Author: Holly Zink

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    New Antibody to Diagnose Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    Scientists are trying to find ways to diagnose malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) more easily. An antibody called SKM9-2 could be the answer. A team of researchers from Japan are hoping to use SKM9-2 to develop new drugs to treat MPM. These new drugs might be able to target the cancer cells directly. Road to Definitive Diagnosis MPM is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos that affects the area around the lungs. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year. The road to a definitive diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma can sometimes take weeks. In the early stages, people with pleural mesothelioma commonly experience shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent dry cough, and unexplained weight loss….

  • Bacteria Linked with Mesothelioma Outcomes

    ByHolly Zink

    Scientists have found a connection between the bacteria found in malignant pleural effusions (MPE) and cancer diagnosis and prognosis. This study published in Scientific Reports compared the bacteria from MPE with bacteria from other types of cancers, including mesothelioma. The goal of the study was to link bacteria profiles with cancer outcomes. Treatment for Malignant Pleural Effusion Malignant pleural effusion is a type of cancer that affects the area surrounding the lungs. The pleural cavity is a space between the lungs and the chest wall. In MPE, fluid accumulates in this space. This fluid contains cancer cells, immune cells, and other substances that are produced by the cancer. The buildup of fluid can make it difficult to breathe and cause…

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    Surgical Treatment Options for Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    For some patients with mesothelioma, aggressive surgical treatment can help them live longer than other treatment options. This is the finding of a study published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. The authors focused on a specific type of surgery called “cytoreductive surgery” that is done in both the chest and belly area. Surgery Provides Hope for Cure Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The type of treatment for mesothelioma depends on many factors. The location of the cancer, the type of mesothelioma, and the health of the patient are some of these key factors. For patients who are healthy enough, surgery provides the best hope for a cure. Cytoreductive surgery is a type of…

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    Role of Mesothelioma Tumor Thickness

    ByHolly Zink

    A group of researchers from the University of Texas have found a connection between mesothelioma tumor thickness and patients’ response to therapy and survival. This study looked at 143 patients who had malignant pleural mesothelioma and received treatment before having surgery. The researchers wanted to see if the thickness of the tumor before and after treatment could predict how well the patient would respond to the therapy and how long they would survive. Conventional Treatment Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. Conventional treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy…

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    Tracking Local Mesothelioma Trends

    ByHolly Zink

    A Canadian study found that tracking trends in mesothelioma at the local level can help officials predict future mesothelioma cases. Most mesothelioma tracking efforts focus on the national scale and monitor cases across a country or region. This study, published in Cancer Causes and Control, looked at mesothelioma cases based on industrial sources of asbestos in Ontario and British Columbia. Growing Number of Cases Asbestos is a toxic material that is used in many commercial and industrial products. It’s durability and heat resistance made it very popular in products like construction materials, textiles, and vehicles. Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It was first identified as a cancer-causing material in 1977 by the International Agency for…

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    Predicting Mesothelioma Treatment Response

    ByHolly Zink

    Certain types of biomarkers can help doctors predict the best chemotherapy treatment for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Researchers from Cairo University in Egypt looked at 91 mesothelioma patients. They tested two different chemotherapy drug combinations: pemetrexed plus cisplatin and gemcitabine plus cisplatin. FDA Approved Treatment Options Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos and standard therapies are limited. Most mesothelioma patients have chemotherapy as their first-line treatment. If they are healthy enough, they may also have surgery or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is a group of toxic drugs that kill cells by damaging their DNA. As of this writing, the only FDA approved chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma is a combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin. Gemcitabine is not an…

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    New Resource on Mesothelioma Genomics

    ByHolly Zink

    The MESOMICS project is the most comprehensive dataset of mesothelioma genomics to date. The data in this resource can help researchers to design precision treatments for mesothelioma patients This project was created by an international collaboration between scientists from France, Chile, and the United States. Understanding Diagnosis Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States alone every year. Because it is so rare, the treatment options are very limited compared to other types of cancer. The limited treatment options combined with the cancer’s ability to spread without being noticed makes mesothelioma a deadly disease. Median overall survival for mesothelioma patients is a little over a…

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    New Drug in the Pipeline for Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    Researchers in Iran tested the safety of a new version of the drug pemetrexed in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma. This drug is used to treat these patients when they are not able to get surgery for their cancer. The researchers were able to determine that pemetrexed is safe in patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Treatment Choices Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a lung-related cancer like non-small cell lung cancer. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. Treatment for mesothelioma usually involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Patients may receive more than one type of treatment. This is called multimodal therapy. Pemetrexed is a chemotherapy drug that interrupts the cell replication process that helps…

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    Struggles of Diagnosing Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    Sarcomatoid mesothelioma and sarcomatoid carcinoma can be hard to tell apart during diagnosis. A study published in Diagnostics reveals that a new panel test could help to distinguish between these two diseases. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos. There are three different types of mesothelioma: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and biphasic. Patients who are diagnosed with sarcomatoid mesothelioma face a much poorer outlook than those with the more common epithelioid form of the disease. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is also the least common form of this already rare cancer. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma includes only about 10 percent of the 2,000 to 3,000 mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the United States each year. Out of the three different types of mesothelioma, the sarcomatoid type is the…

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    International Mesothelioma Registry

    ByHolly Zink

    An international group of researchers have provided recommendations for countries to create a mesothelioma registry. Mesothelioma registries are great tools to monitor the negative effects of asbestos. It can help to identify clusters of asbestos exposure. Registries can also track the impact of asbestos reduction programs. Asbestos Health Risks Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been found throughout the world. Even though it is toxic, it is used in manufacturing and construction in many countries around the world. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. It grows in the lining of organs like the lungs. Generally, those who develop mesothelioma show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It…