The results of the Confirm Trial has been published in the Lancet this week. It was a trial where Im listed as an Author. I have really enjoyed being part of the team of wonderful Medics, Oncologists etc who have treated me as one of them. It started on phone ins where I couldnt see the faces of the team but because of the Pandemic we was able to use Teams and see one another.
My opinion was always asked for and i did speak up may times. I wanted a crossover but I didnt get it and it had to be placebo. I hate placebos.
I have had to sworn to confidentiality and wasnt allowed to discus with people what was going on but I was allowed to advertise the trial and to get as many mesowarriors to ask their Oncologist about going on the trial and so many did volunteer.
But now I can shout it fro the roof tops that the Confirm trial has been a great success.
The title is Nivolumab versus placebo in patients with relapsed malignant mesothelioma (CONFIRM): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial.
ProfDean AFennellFRCPabSeanEwingsPhDcProfChristianOttensmeierFRCPfRaffaeleCalifanoMDgGerard GHannaFRCRhKayleighHillMSccSarahDansonFRCPiNicolaSteeleFRCPjMavisNyedLucyJohnsoncJoanneLordPhDeCalleyMiddletonBAcProfPeterSzlosarekMRCPkSamChanMRCPlAartiGabaMScaLizDarlisonMScbmPeterWells-JordanFIBMSbCathyRichardsFRCPathb…GaryDougherty
There is my name in bold. Its just amazing that I read that -Little old me at 80 I just feel so privilege to be part of this team.
No phase 3 trial has yet shown improved survival for patients with pleural or peritoneal malignant mesothelioma who have progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in these patients.
Between May 10, 2017, and March 30, 2020, 332 patients were recruited, of whom 221 (67%) were randomly assigned to the nivolumab group and 111 (33%) were assigned to the placebo group).
A good point made There were no treatment-related deaths in either group. That is good to know that it is a safe drug.
Nivolumab represents a treatment that might be beneficial to patients with malignant mesothelioma who have progressed on first-line therapy. Now that is great as it means it can take the place of Chemo. Of coarse the Mesowarriors that cant have Immunotherapy can still have Chemo and it does work well but it kills all the cells good or bad so there is much that has to done in the chemo research to stop it hitting all cells that divide like hair cells etc
Every day, every hour, every second one of the most important events in life is going on in your body—cells are dividing. When cells divide, they make new cells.
Another good point was PD-L1 was not found to be predictive or prognostic in the CONFIRM trial, highlighting the need for other predictors of efficacy for this drug class in mesothelioma.
So many people in my trial was not allowed to enter because it was thought PDL1 played a part but I had only 1% and won through.
My Bi-ops now show I have built that 1% up to way over 50% which was a surprise for my Doctor’s at Th Royal Marsden.
So the results look promising
The CONFIRM trial showed longer progression-free survival and overall survival with nivolumab compared with placebo in patients with relapsed mesothelioma.
What I do like is the fact it worked well on the rarer Mesothelioma and peritoneal. That is good news.
So I hope that helps picking out bits of the trial as even I have to google some of the words to understand but here is the link to read all the results
This is a great time where at last Mesothelioma is being talked out and the awareness is being raised.
Congratulations to all involved you are our Heroes x
Scan Photos from Twitter @DrRiyazShah is a great scan of Dual checkpoint inhibition with nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO+IPI) #Mesothelioma. 2cycles of 1st line nivo ipi given within NHS in Early Access to Medicine Scheme.
Once again Nivolumab is playing a great part in Mesothelioma but in another trial Check Mate and the rarer type Sarcomatoid
Rayandmave's Blog 