Author: Alex Strauss

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    Mesothelioma Among Construction Workers in Southern Italy

    ByAlex Strauss

    New research in Southern Italy highlights the global problem of mesothelioma among construction workers.  The research comes from occupational medicine experts at the University of Bari.  Scientists studied 178 cases of mesothelioma among construction workers in the Apulia region of Italy. The data shows that heavy asbestos exposure raised the odds of contracting mesothelioma by more than two-and-a-half times.  Asbestos and the Risk for Mesothelioma Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, in Italy and around the world. But for decades, almost no one knew that.  Tens of thousands of people worked with asbestos before scientists recognized the risk for mesothelioma among construction workers.  Asbestos was in dozens of construction products including cement, wall board, insulation, floor and ceiling tiles…

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    Pembrolizumab for Mesothelioma Dealt Setback by New Trial Results

    ByAlex Strauss

    There has been a setback for researchers focused on the promise of pembrolizumab for mesothelioma. New research suggests that pembrolizumab (Keytruda) may not be the miracle mesothelioma drug that some were hoping for.  The Phase III trial results were presented at a the European Society of Medical Oncology conference now underway in Spain. They suggest that pembrolizumab for mesothelioma may be no better than chemotherapy for improving survival. Pembrolizumab for Mesothelioma: How it Works Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare but lethal cancer. It is usually associated with on-the-job asbestos exposure. There is no cure. The only drug approved for mesothelioma treatment is Alimta (pemetrexed).   Cancer researchers around the world are working hard to find other mesothelioma treatments. Pembrolizumab for…

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    Step Counts for Cancer Prognosis: Could it Work for Mesothelioma?

    ByAlex Strauss

    Cancer researchers in New York are exploring the concept of using step counts for cancer prognosis. If further studies back it up, the technique might help predict outcomes for people with mesothelioma. The new study involved people with non-small cell lung cancer. The patients wore commercial fitness trackers so doctors could see how much they walked.  The researchers compared step levels with treatment outcomes. They concluded that there is value to using step counts for cancer prognosis. It may even be more effective than some more traditional methods for predicting survival. Cancer Prognosis and Chemoradiotherapy Mesothelioma survival usually depends on how well patients respond to standard treatments. Healthier, more active cancer patients tend to have better outcomes.  Chemotherapy and radiation…

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    Should Mesothelioma Patients Take Aspirin for Cancer Survival?

    ByAlex Strauss

    There is new evidence supporting the use of low-dose aspirin for cancer survival.  The evidence comes from two new retrospective studies. The first involved patients with head and neck cancer. The second focused on patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is similar to mesothelioma in many ways.  Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is often fatal within a year of diagnosis. Based on the new findings, some mesothelioma patients may consider talking to their doctors about aspirin for cancer survival Anti-Inflammatories and Cancer Treatment Anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin can cut the risk for heart disease and heart attack. But research led by the Roswell Park Cancer Center shows they may have similar benefits for people with cancers…

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    Talc Pleurodesis for Mesothelioma May Extend Survival

    ByAlex Strauss

    A UK study suggests that successful talc pleurodesis for mesothelioma improves survival better than other lung fluid treatments.  Researchers in Oxford’s Chest Diseases Department analyzed the outcomes of two groups of pleural mesothelioma patients. Both groups underwent talc pleurodesis for mesothelioma.  The patients whose lung fluid did not come back after treatment experienced longer survival. Mesothelioma patients who had to be retreated did not live as long.  Pleural Effusion in Mesothelioma The pleura is a membrane that surrounds and encases the lungs. It is supposed to be flexible and allow the lungs to move when a person breathes.  But patients with pleural mesothelioma often develop pleural effusion. Pleural effusion is a build-up of excess fluid in the space between the…

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    TTFields Treatment for Mesothelioma: Physician Acceptance is Critical

    ByAlex Strauss

    A new article suggests that non-invasive TTFields treatment for mesothelioma has the potential to save lives – as long as enough physicians accept it.  TTFields stands for Tumor Treating Fields. It is an electricity-based treatment approved by the FDA for use along with standard mesothelioma chemotherapy.  Cancer researchers from West Cancer Center and Research Institute wrote the new article for The Oncologist. They say the success of TTFields treatment for mesothelioma depends on doctors learning the logistics of using it.  How Does TTFields Treatment for Mesothelioma Work? TTFields use low-intensity alternating electric fields. When these electric fields hit a mesothelioma tumor, they disrupt normal cell division. If cancer cells cannot divide properly, they are less likely to spread out of…

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    Risk for Malnutrition Among Older Mesothelioma Patients

    ByAlex Strauss

    A new study out of Brazil suggests that many older mesothelioma patients may be at risk for malnutrition and the problems that go with it.  The study included more than 4,500 Brazliian cancer patients from 45 hospitals. They were evaluated for their nutritional status, nutritional risk, and nutrition-related symptoms. Among the 25% of cancer patients over 65, more than half faced a moderate to severe risk for malnutrition. The findings suggest it is a problem hospitals should identify and address early for the best mesothelioma treatment outcomes.  Mesothelioma and Nutritional Status As with other types of cancer, nutrition has an affect on the treatment of people with mesothelioma.  An Australian study of pleural mesothelioma patients earlier this year found that…

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    Signs of Peritoneal Mesothelioma After Radiotherapy

    ByAlex Strauss

    Japanese researchers are reminding doctors to watch for signs of peritoneal mesothelioma in people who have undergone past radiotherapy.  Many cancer patients undergo radiotherapy. Radiation disrupts the DNA inside cancer cells. This can help keep these malignant cells from replicating and spreading.  But radiation treatment also has a downside. It can cause cellular changes in healthy cells, too. This can cause side effects right away, or decades later.  As more people have radiation and survive, scientists at the Shinshu University School of Medicine say more of them could develop radiation-related mesothelioma later in life. But the signs of peritoneal mesothelioma years after radiation are easy to miss. Peritoneal Mesothelioma Case Study The new report is based on the case of…

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    First-Line Keytruda Treatment May Support Longer Mesothelioma Survival

    ByAlex Strauss

    New data suggests first-line Keytruda treatment helps lung cancer patients more than chemotherapy – even if chemotherapy patients add Keytruda later. The news is likely to have implications for people with pleural mesothelioma, too. German researchers presented the data earlier this week at the World Lung Cancer Conference in Barcelona.  The presentation was based on three years of the KEYNOTE-024 trial. The trial focused on lung cancer. But Keytruda is also an up-and-coming drug for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a lung-related cancer similar to non-small cell lung cancer.  Blocking PD-L1 with First-Line Keytruda Treatment Keytruda is the brand name for pembrolizumab. It is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that blocks a protein called PD-L1. To be eligible for first-line…

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    Lung Cancer Blood Test: Can it Find Early Mesothelioma?

    ByAlex Strauss

    Mesothelioma patients and their doctors may have reason to be optimistic about a new lung cancer blood test. A random trial of more than 12,000 high-risk people in Scotland shows the EarlyCDT test combined with CT imaging can detect cancer early. Earlier diagnosis is likely to lead to longer survival of lung cancers like pleural mesothelioma. Researchers presented their findings on the new lung cancer blood test at a global conference this week in Spain. Largest Lung Cancer Trial As in the US, lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer in Scotland. Pleural mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer. Although it is rare, mesothelioma is more common in the UK than in other parts of the world. This is…