Mesothelin is a promising target for immune-based therapy, specifically for mesothelioma and pancreatic and ovarian cancers that have high levels of mesothelin expression. Many preclinical and clinical studies that target tumors with high mesothelin expression with antibodies, immunotoxins, antibody-drug conjugates and vaccines have shown the potential of mesothelin as a target. Studies of T cells genetically modified with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) report significant efficacy in hematologic malignancies, and antimesothelin CAR T cells are currently being investigated in clinical studies. Here we outline the rationale for using mesothelin as a target for immunotherapy, review the clinical and preclinical studies evaluating mesothelin-directed therapies and explore the promise of CAR T cells directed against mesothelin for immunotherapy in the future.
Keywords: chimeric antigen receptor; immunotherapy; mesothelin; mesothelioma; ovarian cancer; pancreatic cancer.