I have just woken up to a very exciting Email from a friend in the US whose father has the same result as myself, with Keytruda and he is just going to have his 18th infusion.

As if that wasnt exciting enough he sent me an article that

Keytruda trial results at the World Lung Conference in Vienna this week. I anticipate we will hear great news from Dr. Hedy Kindler of the University of Chicago’s study of Keyruda on Meso.

New Keytruda (pembrolizumab) data to be presented at 17th World Conference on Lung Cancer highlight research across the spectrum of thoracic malignancies.

Merck announced that new data investigating the use of Keytruda (pembrolizumab), the company’s anti-PD-1 therapy, across multiple thoracic malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma, will be presented at the 17th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer in Vienna, Austria, Dec. 4-7. An abstract evaluating quality of life outcomes in first-line NSCLC will be included on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

“Based on the meaningful results already obtained in studies evaluating the use of Keytruda in certain patients with PD-L1 positive non-small cell lung cancer, we have asked whether similar benefits might be associated with Keytruda use in treating other intrathoracic malignancies, including small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma,” said Dr. Roger M. Perlmutter, president, Merck Research Laboratories. “We look forward to sharing our recent findings with the scientific community as we seek to help patients facing these difficult diseases.”

The Keytruda (pembrolizumab) clinical development program includes more than 30 tumor types in more than 360 clinical trials, including over 200 trials that combine Keytruda with other cancer treatments. Merck has an extensive research program in NSCLC and is currently advancing multiple registration-enabling studies with Keytruda as monotherapy and in combination.

Keytruda is a humanized monoclonal antibody that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. Keytruda blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells. It is administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every three weeks for the approved indications. For injection, Keytruda is supplied in a 100 mg single use vial.

Additional meeting information and full abstracts are available on the WCLC meeting website.

I had to find out who this Dr was and found all this information out so as I wanted to share I have copied to my blog to keep it all in one place.

Dr. Hedy Lee KindlerFocus: Pleural & Peritoneal Mesothelioma

University of Chicago Medicine

5758 S. Maryland Ave
Chicago, IL

As one of the top mesothelioma specialists in the United States, Dr. Kindler has been a leader in developing treatment for mesothelioma patients.

About Dr. Kindler

Hedy Lee Kindler, M.D., is a cancer expert with years of experience studying and treating mesothelioma. She sees more than 100 mesothelioma cases a year and continues to bring on new patients with the hopes of helping as many people as possible. Many of her patients come from all over the world to seek her experience and guidance.

Medical Degree and Residency

MD State University of New York Buffalo, 1989. Dr. Kindler completed residency at UCLA Medical Center Internal Medicine from 1989-1991.
Professorship

Assistant Professor of Medicine University of Chicago Medical Center

Dr. Kindler’s father passed away from mesothelioma in 2001, which sparked an even stronger interest in finding ways to battle the disease. Much of her focus is on new treatments and drugs like Alimta and gemcitabine.

A champion for mesothelioma recovery, Dr. Kindler has traveled extensively, proving theories and treatments for these conditions to medical experts worldwide. She is frequently invited to speak on the latest findings and treatments available in asbestos-related diseases.

Although her emphasis is on mesothelioma recovery and treatment, Dr. Kindler also specializes in the medical treatment of pancreatic cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Dr. Kindler’s Accomplishments

Kindler is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, the International Mesothelioma Interest Group, and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. Additionally, Dr. Kindler is a two-term (2006-2010) past president of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group and is an associate editor of the medical journal, Lung Cancer.

Dr. Kindler’s Clinical Research

As Dr. Kindler has a personal interest in the treatment of mesothelioma, much of her research is focused on novel treatments. This research holds potential to not only improve the survival times of patients but also lead to more personalized treatment options.

“The Role of Gemcitabine in the Treatment of Mesothelioma”

Dr. Kindler published this article back in 2002 to discuss the efficacy of the chemotherapy drug, gemcitabine, as a single agent or in combination with a platinum-based chemotherapy drug. What makes the article interesting is that Dr. Kindler suggests other roles the drug may play. The most notable role she suggests in the study is gemcitabine in combination “with other cytotoxic chemotherapy agents such as pemetrexed or vinorelbine, or adding novel cytostatic agents…such as bevacizumab.”

Semin Oncol. 2002 Feb;29(1):70-6.

The role of gemcitabine in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma.

Kindler HL¹, van Meerbeeck JP.

Author information

Abstract

Gemcitabine is broadly active in a variety of solid tumors, including malignant mesothelioma. In vitro, gemcitabine demonstrates activity against mesothelioma cell lines. The role of single-agent gemcitabine in patients with mesothelioma is unclear, since three phase II trials treated a total of 60 patients and achieved response rates of 0%, 7%, and 31%. The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin is synergistic against mesothelioma cell lines in vitro. Gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin shows definite activity in phase II trials. The trial by Byrne and colleagues that demonstrated a response rate of 48% established the combination of gemcitabine plus cisplatin as a standard therapy for this disease in the United States. Subsequent multicenter trials have achieved lower response rates of 26% and 16% for this combination. Gemcitabine plus carboplatin also has activity. Future roles for gemcitabine in malignant mesothelioma patients include incorporating a gemcitabine/platinum regimen for neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy, combining it with other cytotoxic chemotherapy agents such as pemetrexed or vinorelbine, or adding novel cytostatic agents such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, bevacizumab, to the gemcitabine and platinating agent combination.

“Moving Beyond Chemotherapy”

Following her article in 2002, Dr. Kindler published an article 2 years later titled, “Moving beyond chemotherapy: novel cytostatic agents for malignant mesothelioma.” The study evaluated the efficacy of novel drugs such as bevacizumab, which work by interfering with the signaling pathways that affect mesothelioma cell growth. Years later, this research has shown to have a significant survival benefit to mesothelioma patients.

Abstract

It is now known that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) are autocrine growth factors in malignant mesothelioma; epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is also highly overexpressed. Cytotoxic drugs that target these growth factors offer fresh potential for the treatment of mesothelioma. Clinical trials have recently been initiated to evaluate the anti-tumour activity of the VEGF inhibitors SU5416, bevacizumab and thalidomide. ZD1839 (Iressa, AstraZeneca), an inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase, is also being evaluated. Two clinical trials are planned to evaluate the two PDGF inhibitors Gleevec (Imatinib mesylate, STI-571, Novartis Pharmaceuticals) and PTK787 (Novartis Pharmaceuticals).

All the links to the above news

http://www.pharmpro.com/news/2016/12/merck-present-new-data-keytruda-next-week.

https://www.mesotheliomaguide.com/doctor/dr-hedy-lee-kindler/

http://www.lungcancerjournal.info/article/S0169-5002(04)00183-7/abstract?cc=y=

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11836671

A Diary Of A Mesowarrior Living With #Mesothelioma #Asbestos #Ketruda Results at the World Lung Conference in Vienna this week.

Merck to Present New Data on Keytruda Next Week

New Keytruda (pembrolizumab) data to be presented at 17th World Conference on Lung Cancer highlight research across the spectrum of thoracic malignancies.