
Researchers at
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) have published promising results of a phase 2 clinical trial for
patients with pleural mesothelioma found to have a BAP1 genetic mutation.
According to the researchers, the BAP1 mutation is found in over 50% of
patients with pleural mesothelioma.
Researchers administered Tazemetostat (Tazverik®) orally to 74 patients
whose mesothelioma was found to contain the BAP1 mutation and had previously
undergone chemotherapy. The drug was administered in 21-day cycles for
approximately 17 cycles. After a median follow-up of 35·9 weeks
the disease control rate in part 2 was 54% at week 12.
The phase 2 trial was led by MSK oncologist Marjorie Zauderer, “This
is the first targeted therapy we’ve seen to have a real effect on
slowing or stopping pleural mesothelioma,” Dr. Zauderer says. “After
we found out how common
BAP1 was in mesothelioma, I took action to make sure every mesothelioma case
at MSK was tested for the mutation.”
The study was published May 16, 2022 in the journal
Lancet Oncology.