Amount of Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Survival
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Amount of Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Survival

ByHolly Zink

Many clinical researchers have asked the question: “Does the amount of asbestos exposure affect prognosis?” But every researcher comes to a slightly different conclusion. Many have looked at this question. But few can agree on the answer. Recently there were two articles in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology that proposed two opposite endings on this topic. One said that “the amount of asbestos in the lungs may directly correlate with shorter survival in patients with mesothelioma.” And the other said, “the amount of asbestos in the lungs does not influence survival.” A new article in the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer compares notes from all the different studies. Dr. Michele Carbone from the University of Hawaii Cancer…

New Mesothelioma Blood Test Could Lead to Earlier Diagnosis
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New Mesothelioma Blood Test Could Lead to Earlier Diagnosis

ByHolly Zink

A new mesothelioma blood test promises an earlier diagnosis for patients. An article in BBA-Molecular Basis of Disease explains the new breakthrough. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the asbestos-caused cancer. It is often diagnosed only in the advanced stage. This is because its early symptoms are also associated with other respiratory diseases. Finding a way to identify mesothelioma from other respiratory diseases is important. It helps doctors apply effective treatment strategies. And it increases the mesothelioma patient survival rate. Distinguishing Mesothelioma from Lung Cancer There is a well-known association between asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma. The most common type of asbestos-related cancer is malignant pleural mesothelioma. It accounts for approximately 80% of all mesothelioma cases. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is usually diagnosed…

Serum IgG4: A New Biomarker for Mesothelioma Pleural Effusion
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Serum IgG4: A New Biomarker for Mesothelioma Pleural Effusion

ByHolly Zink

Egyptian scientists say a new biomarker is very good at identifying mesothelioma. Pleural effusions are pockets of excess fluid. They collect around the lungs of people with certain kinds of cancer and other conditions. Biomarkers in pleural effusions are proteins and other substances found in mesothelioma patients. The new study suggests that using this biomarker the right way can lead to more accurate diagnoses. The Importance of Biomarkers in Pleural Effusions Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lung lining. It is a challenge to diagnose. The early symptoms can be as vague as cough and fatigue. But an accurate diagnosis is often the difference between life and death. As tumors grow, mesothelioma patients produce pleural effusions or ‘water…

Treatment Protocol of an 8-Year Survivor of Mesothelioma
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Treatment Protocol of an 8-Year Survivor of Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A new article in Scholars Journal of Medical Case Reports outlines the treatment protocol of an 8-year survivor of mesothelioma. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is difficult to treat. This aggressive cancer is caused by asbestos exposure and is resistant to most standard cancer therapies, including radiotherapy. Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma die within a few months to a year. Paul Kraus is considered the longest documented survivor of mesothelioma in the world. He was diagnosed in 1997 and was given little hope of survival. Not willing to give up, he worked with a team of doctors to create his own tailored treatment protocol. This protocol included dramatic lifestyle changes, experimental therapies, dietary changes, mind-body medicine, and other modalities. Paul was fortunate….

Global Call for Asbestos Hazardous Waste Management Strategies
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Global Call for Asbestos Hazardous Waste Management Strategies

ByHolly Zink

A new report in the Journal of Environmental Management warns that asbestos-bans should be supported by coordinated asbestos hazardous waste management strategies. Asbestos is classified as a Class I Carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Sixty countries have bans on asbestos. The US, China, India, and Russia are not among them. Nonetheless, asbestos is still part of the daily life of the population as asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are still present in many buildings constructed and renovated before the 1990s. Asbestos has been used by many automobile, construction, manufacturing, power, and chemical industries for many years. Asbestos was a popular insulator because it resists heat and flame. The identification and coordinated management of asbestos hazardous waste is…

Stories from Wives and Caregivers of People with Mesothelioma
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Stories from Wives and Caregivers of People with Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A new Australian study looked at people who took care of mesothelioma patients.  The study found that caretakers needed different types of support. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Patients with mesothelioma, and their caregivers, are known to have some of the highest unmet needs of all cancer populations. Researchers talked to fourteen caregivers recruited from the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (ADFA). Of those interviewed, 13 were wives, and one was a daughter. Seven were retired at the time of the patients’ mesothelioma diagnosis, and 4 stopped work to provide care. Researchers used the feedback to assess best practices for follow-up care for mesothelioma. They now plan to share these best practices with clinicians across the…

New Self-Administered Inhaled Gene Therapy Linked to Mesothelioma Survival
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New Self-Administered Inhaled Gene Therapy Linked to Mesothelioma Survival

ByHolly Zink

A team of doctors in Japan have developed a new oral inhaled gene therapy for the treatment of mesothelioma. This is a new gene therapy that mesothelioma patients can self-administer, much like an asthma inhaler. There’s new evidence that therapies that prevent cancer cells from forming new blood vessels may offer a better way to approach malignant pleural mesothelioma. Gene therapy has attracted attention in recent years. A new study suggests that inhalable gene drugs are effective treatments for asbestos-induced malignant pleural mesothelioma. Gene Therapy Treatments Mesothelioma is the most deadly of several diseases caused by asbestos exposure, including lung cancer and asbestosis. Most people who develop mesothelioma live less than a year after diagnosis. It is most common in…

Identifying New MicroRNA Tumor Biomarkers for Mesothelioma
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Identifying New MicroRNA Tumor Biomarkers for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Identifying New MicroRNA Tumor Biomarkers for Mesothelioma Italian researchers have taken an important step forwards in what amounts to a microRNA tumor biomarker for mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibers causes malignant pleural mesothelioma. An early diagnosis and comprehensive health monitoring is vital for patients exposed to asbestos fibers. Researchers at the University of Catania in Italy say these two clinical issues “may be solved by the identification of specific biomarkers.” A new article in Nature Scientific Reports identifies RNA molecules could serve as a microRNA signature for mesothelioma. This “signature” could help doctors distinguish mesothelioma from other types of cancer. The Challenge of Mesothelioma Diagnosis Pleural mesothelioma is particularly hard to diagnose. The early symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to the…

10 New Clinical Practice Guidelines on Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma
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10 New Clinical Practice Guidelines on Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) organized a multidisciplinary panel of experts to develop new clinical practice guidelines on the use of immunotherapy in mesothelioma treatment. Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment. It uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapy has changed lung cancer care in recent years. It can help some patients survive longer. There is a new type of immune treatment called Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). ICI’s are used to treat patients with mesothelioma. The use of ICIs to treat mesothelioma tumors has quickly become part of clinical practice. Immune checkpoint inhibitors block mesothelioma’s natural resistance to immune system Challenges remain on how to identify patients who might benefit from ICIs. A panel of…

Genomic Experts Report Most Complete Picture of Mesothelioma to Date
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Genomic Experts Report Most Complete Picture of Mesothelioma to Date

ByHolly Zink

Australian and American genomic experts have completed a key step in improving the treatment of pleural mesothelioma. A new study gives results from a large study of malignant pleural mesothelioma Pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops on the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. Asbestos causes mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos was used in thousands of industrial, commercial, construction, automotive, and consumer products. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. Scientists at the National Centre for Asbestos-Related Disease have taken a dramatic leap forward in the understanding of pleural mesothelioma. DNA Genes Impact Personalized Treatment Plans Previous genomic studies of malignant pleural mesothelioma were limited….