Author: Holly Zink

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    Cracking the Code: Revolutionizing Mesothelioma Staging

    ByHolly Zink

    A group of researchers from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) teamed up to help us understand this disease better. The IASLC developed a mesothelioma database to improve disease staging. Staging is important because it helps doctors plan the best treatment The Power of Data and International Collaboration Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a complex disease. Mesothelioma diagnosis and accurate staging are often difficult to pin down. And the diagnosis is further complicated by different disease subtypes. When doctors talk about mesothelioma, they often mention staging. Doctors use staging to give an idea of how big the cancer is and if it has spread to other parts. They might use numbers like 1, 2, 3, or 4 to…

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    Breakthrough in Mesothelioma Treatment: Cellectis’ Promising CAR-T Therapy

    ByHolly Zink

    Mesothelioma is a challenging cancer with limited treatment options. Yet, recent advancements in CAR-T therapy are bringing new hope to the table. There is a breakthrough that holds the potential for improving mesothelioma treatment outcomes. Data comes from Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. CAR-T Therapy: A New Frontier for Mesothelioma CART T-cell therapy for mesothelioma is a type of immunotherapy. It starts with T-cells from the patient’s blood. Scientists alter the cells to recognize certain antigens on the surface of cancer cells. Then they give them back to the patient. In the case of mesothelioma, the main targeted antigen is mesothelin. Mesothelioma patients tend to produce extra mesothelin. This protein helps drive the growth and spread of their cancer. People with high levels…

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    How Inflammation, Stress, and Signaling Shape Mesothelioma’s Growth

    ByHolly Zink

    Scientists are looking at how long-term inflammation, cell stress, and messed-up cell signaling help mesothelioma cancer cells grow and spread. By looking at these processes in mesothelioma patients, the scientists can learn more about new ways to treat this aggressive cancer. Revolutionizing Mesothelioma Treatment Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. When it grows in the lining of the lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma. There are about 2,000 cases of pleural mesothelioma in the United States each year. Mesothelioma is linked to exposure to a toxic mineral called asbestos. It can take decades for symptoms of mesothelioma to appear after a person is…

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    Mesothelioma Treatment Roadmap: Connecting Chemotherapy Response and Surgical Outcomes

    ByHolly Zink

    Mesothelioma patients who do not respond well to chemotherapy before surgery are likely to have poor outcomes after the procedure. This is the finding of a group of researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. How Chemotherapy Response Shapes Mesothelioma Surgery Outcomes Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is hard to diagnose and treat. It develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to a toxic mineral called asbestos. In most cases, doctors will use more than one type of treatment to remove as many cancer cells as possible from a patient’s body. The standard therapies include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Of all…

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    Unveiling the Mesothelioma Risk Posed by Exposure to Asbestos

    ByHolly Zink

    Asbestos is a toxic mineral found naturally throughout the world. Exposure to asbestos can cause people to develop mesothelioma, which is a rare and aggressive cancer. A new study looked how the risk for developing mesothelioma and lung cancer for people who live around asbestos in Tehran, Iran. Asbestos: A Fireproof, Deadly Fiber Even though asbestos is toxic to humans, people have used it in many industries because of its special qualities. It is almost impossible to set it on fire, it is nearly impossible to corrode, and it is composed of fibers so that it can be woven into other materials. It is also cheap because it can be taken out of the ground and does not have to…

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    Empowering Mesothelioma Patients with Patient-Reported Symptom Monitoring

    ByHolly Zink

    New data shows that patient-reported symptom monitoring improves the quality of life in lung cancer patients. The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Enhancing Life Quality for Lung Cancer Patients Pleural mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that affects the lungs. Mesothelioma patients have many of the same symptoms as lung cancer patients. Among other things, they tend to suffer from breathing problems, chest pain, cough, weakness, and fatigue. One recent study focused on how patients’ lives can be improved during and after lung cancer treatment. Researchers were interested in using “patient-reported outcomes measures.” Or PROMs for short. PROMS can monitor how patients are feeling. These PROMs would help keep track of symptoms and make sure that…

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    New Hope for Mesothelioma Patients in Intensive Care

    ByHolly Zink

    In the fight against mesothelioma, there’s new and hopeful data that might help patients who end up in the intensive care unit (ICU). A recent study gives us important details about how some patients are getting better, and this is good news for people around the world. ICU Success for Mesothelioma Patients Mesothelioma is a rare kind of cancer caused by asbestos. It mostly affects the lining of the lungs and chest. This can lead to problems like trouble breathing, chest pain, coughing, and feeling tired a lot. But what happens when mesothelioma patients have a very serious health issue and need to go to the ICU? We know that 5% of cancer patients have to go to the ICU…

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    How Photodynamic Therapy is Changing the Game for Mesothelioma Patients

    ByHolly Zink

    When it comes to treating a tough cancer like malignant pleural mesothelioma, doctors use many different methods. One important way is surgery to remove the big parts of the disease. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have been studying how another treatment called photodynamic therapy (PDT) can help during surgery. PDT is a special light treatment has shown potential in animal studies. Surgery and PDT can work together to help mesothelioma patients. Combining Surgery and PDT for Optimal Treatment Mesothelioma is a rare but deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Pleural mesothelioma occurs on the membrane around the lungs. It is the most common type of mesothelioma. Around 2,500 Americans receive a mesothelioma diagnosis each year. There is no cure. Surgery plays…

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    Decoding the BAP1 Gene: How Family History Can Influence Tumor Risks

    ByHolly Zink

    A group of doctors and scientists from Europe and the UK got together to create guidelines to help people with changes to their BAP1 gene. This gene helps prevent tumors in our bodies. Changes in this gene can make people more likely to get different kinds of tumors, like mesothelioma. These changes run in families and are passed down from parents. BAP1 Gene Changes and Their Link to Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure, but having certain BAP1 gene changes can make someone more susceptible to this disease. These gene changes are passed down in families and can be tested for. If someone has the gene change, their family members can also…

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    Breaking Down the Costs: Immunotherapy as Mesothelioma Treatment

    ByHolly Zink

    It is not a secret that cancer treatments can be expensive. Researchers from Switzerland looked at whether immunotherapy is worth the cost compared to chemotherapy for mesothelioma. For this study, the researchers specifically looked at pleural mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. It is often caused by being exposed to a toxic material called asbestos. Unleashing the Immune System: Immunotherapy vs. Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma Conventional treatments for mesothelioma generally consist of chemotherapy, surgery, and sometimes radiation therapy. The exact treatment plan depends on the individual patient. This includes their health, the type of mesothelioma they have, and how much the cancer has spread. Chemotherapy uses toxic drugs that…