Mesothelin-targeted agents in clinical trials and in preclinical development

Mol Cancer Ther. 2012 Mar;11(3):517-25. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-11-0454. Epub 2012 Feb 17.

Abstract

Mesothelin is a tumor differentiation antigen that is highly expressed in several malignant diseases in humans, including malignant mesothelioma and pancreatic, ovarian, and lung adenocarcinomas. The limited expression of mesothelin on normal human tissues and its high expression in many common cancers make it an attractive candidate for cancer therapy. Several agents, including an immunotoxin, monoclonal antibody, antibody drug conjugate, and tumor vaccine, are in various stages of development to treat patients with mesothelin-expressing tumors. This review highlights ongoing clinical trials, as well as other approaches to exploit mesothelin for cancer therapy, that are in preclinical development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / immunology*
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunotoxins / therapeutic use*
  • Mesothelin
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Immunotoxins
  • Mesothelin