Search Results for: epithelioid

Improving Survival in Epithelioid Mesothelioma: Following Treatment Guidelines

Improving Survival in Epithelioid Mesothelioma: Following Treatment Guidelines

ByHolly Zink

When doctors treat epithelioid mesothelioma, they use a mix of treatments. Treatment guidelines often include chemotherapy and surgery. But, a new study looked at whether patients were getting these recommended treatments and how it affected how long they lived. The Role of Guidelines in Prolonging Life A recent study checked data from an extensive database of mesothelioma patients between 2004 and 2016. They wanted to see if doctors followed the guidelines and if that affected how well patients did. They found something surprising. Only about 19% of 3,534 patients got the treatments that doctors usually recommend. Also, certain patients were more likely to get the recommended treatment. These were younger patients or those with insurance. Also, people living in wealthier…

Chemotherapy Still Good First-Line Option for Unresectable Epithelioid Mesothelioma
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Chemotherapy Still Good First-Line Option for Unresectable Epithelioid Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

A top mesothelioma expert says chemotherapy may still be the best first-line treatment for unresectable epithelioid mesothelioma, even though immunotherapy is an increasingly popular option. Chemotherapy has been the primary way to treat mesothelioma since 2004. This is when the FDA approved the drug Alimta (pemetrexed). Alimta remained the only systemic treatment for asbestos cancer until 2020. In 2020, the FDA approved a combination of the immunotherapy drugs ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo). But Dean Fennell, PhD, of the UK’s University of Leicester says chemotherapy is still a good choice for many unresectable epithelioid mesothelioma cases. A Better Version of Chemotherapy? Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common subtype. It is also the most responsive to treatment. For the healthiest patients,…

Epithelioid Subtype Leads to Longer Survival Regardless of Treatment
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Epithelioid Subtype Leads to Longer Survival Regardless of Treatment

ByAlex Strauss

Danish researchers say people with the epithelioid subtype of pleural mesothelioma tend to live longer than those with other subtypes, even if they don’t receive treatment.  The study is the latest to confirm what prior research suggests: that epithelial mesothelioma is more survivable than other subtypes.  In the newest report, mesothelioma patients with the epithelioid subtype lived longer, even when they were not good candidates for curative treatment. Mesothelioma Subtypes and Symptoms Pleural mesothelioma is a fast-growing cancer on the membrane around the lungs. Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma.  There are three main mesothelioma subtypes. They are the epithelioid subtype, the sarcomatoid subtype, and the biphasic subtype. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common subtype. Sarcomatoid is…

Non-Epithelioid Mesothelioma: Immunotherapy Combo Could be the New Standard of Care
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Non-Epithelioid Mesothelioma: Immunotherapy Combo Could be the New Standard of Care

ByAlex Strauss

Two immunotherapy drugs could become the new standard of care for people with non-epithelioid mesothelioma.  All forms of malignant mesothelioma are deadly. But people with a non-epithelioid mesothelioma subtype are less likely to respond to standard treatments. Their variety of mesothelioma is especially resistant to chemotherapy with cisplatin and Alimta. This has been the mainstay of pleural mesothelioma treatment since 2004. But a new trial shows two immunotherapy drugs extended mesothelioma survival better than chemotherapy. This could be especially good news for patients with non-epithelioid mesothelioma.  Checkpoint Inhibitors for Mesothelioma Most people with pleural mesothelioma start with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can often extend life by a few months. It is most beneficial for patients with epithelioid mesothelioma. But this approach does…

Epithelioid Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer: Biomarker Shows Which is Which
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Epithelioid Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer: Biomarker Shows Which is Which

ByAlex Strauss

Researchers from Hiroshima University say they have found a nearly foolproof way to tell the difference between epithelioid mesothelioma and lung cancer.  This is critical because the prognosis can be very different between the two. They are also treated differently.  But epithelioid mesothelioma and lung cancer are similar in many ways. They cause many of the same symptoms. Even their cells look similar under the microscope. This can make it hard for doctors to deliver an accurate and timely diagnosis.  If the new findings are right, the biomarker identified by the Hiroshima researchers could be a diagnostic gamechanger.  Lung Adenocarcinoma or Pleural Mesothelioma? At first glance, epithelioid mesothelioma and lung cancer seem to be very different. Mesothelioma makes up about…

Cellular Factors Predict Survival in Epithelioid Mesothelioma Patients
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Cellular Factors Predict Survival in Epithelioid Mesothelioma Patients

ByAlex Strauss

A team of French scientists believe they have found a way to predict survival and help plan a treatment course for people with the epithelioid form of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Until now, mesothelioma histological subtype has been the only way to reliably predict mesothelioma prognosis based on pathology (cellular characteristics that can be seen under a microscope). But mesothelioma researchers at the University Hospital of Saint Etienne have identified several  subtle differences between epithelioid mesothelioma cells from different patients that may have an impact on their treatment outcomes. Histopathology and Mesothelioma Prognosis Histopathology is the study of changes in tissue caused by disease. In the case of pleural mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos can cause the healthy cells in a person’s…

Advancing Cancer Care: Predicting Mesothelioma Survival Time Using Deep Learning

Advancing Cancer Care: Predicting Mesothelioma Survival Time Using Deep Learning

ByHolly Zink

Cancer treatment is complex. Doctors need to estimate how long patients might live to choose the best treatments. New technologies like machine learning and deep learning have improved this process. These technologies are especially good at predicting how long cancer patients might survive. Novel Approach A new study focuses on a rare cancer called epithelioid malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Researchers have developed a new deep learning network to predict how long patients with this cancer might live. This new approach is more efficient than others because it doesn’t require manual note-taking. The new model was tested using clinical data. They included factors like the Peritoneal Cancer Index and whether patients received chemotherapy. The results showed that the model performed better than…

Recurring Collapsed Lung as an Early Indicator of Malignant Mesothelioma
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Recurring Collapsed Lung as an Early Indicator of Malignant Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A new article highlights the link between a collapsed lung and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, caused by asbestos exposure, can present unexpectedly. It often requires many clinical tests for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. A new study explores the case of a 73-year-old man whose recurrent collapsing lung was found to be mesothelioma. This shows the importance of thorough tissue examination for early detection and diagnosis. The Unusual Case The patient was a 73-year-old man who experienced recurrent collapsed lungs. This is where air collects in the pleural space around the lungs. A chest CT scan showed a left collapsed lung and calcified plaques. This finding implied prior asbestos exposure. Other symptoms, including nodules in both lungs, raised the suspicion of mesothelioma….

Cracking the Code of Mesothelioma: Understanding the Grading System

Cracking the Code of Mesothelioma: Understanding the Grading System

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma, a rare disease linked to asbestos exposure, is a tough challenge for patients. But, in the last ten years, a special grading system has emerged. This system helps to predict outcomes for a specific type called epithelioid mesothelioma. A new article explains the development of this grading system, why it’s important, where it falls short, and what might come next for understanding mesothelioma. Mesothelioma’s tough prognosis has been a big problem for doctors. They needed a way to better predict what might happen to patients. That’s where the grading system for epithelioid mesothelioma comes in. The Birth of a Prognostic Powerhouse In the past ten years, a special grading system just for epithelioid mesothelioma has become important. Expert groups,…

Understanding Mesothelioma: The Impact of BAP1 and p16 in Accurate Diagnosis

Understanding Mesothelioma: The Impact of BAP1 and p16 in Accurate Diagnosis

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma is a rare and serious type of cancer that affects the lining of organs like the lungs and abdomen. It is caused by exposure to a harmful substance called asbestos, which is sometimes used in construction materials. Detecting mesothelioma can be tricky, and doctors often need special tests to be sure. A recent study looked into two important factors, called BAP1 and p16, to help diagnose mesothelioma more accurately. Redefining Mesothelioma Diagnosis Between 2019 and 2022, scientists studied 21 fluid samples from around the lungs and abdomen of people suspected to have mesothelioma. These samples were examined closely to find out if the BAP1 protein was missing and if the p16 gene had certain changes. These tests were important…