Atezolizumab Phase 1 Trial for Pleural Mesothelioma
University Hospital, Antwerp PHASE1/PHASE2 clinical trial testing atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for people with mesothelioma. Trial NCT05765084 is now recruiting.
University Hospital, Antwerp is recruiting patients for a PHASE1/PHASE2 clinical trial testing atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for mesothelioma.
The trial, designated NCT05765084, aims to enroll up to 15 participants at 3 sites.
About the Study
In this multicenter phase I/II trial, the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor atezolizumab and dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with the mesothelioma-associated tumor antigen WT1 will be integrated into platinum/pemetrexed-based first-line chemotherapy for the treatment of epitheloid malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The general objective is to provide the first-in-human experimental demonstration that the combination of platinum/pemetrexed-based chemotherapy with atezolizumab and WT1/DC vaccination is feasible and safe, has clinical activity and enables the induction of mesothelioma-specific immune responses in patients with MPM.
Treatment Approach
This trial uses a PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor being studied in combination with other treatments.
Key trial details:
- Phase: PHASE1/PHASE2
- Sponsor: University Hospital, Antwerp
- Enrollment target: 15
- Status: RECRUITING
Why This Trial Matters
Study Locations
Contact the trial sponsor for information about participating sites.
How to Enroll
Patients interested in this trial should:
- Discuss eligibility with their oncologist
- Review the full eligibility criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Contact the study coordinator for screening
Reader Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a vaccine for asbestos?
No, there is no vaccine for asbestos. Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma through inhalation or ingestion of mineral fibers, not an infectious agent, so no preventive vaccine exists. Therapeutic cancer vaccines like UV1 (FDA fast-track designation in 2024 with 27% improved survival to 15.4 months when combined with nivolumab and ipilimumab) and galinpepimut-S remain in clinical trials for people with mesothelioma. These vaccines aim to boost immune responses against existing tumors, with phase II data showing 31% objective response rates for UV1 versus 16% for immunotherapy alone. No such vaccines are FDA-approved as of 2026.
What are the four types of cancer vaccines?
The four main types of cancer vaccines are protein or peptide vaccines, nucleic acid-based vaccines (DNA or mRNA), cell-based vaccines, and virus-based vaccines. Protein or peptide vaccines use tumor proteins to stimulate immune attacks on cancer cells, such as sipuleucel-T approved for prostate cancer. Nucleic acid vaccines deliver genetic instructions to produce target proteins, cell-based vaccines employ modified cancer cells for immune recognition, and virus vaccines use engineered viruses to present tumor antigens and enhance T-cell responses. No FDA-approved therapeutic cancer vaccines exist for mesothelioma.
What is the first FDA approved cancer vaccine?
Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) was the first therapeutic cancer vaccine approved by the FDA on April 29, 2010, for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in people with minimal or no symptoms. Approval followed a phase III trial showing a 4.1-month median overall survival improvement (25.8 vs. 21.7 months) compared to placebo. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), approved in 1990 for early-stage bladder cancer, is a preventive vaccine repurposed for intravesical therapy but not classified as the first therapeutic cancer vaccine. No FDA-approved cancer vaccines for mesothelioma exist as of 2026.
Are we close to a cure for mesothelioma?
No cure exists for mesothelioma as of 2026. FDA approvals for immunotherapies like nivolumab/ipilimumab (2020) and pembrolizumab with chemotherapy (2024) as first-line treatments for unresectable pleural mesothelioma have improved median overall survival to around 17-18 months in trials, compared to prior standards. Over 80 active clinical trials test emerging therapies including enzyme therapy (e.g., ADI-PEG20, extending 3-year survival 4-fold in one study), cancer vaccines (e.g., UV1 with Fast Track status), and tumor-treating fields, with some patients achieving long-term remission.