Response to a Letter Received Entitled: "'Brief Report: Canadian Cancer Trials Group IND.227': Unpacking the Clinical Potential of Single-Agent Pembrolizumab in Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma"

We like to thank Dr. Gemelli for her comments on our study “Brief report: Canadian Cancer Trials Group IND.227: a phase II randomized study of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma (NCT02784171).” As summarized by Dr. Gemelli, the results of prospective clinical trials for single-agent immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in pleural mesothelioma have been inconsistent. This may be related to the heterogeneous nature of mesothelioma, and as yet unidentified biological differences, which may predict for benefit for ICI. “Brief Report: Canadian Cancer Trials Group IND.227”: Unpacking the Clinical Potential of Single-Agent Pembrolizumab in Advanced Malignant Pleural MesotheliomaJournal of Thoracic OncologyVol. 18Issue 6PreviewI read with great interest the recent article by Piccirillo et al.1 on the phase 2 randomized study of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma (IND.227) (NCT02784171). The authors reported a low response rate with single-agent pembrolizumab (13%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4%–25%) on the basis of the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. As a result, this treatment arm was prematurely closed and the study was amended.1 Full-Text PDF