Author: Alex Strauss

Diagnosis | New Techniques | Radiation Therapy | Treatments

Artificial Intelligence in Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment Planning
ByAlex Strauss June 23, 2020

Two newly-published studies highlight some of the ways that artificial intelligence may help with the diagnosis and treatment of malignant mesothelioma. The first study focuses on machine learning algorithms for mesothelioma diagnosis. Researchers used data from Turkey, which has a high rate of mesothelioma among families. A separate study from New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center demonstrates the role that artificial intelligence can play in planning mesothelioma radiotherapy. Both studies suggest that machine learning may be a valuable tool to help doctors tackle asbestos cancer. How Does Machine Learning Work? Artificial intelligence refers to intelligence generated by a computer. Like people, computers have to “learn” before they can provide intelligent answers to medical questions. In both of the new studies,…

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Chemotherapy | Europe | International | New Drugs | New Studies | Research | Treatments

Second-Line Mesothelioma Treatment with Ramucirumab
ByAlex Strauss June 21, 2020

A combination of ramucirumab (CYRAMZA) and gemcitabine creates a promising second-line mesothelioma treatment. New research shows the combination nearly doubled survival in a group of patients whose tumors kept growing with standard therapy. Italian researchers shared their findings at the virtual annual meeting of ASCO. ASCO is one of the largest gatherings of cancer doctors in the US. First-Line Mesothelioma Treatment Failure For most mesothelioma patients, chemotherapy with Alimta is the first-line treatment. This does keep the cancer in check for some patients. But after a while, mesothelioma tumors almost always come back. Chemotherapy only extends survival by about four months. Doctors have tested many different approaches to second-line mesothelioma treatment. Some of the therapies tested are: Additional rounds of…

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Chemotherapy | Immune Systems | Immunotherapy | Multi-Modality Therapy | Research | Treatments

Immunotherapy with Durvalumab: Record Survival in Inoperable Mesothelioma
ByAlex Strauss June 17, 2020

There is new evidence that the immunotherapy drug durvalumab may make chemotherapy more effective for people with inoperable pleural mesothelioma. Researchers recently achieved record mesothelioma survival times with this combination. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer with a poor prognosis. Surgery can sometimes help if it is caught early. But only a small percentage of patients are candidates for mesothelioma surgery. Most have chemotherapy, which is only moderately effective. But new research presented to the nation’s largest gathering of cancer doctors shows the immunotherapy drug durvalumab may help. Doctors at Johns Hopkins combined durvalumab with standard mesothelioma chemotherapy. Study participants lived an average of 8 months longer than is typical with this disease. If further studies confirm the benefit, it could…

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Chemotherapy | Radiation Therapy | Treatments

Chemoperfusion Treatment for Mesothelioma: Chemo Without the Side Effects?
ByAlex Strauss June 15, 2020

New research suggests that chemoperfusion treatment for mesothelioma may buy patients more time without the side effects of traditional chemotherapy. Chemoperfusion treatment involves injecting cancer-killing drugs directly into the vessels that feed a pleural mesothelioma tumor. The research was presented during a virtual session of the Society of Interventional Radiology’s annual meeting. Researchers showed how this novel approach could improve quality of life for mesothelioma patients. Limitations of Chemotherapy Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer with few treatment options. Most mesothelioma patients start with chemotherapy. Alimta (pemetrexed) is the primary chemotherapy drug for mesothelioma. But chemotherapy has drawbacks that chemoperfusion treatment for mesothelioma might avoid. Conventional chemotherapy circulates drugs throughout the body. That means that normal cells can absorb them…

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New Studies | Research | Surgery | Treatments

Black Mesothelioma Patients Less Likely to Receive Surgery
ByAlex Strauss June 13, 2020

Black mesothelioma patients are less likely to receive potentially-life saving surgery than white patients, even though they have worse short-term mortality. That is the finding of a new study published in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. Mount Sinai researchers used data from the National Cancer Institute to compare mesothelioma treatment trends among 2550 patients. They concluded that both white and black mesothelioma patients live longer with surgery, but white patients tend to get the most benefit. Surgical Options for Malignant Mesothelioma Malignant mesothelioma is a membrane cancer. It can occur in different places in the body. The type of treatment varies depending on where the cancer occurs. For mesothelioma in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), surgery with a rinse…

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Asia | International | Symptoms | Treatments | Updates

Pleural Effusion in Mesothelioma: Comparing Solutions
ByAlex Strauss June 11, 2020

A new study says, when it comes to pleural effusion in mesothelioma, the two main solutions are pretty equal – with one exception. Pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid in the space around the lungs. Over time, this fluid restricts the lungs and makes it hard to breathe. The problem is common in several types of cancer, including malignant mesothelioma. In a new report, Taiwanese and Hong Kong researchers compared the two primary ways of dealing with pleural effusion in mesothelioma. They conclude that the two methods work equally well. But one of them usually means a longer hospital stay. Understanding Pleural Effusion in Mesothelioma The pleura are layers of thin membranes that surround the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma tumors…

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New Drugs | New Studies | Research | Treatments

Promising Data on New Mesothelioma Pill Presented at National Conference
ByAlex Strauss June 9, 2020

Doctors researching a new mesothelioma pill presented research on the drug at a national virtual conference in May. The ASCO conference is one of the most important gatherings of cancer doctors in the country. This year’s online meeting gave them a chance to safely learn about new cancer research. Only the most notable research is presented at the conference. The new mesothelioma pill made the cut because research suggests it can help patients with asbestos cancer live longer. How the New Medication Works Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Epizyme makes the new mesothelioma pill, called tazemetostat (Tazverik). The oral drug blocks the protein EZH2. This protein inhibits the genes that are supposed to suppress tumor growth. Over-expression of EZH2 has been linked to…

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Asia | Biomarkers | Diagnosis | International

Epithelioid Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer: Biomarker Shows Which is Which
ByAlex Strauss June 6, 2020

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…

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Biopsy | Diagnosis | Europe | International

Breast Cancer and Mesothelioma: Case Study Illustrates Diagnostic Challenge
ByAlex Strauss June 4, 2020

A newly published Croatian case illustrates how challenging it can sometimes be to distinguish between breast cancer and mesothelioma. The case involves a 61-year-old woman with what appeared to be breast cancer. Further study revealed that what the woman actually had was pleural mesothelioma. The mesothelioma had spread to her breast. Breast cancer and mesothelioma cells look similar under the microscope. But they are very different. The authors of the new report caution doctors against the “pitfall” of mistaking one for the other. Breast Metastasis is Rare Pleural mesothelioma occurs on the membrane that surrounds the lungs. It is rare for mesothelioma to spread to the breast. The most common place for mesothelioma cells to spread is the lungs. Women…

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Multi-Modality Therapy | New Studies | Radiation Therapy | Research | Treatments

Proton Therapy for Mesothelioma: New Consensus Statement
ByAlex Strauss May 31, 2020

A group of international experts in radiation oncology say proton therapy for mesothelioma may be a safer alternative to standard radiotherapy. Proton therapy uses protons instead of photons to destroy mesothelioma tumor cells. The group evaluated both types of radiation therapy. They conclude that proton therapy for mesothelioma is less likely to damage the opposite lung and other organs. What is Proton Therapy? Conventional radiation therapy for mesothelioma uses photons. A radiation oncologist delivers photons into the tumor with a linear accelerator. The photons or X-rays permanently damage the DNA. Damaged mesothelioma cells cannot grow and divide normally and the cells die. The downside of standard radiation therapy is that normal tissue absorbs some of the damaging photons, too. This…

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Author: Alex Strauss

Artificial Intelligence in Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment Planning

Second-Line Mesothelioma Treatment with Ramucirumab

Immunotherapy with Durvalumab: Record Survival in Inoperable Mesothelioma

Chemoperfusion Treatment for Mesothelioma: Chemo Without the Side Effects?

Black Mesothelioma Patients Less Likely to Receive Surgery

Pleural Effusion in Mesothelioma: Comparing Solutions

Promising Data on New Mesothelioma Pill Presented at National Conference

Epithelioid Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer: Biomarker Shows Which is Which

Breast Cancer and Mesothelioma: Case Study Illustrates Diagnostic Challenge

Proton Therapy for Mesothelioma: New Consensus Statement

United States Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNITED STATES

Creighton University School of Medicine, UNITED STATES

David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, UNITED STATES

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, UNITED STATES

Mayo Clinic, UNITED STATES

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, UNITED STATES

National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, UNITED STATES

University of Chicago, Medical Center, UNITED STATES

University of Maryland School of Medicine, UNITED STATES

University of Hawaii Cancer Center, UNITED STATES

Wake Forest University School of Medicine, UNITED STATES