages. Call (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.