Anne S. Tsao, MD of MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses IFCT MAPS trial, the PFS and overall benefit in front-line mesothelioma. There are a lot of trials looking into the combination of immunotherapy and chemo. However, this can only be done on clinical trial because its not yet known which among the patients will respond and whether or not this combination has any survival benefit.
As of today, the only triplet combination data available is on the IFCT MAPS Trial, which is on the combination of bevacizumab with cisplatin and pemetrexed for six cycles of therapy, followed by the bevacizumab maintenance. This combination demonstrates PFS and overall survival benefit for patients with front-line mesothelioma. So, the choices doctors have right now are to give platinum pemetrexed or the triplet with the platinum pemetrexed bevacizumab, followed by bevacizumab maintenance.