International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma Brings Together Patients and Clinicians in Philadelphia

• Maja Belamaric
• Featured News

The annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma, hosted by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, brought together leading researchers, clinicians, patients, and advocates in Philadelphia this weekend for two days of groundbreaking discussion, collaboration, and support centered on advancing mesothelioma research and care.

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MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT AND SCIENCE

For pleural mesothelioma patients, the Pleural Tumor Board Panel provided information about available treatment options but also covered the rationale employed by multidisciplinary teams when deciding the best course of action for a patient. Experts on the panel included:

• Melina Marmarelis, MD, University of Pennsylvania (Medical Oncologist)
• Adam Bograd, MD, Swedish Cancer Institute (Thoracic Surgeon)
• Mehmet Altan, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center (Medical Oncologist)
• Michael Offin, MD, Memorial Sloan Cancer Center (Medical Oncologist)

The panel walked attendees through two real cases, illustrating how multidisciplinary teams make complex decisions about personalized treatment plans. In mesothelioma there are few approved treatments available, and their efficacy largely depends on the cellular and molecular features of the tumor, so some disagreement in approach is to be expected. Overall, the experts agreed with front line therapy of immunotherapy for non-immune compromised patients and chemotherapy for those not eligible for immunotherapy. Surgery (pleurectomy decortication) can be considered as a treatment option in certain circumstances, namely an epitheliod cell type, and when the patient is fit enough to withstand the stress and recovery of such an intricate operation. Treatment before surgery (known as neoadjuvant treatment) and treatment after surgery (known as adjuvant treatment) with the same chemotherapy and immunotherapy agents is typically recommended. For sarcomatoid patients, immunotherapy is the best option, and those patients are generally not surgical candidates. Surgery can also be an effective tool for palliation of pain and difficulty breathing.

For peritoneal mesothelioma patients, the Peritoneal Tumor Board Panel was structured to provide treatment information and an understanding of rationale for those treatments. That panel included:

• Jason Foster, MD, University of Nebraska (Peritoneal Mesothelioma Surgeon)
• Hedy Kindler, MD, University of Chicago Medicine (Medical Oncologist)
• Michael Offin, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Medical Oncologist)
• Georgios Karagkounis, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Peritoneal Mesothelioma Surgeon)

Unlike pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma does not have a set standard treatment outlined and agreed upon by experts nor is there a staging system that would standardize the results. However, it is generally accepted as best practice to perform cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy). Additionally, systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy are also available to these patients.

WHAT’S NEW WITH CLINICAL TRIALS AND TARGETED THERAPIES

Beyond treatment updates, the symposium also highlighted advances in imaging and clinical trials shaping the future of mesothelioma care.

Dean Fennell, MD, PhD, University of Leicester (Medical Oncologist) provided an overview of emerging and recently completed clinical trials. Beyond large, systemic treatment studies, mesothelioma patients have the option of enrolling in several targeted treatment clinical trials, eligibility for which depends on the molecular features of their tumors.

THE ROLE OF AI IN MEDICAL IMAGING

As the world adjusts to the sudden advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the medical field has already been working to galvanize the benefits of machine learning in area where consistency is paramount. Medical imaging is one of those areas. The presentation by Kevin Blyth, MD, University of Glasgow looked at new ways in which AI can assist doctors by enhancing accuracy of interpretation in imaging interpretation.

SUPPORT, ADVOCACY, AND LEGAL INSIGHT

Social interaction and support groups are a big part of this conference, providing attendees the ability to connect with others who have undergone similar challenges. Patients and their families had numerous opportunities to interact and share information informally, but other non-medical panels also helped with that.

• Legal Panel: this session featured Seth Dymond, Esq., a partner attorney with Belluck Law, LLP who participated in a rapid-fire Q&A and provided additional clarification on legal issues as they relate to asbestos and mesothelioma litigation.
• Clinical Trials Patient Panel: unlike the sessions featuring medical professionals, this session put forth patients who participated in clinical trials to share their experiences with enrollment and their ability to tolerate treatment and side effects.
• Survivorship Patient Panel: panelists discussed their experience after treatment as they related to physical and mental health

The symposium closed with a sense of optimism, solidarity, and newly acquired friendships underscoring the Foundation’s mission to connect science, care, and community. Recordings of additional sessions are available on the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s website and YouTube channel.

SPONSORSHIPS

Belluck Law, LLP was one of the top sponsors of the conference. Belluck Law, LLP, is a premier national firm specializing in mesothelioma and asbestos cases. With offices in New York City and across the state of New York in Albany, Rochester, Woodstock, Gloversville and offices in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. The firm has recovered over $1 billion in compensation on behalf of its clients. The firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms, SuperLawyers, Martindale Hubbell and other peer and third-party attorney evaluators.

In September of 2025, the firm obtained an $83 million verdict on behalf of a client exposed to asbestos by working with clay, and in earlier in the same month, the firm obtained a nearly $12.25 million verdict on behalf of another client who was exposed to asbestos by living near a talc mine.