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.