Discovering the Link to Mesothelioma Growth

Discovering the Link to Mesothelioma Growth

Italian researchers have found that a molecule called cycle adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is involved in the growth of mesothelioma. cAMP acts as a messenger in our cells and affects different processes in the body. When the cAMP pathway is too active, it can contribute to the growth and spread of tumors. In this study, researchers looked at the levels of cAMP in mesothelioma tumors caused by toxic fibers like asbestos. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that grows on the lining of internal organs like the lungs and abdomen. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is toxic to humans. Mesothelioma is a rare disease, so we do not know very much about how … Continue reading Discovering the Link to Mesothelioma Growth »

Electronic Health Record Supports Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Research

Electronic Health Record Supports Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Research

A new method of research is becoming more popular in the study of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Most doctors use an electronic health record (EHR) to track patients and their care. Researchers are now using de-identified data from EHR databases to study mesothelioma. Dr. Wheatley-Price’s team encourages the use of real-word evidence to support treatment choices in malignant pleural mesothelioma. How the Database is Built The electronic health record (EHR) has been in use since the 1960s. Some may call it the electronic medical record (EMR). The large majority of hospitals and clinics now use an EHR system to track patients. There are many different types of EHR systems available. The original purpose of the EHR was to allow a third … Continue reading Electronic Health Record Supports Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Research »

Second Treatment Course May Increase Mesothelioma Patient Survival

New Drug in the Pipeline for Mesothelioma

Oncologists report that a second treatment course may be a good option for some mesothelioma patients. Almost all mesothelioma patients experience progression after the first treatment. Recommendations for a second treatment are still unclear. There is very limited information available on second and repeat treatments. Pemetrexed combined with platinum-based chemotherapy is a standard first treatment for mesothelioma. A report in BMC Cancer says that a repeat treatment may be good for eligible patients. In this study, patients who received a second treatment of chemotherapy survived longer. Understanding Second Treatments or Retreatments Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer linked to asbestos exposure. There have been several recent treatment advances. But the mesothelioma prognosis is still poor with an average … Continue reading Second Treatment Course May Increase Mesothelioma Patient Survival »

Nanoparticles May Offer New Treatment for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Nanoparticles May Offer New Way Treatment for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

American scientists may have found a new way to fight mesothelioma and other cancers from the inside out by targeting cancer cells. A new article published in Biomaterials explores the use of nanoparticles. Peritoneal mesothelioma is an aggressive disease. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma may survive several or more years after diagnosis. And there are long-term survivors. Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for 20-25% of all mesothelioma cases. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma have a longer life expectancy than those with other types of mesothelioma. And some studies report patients live up to 5 years after treatment. Mesothelioma is generally a “chemo-resistant” tumor. Several treatment options are available which include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. But traditional chemotherapy often come with toxicities. New Option … Continue reading Nanoparticles May Offer New Treatment for Peritoneal Mesothelioma »

Drug Combo Nivolumab plus ipilimumab Has Best Survival Rates in Relapsed Mesothelioma

Drug Combo Nivolumab plus ipilimumab Has Best Survival Rates in Relapsed Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with limited therapeutic options. Pemetrexed plus platinum is often the first treatment option that clinicians turn to. There are now several options for second treatment therapy. This is useful in patients with relapsed mesothelioma. Yet some of these treatment therapies remain controversial. Several drugs were recently introduced to treat relapsed mesothelioma. A new study conducted a meta-analysis to check the efficacy of these drugs. After Chemotherapy, What Comes Next? Nivolumab alone or nivolumab plus ipilimumab provided significantly longer patient survival. In fact, treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab was found to have the best survival rates. Other treatments had a good survival rate compared with a placebo. These other treatments included tremelimumab, vorinostat, and chemotherapy … Continue reading Drug Combo Nivolumab plus ipilimumab Has Best Survival Rates in Relapsed Mesothelioma »

A Multimodality Treatment Plan may be Best for Pleural Mesothelioma

Hemithoracic Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma

A multimodality treatment plan may improve mesothelioma patient outcomes. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an invasive, locally aggressive tumor related to asbestos exposure. A new study shows that the best treatment plan for pleural mesothelioma may be when different types of therapy work together. The ideal combination of treatment therapies is still unknown. But a recent study encourages further studies on a multimodality treatment plan. This may include chemotherapy, surgery, and adjuvant radiotherapy. Current Clinical Guidelines: A History of Single or Multimodality Treatment Plans Despite a long history of clinical research, there is still no cure or any evidence of the best treatment. Many single-treatment plans, single-modality plans, have had disappointing results. Researchers have begun to evaluate different multi-modal treatment approaches. … Continue reading A Multimodality Treatment Plan may be Best for Pleural Mesothelioma »

Could Phlebotomy Delay Development of Mesothelioma?

development of mesothelioma

New research from Japan suggests that removing some blood from the body might offer a way to delay the development of mesothelioma in people exposed to asbestos.  Nearly all cases of malignant mesothelioma occur in people with a history of asbestos exposure. Scientists know that asbestos causes mesothelioma. But they still do not know exactly how.  What is clear is that both iron and byproducts of metabolism called reactive oxygen species (ROS) appear to play a role. Blood removal or phlebotomy can temporarily reduce iron and ROS levels.  The new report from Yasumasa Okazaki, a pathologist with Japan’s Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, details how phlebotomy in asbestos-exposed mice delayed the development of mesothelioma. It offers hope that this … Continue reading Could Phlebotomy Delay Development of Mesothelioma? »

Improve Mesothelioma Outcomes with a Fast-Mimicking Diet: Is it Possible?

Improve mesothelioma outcomes

New science from Italy suggests that it might eventually be possible to improve mesothelioma outcomes by severely restricting calories during cancer treatment.  The study appears in a recent version of the journal Cancer Discovery. Researchers with Italy’s FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) in Milan tested a fast-mimicking diet in 101 cancer patients.  They concluded that restricting calories is a safe and feasible method for “reshaping metabolism” to impact tumor growth. If further studies confirm their findings, it could improve mesothelioma outcomes for thousands of patients. The Need for Better Mesothelioma Treatments Mesothelioma is a fast-growing and deadly type of cancer. Most people who receive a mesothelioma diagnosis do not live out the year. Malignant mesothelioma grows on the membranes … Continue reading Improve Mesothelioma Outcomes with a Fast-Mimicking Diet: Is it Possible? »

Expert Says Malignant Mesothelioma Research ‘Turned a Corner’ in 2021

The Future of Mesothelioma Research

An internationally-known mesothelioma specialist says 2021 has been one of the best years yet for malignant mesothelioma research, giving patients and their families more reason than ever to be hopeful.  Hedy Lee Kindler, MD, is Director of the University of Chicago Medical Center’s Mesothelioma Program. In a commentary in JCO Oncology Practice, Dr. Kindler says the outlook for mesothelioma sufferers this year is “far brighter than it has been for a very long time.” Dr. Kindler points to several recent advances in malignant mesothelioma research and treatment as reasons for optimism. The FDA approved the second systemic therapy for mesothelioma in late 2020. This year saw five positive mesothelioma clinical trials.  Kindler says these advances suggest that the future may … Continue reading Expert Says Malignant Mesothelioma Research ‘Turned a Corner’ in 2021 »

New Treatment for Malignant Mesothelioma Kills Cancer ‘From the Inside Out’

new treatment for malignant mesothelioma

The University of Vermont is about to start a first-in-human trial of a new kind of treatment for malignant mesothelioma.  The new approach involves a drug called RSO-021. The drug works differently from other cancer therapies. It blocks the ability of cancer cells to manage their own waste products. It’s developers say the new treatment for malignant mesothelioma aims to kill cancer cells from the inside out.  The concept for RSO-021 was first developed at the University of Vermont. Scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the UK biotech company RS Oncology have tested the drug in mice with promising results.  Human trials of RSO-021 will start soon in the UK. US patients will be recruited in 2022.  … Continue reading New Treatment for Malignant Mesothelioma Kills Cancer ‘From the Inside Out’ »

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