Just like the saying, “Fight fire with fire,” a mesothelioma clinical trial now recruiting participants is looking into fighting mesothelioma with the measles. But don’t worry; the scientists are not going to give you a case of the measles. Specifically, they are investigating fighting mesothelioma by using a specific measles virus to vanquish malignant mesothelioma cells.
Although the study first started getting underway a couple of years ago, it is now in the phase of actively looking for mesothelioma patients interested in trying this novel approach to fighting mesothelioma.
Intrapleural Measles Virus Therapy in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier – NCT01503177
First received – December 16, 2011
Last updated – April 22, 2013 (ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on February 11, 2014)
Sponsor – The Mayo Clinic
Collaborator – The National Cancer Institute
Purpose – This phase I mesothelioma clinical trial investigates the side effects and the best dose of intrapleural measles virus therapy in treating patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The investigators anticipate that the vaccine strain measles virus will specifically infect and kill cancer cells and spare, without damaging normal cells. Furthermore, the investigators expect the measles virus to trigger an anti-tumor immune response which will result in additional destruction of the tumor by immune cells.
Discussion of Outcome Measures – The researchers are going to be monitoring volunteers to guard against possible adverse reactions such as anemia, neutropenia (a decline in infection-fighting white blood cells), or thrombocytopenia (a decline in platelets needed for normal blood clotting) to help them determine the maximum tolerated dose.
Estimated Enrollment – 36
Study Start Date – November 2011
Primary Completion Date – November 2013
Final Completion Date – Not Known At This Time
Eligibility – Diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma, confined to single pleural cavity, anti-measles immunity, willingness to return to Mayo Clinic or the University of Minnesota Cancer Center for follow up. See study protocol for additional criteria.
Location – Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
Contact – Mayo Clinic Clinical Trials Referral Office 507-538-7623