Author: Alex Strauss

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    Mesothelioma Biopsies: Ultrasound Guidance Beats CT

    ByAlex Strauss

    A new study concludes that ultrasound guided mesothelioma biopsies are safer and just as effective as CT guided biopsies.  Italian researchers analyzed both types of guidance systems for collecting tissue samples from mesothelioma patients. They compared the diagnostic yield and safety of each method.  It turns out that ionizing radiation is not necessary for successful mesothelioma biopsies. As long as the technician is experienced, ultrasound guidance may be the better choice.  The Importance of Mesothelioma Biopsies Pleural mesothelioma is a rare but highly aggressive kind of cancer. It grows on the membrane that surrounds the lungs. By the time patients experience symptoms of mesothelioma, the disease is often very advanced.  Malignant mesothelioma can be tricky to diagnose. Mesothelioma biopsies are…

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    Early Mesothelioma Deaths a “Proxy” for Childhood Asbestos Exposure in Italy

    ByAlex Strauss

    A new study out of Italy is a sobering reminder of the devastating effects of early asbestos exposure.  Mesothelioma is rare in people under 50. But  the new study found about 35 Italians under 50 died of mesothelioma every year from 2003 to 2016. The highest number of deaths were among people from Northern industrialized parts of the country. These are the people most likely to experience environmental asbestos exposure as children.  The researchers say these early deaths indicate the toxicity of the environment in these regions – particularly to those who grew up there.  The Link Between Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Malignant mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer of internal membranes. It was almost unheard of before industrialization. Many…

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    CT Scans Fail To Identify Metastatic Mesothelioma Prior to Surgery

    ByAlex Strauss

    CT scans are not a reliable way to detect the spread of mesothelioma into certain lymph nodes between the ribs. This is important because people with mesothelioma cells in their posterior intercostal lymph nodes (PILN) do not tend to get good results from P/D surgery. Surgeons need a good way to find mesothelioma cells in these lymph nodes before they decide to perform this risky operation. But University of Pennsylvania researchers say CT scans are not the best method.  CT Scans in Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Prognosis CT stands for computerized tomography. A CT machine uses a series of X-ray images from different angles to create a 3D picture of a mesothelioma tumor. Most hospitals have a CT scanner. They are…

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    Breakthroughs in Mesothelioma in 2020

    ByAlex Strauss

    In spite of a global pandemic, there were some major breakthroughs in mesothelioma in 2020 that made the year a hopeful one for people fighting asbestos cancer. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers.  Mesothelioma is still not curable. But researchers have made major breakthroughs in mesothelioma diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment this year.  Mesothelioma Treatment Advances Mesothelioma treatment saw the biggest breakthroughs in mesothelioma in 2020. The FDA approved the first systemic treatment for mesothelioma since 2004. That was the year that Alimta (pemetrexed) received approval.  They approved a combination of the immunotherapy drugs Opdivo and Yervoy. Yervoy helps activate and proliferate T-cells. Opdivo helps existing T-cells discover the mesothelioma  tumor. The patients who…

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    BLM Gene Mutation Increases Mesothelioma Risk, Study Finds

    ByAlex Strauss

    New research suggests an inherited mutation on the BLM gene increases susceptibility to deadly malignant mesothelioma. The research comes from the University of Hawaii, one of the world’s top locations for mesothelioma research.  Researcher Michele Carbone and his team sequenced the DNA of 155 mesothelioma patients. They found that people who are missing one BLM gene are much more likely to contract mesothelioma – especially if they are exposed to asbestos.  If people know they have the BLM gene mutation, they could potentially cut their risk for mesothelioma by being especially mindful of asbestos exposure.  Genetic Susceptibility to Mesothelioma Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma. Some people who live or work around asbestos develop mesothelioma years later….

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    Cholesterol Drugs Extend Mesothelioma Survival in New Study

    ByAlex Strauss

    Cholesterol drugs called statins have been shown to improve survival among mesothelioma patients taking PD-1 inhibitors.  The news comes from an international study from cancer researchers in Italy and the Netherlands.  More than 250 patients with pleural mesothelioma or non-small cell lung cancer were evaluated for the study. Researchers found that those who took cholesterol drugs while also receiving PD-1 blockers like Keytruda lived longer and had slower disease progression.  Mesothelioma Patients and Statins The body needs some cholesterol to build healthy cells. But many adults have too much cholesterol in their blood. This can lead to fatty deposits in the arteries that raise the risk for heart disease and stroke.  Cholesterol drugs called statins are designed to bring cholesterol…

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    High PD-L1 Levels Could Be Bad News for Mesothelioma Surgery Candidates

    ByAlex Strauss

    Yet another new study has found a link between PD-L1 levels and mesothelioma survival – this time in people slated to have surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma.  PD-L1 stands for programmed cell death ligand 1. It is a protein expressed by some cancer cells that helps them avoid immune system attack.  Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are the latest to show that higher PD-L1 levels may lead to a worse mesothelioma prognosis. Their study focused specifically on mesothelioma surgery candidates.  The results were published recently in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.  PD-L1 Levels and Mesothelioma Prognosis Even healthy people express some amount of PD-L1. Its job is to suppress the part of the immune system that attacks foreign tissues….

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    Induction Chemotherapy with Avastin Improves Mesothelioma Response in New Study

    ByAlex Strauss

    Mesothelioma patients who had induction chemotherapy with Avastin (bevacizumab) prior to surgery responded better than those who had only chemotherapy in a new Swedish study.  Researchers at the University Hospital Zurich analyzed the cases of 88 pleural mesothelioma patients who were slated to have surgery.  Most of the patients had standard chemotherapy before surgery. Some had induction chemotherapy with Avastin. Those who got the extra drug had a “significantly better response” according to a new report in Frontiers in Oncology. The Use of Induction Chemotherapy with Avastin or Without Induction chemotherapy is chemotherapy delivered before mesothelioma surgery. The goal of the treatment is to shrink the mesothelioma tumor as much as possible. This may improve the odds that surgeons can…

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    Asbestos-Containing Cosmetics Removed From Retail Websites

    ByAlex Strauss

    Amazon and Ebay are the latest retailers to remove a list of asbestos-containing cosmetics from their sites after warnings from the Environmental Working Group. Asbestos can cause lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and other serious health issues. The EWG says tests by Scientific Analytical Institute found asbestos-tainted talc in three of 21 cosmetic products. The asbestos–containing cosmetics include two eye shadow collections and one toy makeup kit for children.  The scientific journal Environmental Health Insights recently published the EWG’s report. It is the latest in a growing body of research on the prevalence of asbestos contamination in personal care products.  Asbestos Contamination in Talc Most asbestos-containing cosmetics are made with talc. Talc is a soft, powdery mineral. Its moisture-absorbing properties make…

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    Age is a Factor in Mesothelioma Survival After Surgery

    ByAlex Strauss

    Age appears to be one of the biggest predictors of mesothelioma survival after surgery. This holds true no matter which kind of surgery a patient has.  A new study from the University of Pennsylvania compared the outcomes of more than 2,000 mesothelioma surgery patients. They compared them by surgical type. They also compared their survival with that of people who did not have surgery. Mesothelioma survival after surgery was consistently longer for younger patients. The risk of death within a few months went up a little bit with each year of age. The news could help patients and doctors make better treatment decisions. Surgical Procedures for Mesothelioma Operating on mesothelioma patients is controversial. Mesothelioma tumors are irregularly shaped and difficult to…