605. Cytokine profile assessment of mesothelioma patients treated with escalating doses of intrapleurally administered, genetically modified PA1STK cells and a twice daily regiment of ganciclovir. a Phase I clinical trial

Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is a rapidly progressing, incurable neoplasm of the pleura or peritoneum. The etiology and development of MM is strongly associated with previous asbestos exposure. Despite the advances made in cancer biology no current therapeutic modality is successful in treating the disease. Given the localized nature of mesothelioma and its confinement to the pleural cavity, makes it an ideal disease in which to evaluate new treatment modalities such as gene therapy. Here, we investigated the use of an HSV-tk gene modified ovarian cancer cell line, PA1STK as a delivery system for this disease by direct administration into the tumor site.