IND.227 Trial

IND.227 was an international randomized phase II/III clinical trial that tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to standard chemotherapy improved survival in patients with previously untreated advanced pleural mesothelioma. Led by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group with French and Italian partners, it reported a modest survival benefit for the combination. Results published in The Lancet in 2023 helped establish chemoimmunotherapy as a first-line option for pleural mesothelioma.

Origin

The trial was designated IND.227 under the Canadian Cancer Trials Group's investigational new drug numbering system and was run in collaboration with the Intergroupe Francophone de Cancérologie Thoracique (IFCT-1901) and the Italian NVALT groups. Enrollment began in 2018, and primary results were reported by Quincy Chu and colleagues in 2023.

Significance in Asbestos Context

For patients with pleural mesothelioma, IND.227 is one of the trials that changed first-line treatment options. Before it, the standard had been chemotherapy alone or, after the CheckMate 743 trial, dual immunotherapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab; IND.227 provided evidence that adding a single immunotherapy drug to chemotherapy can also extend survival. This matters because chemoimmunotherapy may be better tolerated than dual immunotherapy for some patients and offers another evidence-based regimen to discuss with an oncologist. In legal claims, treatment received, including participation in or eligibility for trials like IND.227, can be relevant to documenting the course of disease, treatment costs, and damages.

Example Sentence

When my husband was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, his oncologist explained that the IND.227 trial supported adding pembrolizumab to his chemotherapy as a first-line option.

Related Terms

Pembrolizumab, CheckMate 743, Pemetrexed, Pleural Mesothelioma, Immunotherapy, Cisplatin

Notes

• Ask your oncologist whether chemoimmunotherapy (chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab) or dual immunotherapy (nivolumab plus ipilimumab) is more appropriate for your specific tumor subtype. Epithelioid versus sarcomatoid/biphasic histology can influence the choice.
• Keep copies of all treatment records, infusion logs, and clinical trial consent forms; these document both your medical course and the costs that may be recoverable in a legal claim.
• If you are considering a clinical trial, ask whether the center participates in Canadian Cancer Trials Group, ETOP, or NCI-sponsored mesothelioma studies, and confirm insurance and travel coverage before enrolling.
• Tell your legal team about every regimen you have received, including immunotherapy, because treatment history affects both medical-record review and damages calculations.