Immunotherapy vs. Chemotherapy

What Is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps the body’s immune system recognize and kill mesothelioma cells. Normally, the immune system defends the body against harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses. But cancer cells can hide or disguise themselves to avoid detection. Immunotherapy makes it easier for the immune system to identify and target cancer cells.

• CAR-T cell therapy: This approach modifies a person’s own T cells in a lab to recognize specific cancer cells. It enhances the body’s ability to see and destroy cancer cells.
• Cancer vaccines: This therapy introduces specific cancer-associated proteins to stimulate the immune system. It trains immune cells to recognize and attack cancer more effectively.
• Checkpoint inhibitors: These drugs block specific proteins in cancer or immune cells. They prevent cancer cells from blocking immune responses so the body can attack tumors.

Immunotherapy can be used alone or with other treatments to improve outcomes. This targeted approach can lead to longer-lasting results for some people with mesothelioma, potentially controlling cancer longer than other therapies.

What Is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy for mesothelioma uses strong drugs to fight cancer cells in the body. Cancer cells grow and divide much faster than normal cells.

• Common chemo drugs: Common chemo drugs for mesothelioma include cisplatin, Alimta (pemetrexed), carboplatin, gemcitabine and vinorelbine.
• How chemo works: Chemo drugs attack fast-growing cells and stop them from multiplying. The drugs enter the bloodstream, so they can reach almost every part of the body and target cancer cells wherever they are.

Chemotherapy doesn’t only affect cancer cells. It also impacts other fast-growing cells. Hair, skin and the lining of the stomach are affected. That’s why people on chemo might experience side effects like hair loss, nausea and fatigue. The drugs are often given in cycles, with breaks in between to help healthy cells recover.

Key Differences Between Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy

Chemo blocks a mesothelioma tumor’s ability to grow and spread. Immunotherapy boosts your body’s ability to kill cancer cells. Both therapies can affect the entire body (systemic therapy). Each treatment has a different way of attacking cancer cells.

Peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Tami Pream has been undergoing heated chemo treatments, or HIPEC, combined with an immunotherapy regimen. She tells us her treatment combinations have been successful so far. “It seems to be making somewhat of a difference in how I’m feeling,” Tami says.

Mechanism of Action

Most chemo drugs damage cancer cells as they divide and multiply. They prevent the synthesis of DNA and other molecules. These are vital for cell division and survival. Cancer cells grow and divide faster than most healthy cells. So they’re an ideal target for chemo drugs.

Immunotherapy drugs can help your immune system spot cancer cells. Cancer cells come from your own cells. So your immune system doesn’t always recognize them as a threat. Boosting the immune system helps the body kill cancer cells.

Target Specificity

Immunotherapy is more targeted than chemotherapy. Chemotherapy targets all rapidly dividing cells, impacting both cancerous and healthy cells. Immunotherapy targets only cancer cells, enhancing the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack them. Immunotherapy trains immune cells to identify cancer as a threat, leaving healthy cells largely unaffected.

Side Effects

Chemo and immunotherapy have shared and unique side effects. Chemo’s targeting of rapidly dividing cells affects healthy cells in areas like the digestive tract and hair follicles. Symptoms like nausea, vomiting and hair loss may occur.  

Immunotherapy’s impact on the immune system causes immune-related side effects. Inflammation can develop in the lungs, skin, liver or intestines. Immune side effects occur less frequently than chemo side effects, but they may require immunosuppressive treatment when severe.

Benefits of Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy

Immunotherapy and chemo offer improved survival and quality of life benefits for people with mesothelioma. Chemo helps people who need immediate symptom relief. Immunotherapy potentially offers longer-lasting effects.

Chemo is widely accessible, making it a common first-line treatment. Many forms of immunotherapy have also become widely accessible. These therapies may be used interchangeably as both first- and second-line treatments.

Benefits of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy for mesothelioma harnesses the body’s immune system to fight cancer more effectively. It helps the immune system recognize and target mesothelioma cells. Certain types of immunotherapies may train the body to recognize cancer cells for a long time.

For some people, immunotherapy results in long-lasting responses. The effect can last months or even years after treatment. Mesothelioma survivor Andy Ashcraft lived for several years with stage 4 mesothelioma thanks to immunotherapy. The drug amatuximab, which he received through a clinical trial, was effective for 3 years.

Immunotherapy is beneficial for patients with advanced or inoperable mesothelioma when conventional treatments may be less effective. It can boost survival and quality of life, improving symptoms.

Benefits of Chemotherapy

Chemo can shrink mesothelioma tumors and control spreading. Chemo drugs target and kill cancer cells, which reduces tumor size. Shrinking tumors alleviates symptoms like pain and shortness of breath. Its ability to limit cancer spread helps slow disease progression. These factors make it an effective first-line treatment for patients needing quick relief or when surgery isn’t feasible.

Chemo’s tumor-shrinking effect can enhance the effectiveness of other treatments. For example, it can reduce tumor size before surgery. This has the potential to make surgical tumor removal easier. Chemo can also be combined with immunotherapy, targeted therapy and Tumor Treating Fields. Combining chemo with these therapies enhances effectiveness.

Side Effects of Immunotherapy vs. Chemotherapy

Chemo and immunotherapy for mesothelioma patients have many of the same side effects, including fatigue and flu-like symptoms. Drug interactions can make it hard to treat side effects. Some medications can reduce how well chemo and immunotherapy work.

Both treatments for mesothelioma can have serious side effects. Chemotherapy can cause severe infections. It can cause long-term memory problems and “chemo brain” or “brain fog.” Immunotherapy can cause pneumonia, hepatitis, kidney issues and organ damage. 

Immunotherapy drugs usually have milder side effects. As part of the body’s immune response, inflammation, for example, can cause side effects. This can lead to symptoms such as fever and fatigue. These side effects are usually reversible.

Chemo drugs target cells that divide rapidly. This includes cancer cells and some healthy cells, like hair cells, the lining of the gut and bone marrow. This is why some chemo drugs cause hair loss, mouth sores and nausea.

Your medical team can prescribe medication and therapies to help alleviate side effects. Talk to your doctor as soon as side effects develop. Prompt treatment can help keep side effects under control.

When Side Effects Begin and How Long They Last

Side effects of both therapies usually begin soon after treatment starts. Sometimes, they can last for months or years after treatment. But they usually stop soon after treatment ends. 

Chemo side effects vary with different drugs. Immunotherapy side effects are often less predictable than those of chemo. Cancer treatments affect everyone differently.

Effectiveness of Immunotherapy vs. Chemotherapy

Trials have compared the effects of immunotherapy with chemotherapy for people with mesothelioma. In first-line treatment, immunotherapy shows a slight survival benefit over chemo. Immunotherapy didn’t show significant survival benefit in second-line treatment. Combining certain chemo and immunotherapy drugs can improve effectiveness as well.

Both chemo and immunotherapy are first-line treatments for advanced pleural mesothelioma. This includes stage 2 or higher and inoperable stage 1. A combo of immunotherapy drugs Opdivo and Yervoy is often used. Keytruda may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

When Are Immunotherapy and Chemo Most Effective?

• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is slightly more effective in the first line of treatment in advanced cases. Doctors may choose immunotherapy or chemo as the first treatment. The decision is based on the patient’s health and tumor characteristics. For relapsed cases, doctors use a different second-line treatment. If immunotherapy was used first, then chemo would be used next.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is effective for all stages and types of mesothelioma. Surgical patients may receive it before and after surgery. Chemo is an effective option for late-stage patients of all types. This makes chemo a good option for late-stage peritoneal patients who may not be offered immunotherapy.

Chemotherapy drugs are also combined. Alimta with either cisplatin or carboplatin is often given before surgery to remove pleural tumors. Dr. Jeffrey Velotta, a thoracic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, tells us pleural patients live the longest when they undergo surgery first, then chemo and then immunotherapy.

Doctors often treat peritoneal mesothelioma with surgery and heated chemo. This type of chemo is localized and performed during surgery. Immunotherapy has rarely been used in peritoneal cases, but research is ongoing.

Combining Treatments

Research published in the journal Cancers shows that for some cancers, a combo of immunotherapy and chemo is better than either alone. If cancer recurs after using only one therapy, doctors may then use a mix of the two.

• DREAM trial: Chemo with cisplatin and pemetrexed plus immunotherapy with durvalumab was tested. Most patients survived progression-free after 6 months.
• IND227 trial: Chemo with pemetrexed and either cisplatin or carboplatin plus immunotherapy with pembrolizumab was tested. This therapy was better than chemo alone. It significantly improved survival and response rates.
• JME-001 trial: Chemo with cisplatin and pemetrexed plus immunotherapy with nivolumab was tested. Most participants had a partial response to the treatment.
• KEYNOTE-483 trial: Chemo with cisplatin and pemetrexed plus immunotherapy with Keytruda was tested in pleural patients. It confirmed an improvement in overall survival and resulted in FDA approval of the combination in 2024.
• PrE0505 trial: Chemo with cisplatin and pemetrexed plus immunotherapy with durvalumab was tested. It worked better in people with certain gene mutations related to DNA repair.

The BEAT-meso and DREAM3R trials are testing new drug combos for mesothelioma. They use a mix of immunotherapy and chemo. Ongoing clinical trials offer access to the latest in cancer treatment. Discuss open trials with your mesothelioma doctor.

Who’s Eligible?

The main factors for chemo or immunotherapy eligibility are health and cancer type. Some therapies may not be suitable for those with heart problems or serious health issues. 

Some patients qualify for both therapies. Mesothelioma survivor Barbara Lapalla tells us she received immunotherapy after chemo stopped working. Lapalla says, “I tell people today, I’m a walking miracle. They don’t believe in miracles. Then they see me.”

• Chemo eligibility: Your cancer type must respond to chemo, and you must also be healthy enough for the therapy.
• Immunotherapy eligibility: Your cancer type must respond to immunotherapy, and you must have a healthy immune system.

Underlying conditions can limit therapeutic options. For example, people with severe heart issues may not be eligible for chemo. A person with an autoimmune disease may not qualify for immunotherapy.

Cost and Accessibility of Immunotherapy vs. Chemotherapy

Mesothelioma immunotherapy is generally much more expensive than chemo. Its history of use in cancer treatment often makes chemo more accessible. Immunotherapy’s high cost can limit accessibility, though some insurance plans do cover it for mesothelioma.

Health insurance, medical grants and other types of financial aid help patients afford treatment. Veterans may qualify for VA health care and disability compensation. Social Security Disability is available for anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma. Asbestos lawsuits and trust fund claims also help patients pay for medical care.

Costs of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy for mesothelioma is generally quite expensive. The combination of Yervoy and Opdivo for mesothelioma can cost $256,000 per year. The specific price depends on factors like the type of immunotherapy drug, treatment frequency and healthcare facility charges.

Some therapies, like CAR-T cell therapy, can be even more costly. Some patients qualify to receive these drugs through clinical trials. Although many insurance plans offer some coverage, high out-of-pocket costs often remain. Financial aid options and pharmaceutical assistance programs can help patients afford immunotherapy.

Costs of Chemotherapy

The cost of chemo can vary a lot depending on which drugs are used and how long or often treatments last. A 2013 report put the price of first-line chemo for mesothelioma at $40,102 with Alimta and cisplatin. That was 12 years ago and the cost was already staggering.

Most insurance plans cover chemo, but the amount they cover can vary for each patient. Chemo is often easier to access than immunotherapy because it has been used for a much longer time.

Insurance Coverage and Financial Assistance

Health insurance plays a key role in covering the high costs of cancer treatments like chemo and immunotherapy. Most insurance plans offer some coverage for these treatments, including private health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. 

However co-pays, deductibles and how much of the costs are covered can vary greatly depending on the plan. Even with coverage, these treatments can still be expensive for many patients.

Talking with Patient Advocates and financial counselors can help people find financial assistance. Programs like medical grants can reduce the financial burden. Veterans with mesothelioma can also file VA claims. Seeking financial help allows patients to concentrate on recovery without worrying about treatment costs.

Common Questions About Immunotherapy vs. Chemotherapy

Is there a cost difference between immunotherapy and chemotherapy?

The cost of immunotherapy vs. chemotherapy varies. It depends on the treatment length, cancer type and its stage. Chemo is usually less expensive than immunotherapy. A 2020 study on non-small cell lung cancer found chemotherapy cost $147,801 and immunotherapy $202,202 in 2016.

Insurance doesn’t always cover all cancer treatment costs. Patient Advocates at The Mesothelioma Center can help you find financial aid.

Are there differences in the length of treatment time?

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy vary in how long they last. It depends on the cancer stage, type and side effects. Immunotherapy for advanced pleural mesothelioma usually lasts 2 years. Chemotherapy for pleural mesothelioma usually lasts for 5 months.

Is immunotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination recommended depending on mesothelioma type?

Doctors use chemo or immunotherapy for epithelioid pleural mesothelioma. Immunotherapy is recommended for biphasic or sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma. Chemo is approved for peritoneal mesothelioma. Immunotherapy isn’t approved yet for this type.

Does the recommended therapy depend on your mesothelioma stage?

Yes, mesothelioma treatment depends on the stage. People with early-stage disease may be eligible for surgery with chemo and/or radiation. However, those with advanced disease often don’t qualify for surgery. The first-line treatment is systemic therapy.

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