The Power of Immunotherapy: T Cells and Mesothelioma Treatment

The Power of Immunotherapy: T Cells and Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma patients with more immune cells called CD8+ T cells might respond better to immunotherapy. This is the finding of a team of scientists from Japan. Their study was published in the scientific journal Thoracic Cancer. Typical Treatment Plan Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is both rare and aggressive. It grows in the cells lining the surface of organs like the lungs. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to a toxic mineral called asbestos. Because it is rare and grows quickly, mesothelioma can be hard for doctors to diagnose and treat. A patient usually needs to have many tests before a doctor can diagnose them with mesothelioma. This can include imaging scans, blood tests, and biopsies. Once mesothelioma has … Continue reading The Power of Immunotherapy: T Cells and Mesothelioma Treatment »

Promising Results of CRS/HIPEC Treatment

Promising Results of CRS/HIPEC Treatment

A new treatment can lead to good short- and long-term outcomes for patients with mesothelioma. It’s called cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC). Research results came from the Medical University of Vienna in Austria. They looked at the first 100 mesothelioma patients who had this treatment in their hospital. Advancing Mesothelioma Care Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that grows in the lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year. The standard treatment for mesothelioma usually includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The typical prognosis with standard treatment is survival between one and five years. … Continue reading Promising Results of CRS/HIPEC Treatment »

The Power of Drug Combinations: High Throughput BH3 Profiling in Mesothelioma

The Power of Drug Combinations: High Throughput BH3 Profiling in Mesothelioma

A new technique called dynamic BH3 profiling tests drug combinations to treat mesothelioma. This testing can help doctors create effective treatment plans for individual patients. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It is hard to diagnose and even harder to treat, especially when it is in advanced stages. Even in the early stages, the chances of survival after five years are only 18%. A Treatment Plan for Mesothelioma A treatment plan for malignant pleural mesothelioma depends on a few different factors. These include the type of mesothelioma and how far it has developed in the patient. It may also include the health of the patient and the patient’s wishes for treatment. Conventional treatment usually involves … Continue reading The Power of Drug Combinations: High Throughput BH3 Profiling in Mesothelioma »

Hemithoracic Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma

Hemithoracic Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma

A type of radiation therapy called hemithoracic radiotherapy could be safely used as part of the treatment plan for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. This cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. Diagnosis typically occurs in people over the age of 60, but pleural mesothelioma has occurred in people in their twenties. Surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiation A study conducted in Turkey looked at 11 patients with mesothelioma who received multimodal therapy. This type of treatment plan uses more than one type of therapy … Continue reading Hemithoracic Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma »

Treatment Combination Used Most for Mesothelioma

Treatment Combination Used Most for Mesothelioma

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is being used by doctors to treat malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) more often. This is the finding of a study published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology. This is promising news because research has shown the CRS-HIPEC can be an effective treatment for patients with MPM. Mesothelioma Caused by Asbestos Exposure MPM is caused by exposure to a toxic material called asbestos. Most doctors believe it is caused from ingestion of asbestos fibers and that microscopic asbestos fibers become embedded in the abdomen. After about 20-50 years, these fibers can cause inflammation and mutations that ultimately caused tumors to form. This cancer occurs in less than 1,000 people in the United States … Continue reading Treatment Combination Used Most for Mesothelioma »

Hemithoracic Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma

Hemithoracic Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma

A type of radiation therapy called hemithoracic radiotherapy could be safely used as part of the treatment plan for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. This cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. Diagnosis typically occurs in people over the age of 60, but pleural mesothelioma has occurred in people in their twenties. Surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiation A study conducted in Turkey looked at 11 patients with mesothelioma who received multimodal therapy. This type of treatment plan uses more than one type of therapy … Continue reading Hemithoracic Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma »

Caution in Mesothelioma Pain Medicine Use

Caution in Mesothelioma Pain Medicine Use

A newly published case study shows how important it is for doctors to be careful when giving pain medicine to patients with mesothelioma. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer that grows in the lining of the lungs. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. MPM is also the most common form of mesothelioma. It accounts for over 90,000 deaths per year around the world. Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Symptoms It takes a very long time to diagnose mesothelioma. Usually, it takes almost 40 years after asbestos exposure to reach a diagnosis. Prognosis is poor with an average survival of 8 to 14 months from diagnosis. The 5-year survival rate is currently 10%. The symptoms of MPM can include shortness … Continue reading Caution in Mesothelioma Pain Medicine Use »

Treating Relapsed Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Treating Relapsed Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Researchers from China explored whether immunotherapy or chemotherapy was a better option as a second-line treatment for relapsed malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). There is currently no standard of care for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) that comes back after initial treatment. Because of this, it can be hard for doctors to make good care decisions for MPM patients who relapse. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma MPM is a rare but serious cancer that grows on the lining of the lungs. It is caused by exposure to a toxic substance called asbestos. A healthy pleura is thin and flexible and expands to accommodate the lungs during respiration. In a person with mesothelioma, this membrane becomes thick and stiff, constricting the lungs and causing shortness … Continue reading Treating Relapsed Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma »

Bortezomib Shows Promise as New Mesothelioma Treatment

Bortezomib Shows Promise as New Mesothelioma Treatment

A drug called Bortezomib can help treat malignant mesothelioma when given directly into the area affected by the cancer. This interesting finding comes from a team of scientists from Italy. They tested Bortexomib on mesothelioma cells to find out if it can stop cancer cell growth. New Research for New Treatments Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs, like the lungs and abdominal cavity. The treatment options for malignant mesothelioma are limited. Conventional treatments for mesothelioma consist of chemotherapy, surgery, and sometimes radiation therapy. Even with treatment, the prognosis for mesothelioma is not good. The median survival rate of patients with … Continue reading Bortezomib Shows Promise as New Mesothelioma Treatment »

Mesothelioma Response to Immunotherapy

Mesothelioma Response to Immunotherapy

A new study published in Frontiers in Immunology shows that doctors may be able to tell which patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma will respond better to immunotherapy. If doctors can tell which patients will benefit from immunotherapy, they can create better treatment plans for this aggressive type of cancer. Treatment Options Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs. It is caused by asbestos and is tough to treat. MPM is a rare cancer, and the standard therapies are limited. This usually involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Mesothelioma patients can move from one type of treatment to another and, if their doctors agree, can sometimes use them in combination. Even with treatment, the … Continue reading Mesothelioma Response to Immunotherapy »

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