Mesothelioma Hope attended the 17th annual iMig conference with leading experts in the mesothelioma field. Important topics included the future of surgery, advancements in symptom management, and opportunities in genetic and biomarker testing.
We were honored to attend the 17th Annual International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig). The four-day event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, brought together leaders from around the world to discuss innovations and insights in mesothelioma research and care.
Our Oncology Nurse Navigator, Liz Logan, attended the conference to share and learn alongside other attendees, including scientists, clinicians, and patient advocates. It offered a unique opportunity to gather with colleagues from the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, and more.
“From a medical standpoint, the overwhelming feeling I got from being at iMig was hope. There are some brilliant minds doing amazing work across the world, and it’s a true collaboration — all sharing ideas and resources in our common purpose of improving and extending the lives of mesothelioma patients.”
Below are four key takeaways from this year’s conference.
1. Surgery Is Being Scrutinized But Still Holds Promise
Historically, mesothelioma surgery has been one of the most common treatment options for newly diagnosed patients. For pleural mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining), doctors may recommend one of two surgeries: extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), which removes the lung on the affected side, or pleurectomy with decortication (P/D), which removes the cancer but leaves the lung in place.
Both of these surgeries are aggressive and can be painful, expensive, and hard to recover from. Because of this, researchers have been studying whether surgery truly helps mesothelioma patients live longer. One study, the MARS 2 trial, found that adding surgery to chemotherapy didn’t improve survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
In a session titled “The Future of Surgery in Pleural Mesothelioma,” Dr. Raphael Bueno of Brigham and Women’s Hospital explained that surgery still has a role, but only for the right patients. He also noted that systemic (whole-body) treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy are improving every year.
Key things to note for the future of pleural mesothelioma surgery:
- Not everyone will be a candidate, nor should they be. The best results come from tailoring care to the patient’s cancer stage, status, and biology.
- Surgery for pleural mesothelioma should only be performed by experts in the field at specialized cancer centers.
- Good outcomes depend on a strong team of experts working together, including surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists.
Another key point about surgery’s viability is the cost of traveling to specialized cancer centers. Many patients don’t live within easy traveling distance from surgical centers of excellence, which can make surgery out of reach for some patients. For that reason, financial support is critical in the overall treatment picture.
2. Biomarkers May Help With Diagnosis, Treatment Response
Dr. Andrea Wolf, mesothelioma program director at Mount Sinai Hospital, spoke about the potential for biomarkers to help detect, treat, and monitor pleural mesothelioma. Because of mesothelioma’s long latency period and vague early symptoms, it often goes undetected at first. By researching biomarkers and other ways to more quickly detect the cancer, patients may have more treatment options and better outcomes.
Biomarkers are molecules in the blood or tissue that may indicate the presence of mesothelioma. Currently, the only biomarker testing for mesothelioma approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is MESOMARK, which measures SMRPs, or serum-measured soluble mesothelin-related peptides. Mesothelioma cells usually make more mesothelin than healthy cells.
Other potential biomarkers being researched include:
- Fibulin-3
- HMGB1
- miRNAs
- Osteopontin
By looking at biomarkers found in blood and tissue samples, doctors may one day get a clearer picture of how mesothelioma develops and how to treat it. This type of testing is still in the early phases of research, but it shows promise for the future.
Dr. Wolf explained how using several biomarkers together could give doctors more complete information about the disease. She also shared that advanced tools — like tests that examine a tumor’s unique features and even artificial intelligence — may eventually help personalize mesothelioma care and predict how the cancer might respond to treatment.
3. Patients Deserve to Be Treated Holistically
One key theme from the iMig conference was the need for health care professionals to evaluate and treat the whole patient, beyond their individual diagnosis and symptoms. One presentation highlighted the many struggles and experiences patients may be carrying under the surface — including social pain, emotional pain, and psychological pain — while the only “visible” pain is the physical symptoms.
Palliative care was an important component of this topic. Leaders noted there’s a misconception that palliative care is similar to hospice care, or only needed at the end of life. Instead, it focuses on relieving symptoms and improving comfort at any stage of the disease. When palliative care is introduced early on alongside active treatment, it can improve quality and even length of life.
Common palliative care tools include:
- Antidepressants
- Anti-inflammatory medicines
- Local pain-relief treatments
- Medications for pain management
Specialists also noted the importance of a healthy diet and exercise in patient outcomes. Research found that regular movement can help reduce stress on healthy cells, lower inflammation, and support the immune system — all of which can help the body better fight mesothelioma. Similarly, experts recommended plant-based, anti-inflammatory diets that can be adjusted to each patient’s needs.
“Hope evolves at every stage: hope for a good outcome, hope for a good treatment session, hope for dignity to be intact, hope for a peaceful end, hope for our loved ones to be ok.”
– Lizz Clarke, support nurse coordinator for Mesothelioma and Dust Diseases Australia (MADDA)
4. Genetic Mutations Offer Insight Into Nontraditional Diagnoses
Another topic getting more attention is how genetics may affect a person’s risk of developing mesothelioma. Not everyone exposed to asbestos gets sick, so researchers are studying whether certain inherited genetic risk factors could make someone more likely to develop mesothelioma after exposure. Understanding genetic risk could eventually help with earlier detection and better treatment planning.
At the iMig conference, several speakers shared their findings and theories around genetic mutations. The gene mutation most commonly associated with mesothelioma is BAP1, which stands for BRCA1-associated protein 1. People with this mutation may be more likely to develop mesothelioma even after lower levels of asbestos exposure.
Other gene mutations being studied include:
- CDKN2A
- CDKN2B
- TP53
Although more research is needed, early findings suggest certain genetic testing may help diagnose mesothelioma sooner. Further, more young patients are being diagnosed today, and it’s important for health care providers to consider mesothelioma even if the patient doesn’t match the traditional demographic profile (an older man with known occupational asbestos exposure).
Innovation and Hope: Key Themes in the International Mesothelioma Community
Bringing together leaders from across the globe, the 2025 iMig conference highlighted just how much progress is being made — and the strong sense of hope shared throughout the mesothelioma community.
Although there’s no cure for mesothelioma yet, advocates are fighting tirelessly to change that while improving patients’ lives every day.
Learn more about mesothelioma diagnosis, treatment, and the doctors making a difference in our Free Mesothelioma Guide.
