Study of Immune Environment and Gene Expression to Find New Treatments for Pleural and Peritoneal Mesothelioma

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas PPM, rare cancers mainly caused by asbestos exposure. These cancers are difficult to diagnose and stage, with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. The study aims to improve the understanding of the immune and molecular features of PPM to identify personalized treatment approaches. The research includes both retrospective and prospective recruitment of patients from multiple centers in Italy. The study involves collecting tumor samples from treatment-nafve PPM patients for detailed analysis using bulk gene expression profiling, spatial whole transcriptome analysis, and multiplex immunofluorescence. New potential treatment targets identified through these analyses will be further tested in patient-derived organoids and xenografts that closely mimic PPM tumor development. Participants will provide tumor tissue samples during surgery or biopsy, which will be analyzed to characterize the tumor immune environment and gene expression. The study will monitor patients for about three years, tracking primary and secondary outcomes related to tumor biology and treatment potential. This observational study does not involve experimental treatments but focuses on detailed molecular and immune profiling to guide future therapies.

Immune Microenvironment and Gene Expression Profiling in Mesothelioma