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
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
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
Body Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma
Stereotactic body radiation therapy may be a safe treatment option for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. This is the finding of a team of researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat. It develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. Signs and symptoms may include shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and fatigue. This cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. It can often take around 40 years for pleural mesothelioma to begin. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. Conventional treatment may include surgery, radiation … Continue reading Body Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma
Less Invasive Multimodal Treatment for Mesothelioma
A less invasive multimodal treatment for mesothelioma can lead to better survival. A team of German researchers discovered this after looking at 20 years of patient data. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. It most often appears in older adults and is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a toxic material that can be found in industrial and consumer products. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a specific type of mesothelioma. It develops in the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. Malignant pleural mesothelioma has three main subtypes: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and mixed. Mesothelioma is also an aggressive cancer. It can be hard to treat because symptoms may not show up until decades after the asbestos … Continue reading Less Invasive Multimodal Treatment for Mesothelioma
A 10-Year Study Confirms Longer Survival with Multimodal Therapy
Multimodal therapy may give patients the best odds of surviving mesothelioma. Multimodal therapy often includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. A new article in the Journal of Chest Surgery detail the results of a new analysis of mesothelioma survival. Many Mesothelioma Therapies Malignant mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that rarely responds to a single cancer therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Usually, that happens in the workplace. Because mesothelioma is such a difficult cancer to treat, doctors often take a multi-faceted approach. This includes combining surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Yet even when combined, these therapies achieve only minimal success. And patients often face a grim prognosis. The 5-year survival rate of patients with mesothelioma … Continue reading A 10-Year Study Confirms Longer Survival with Multimodal Therapy
New ‘Drug Factory’ Implant Eliminates Mesothelioma in Mice
A new ‘drug factory’ implant has eliminated advanced-stage mesothelioma tumors in mice. The treatment is effective in just a few days. It works by combining a “drug factory” implant with a checkpoint inhibitor drug. The news comes from researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine. The treatment worked in 100% of the animals treated. And it shows amazing hope for the future of mesothelioma. How the Treatment Works The treatment uses tiny drug-producing beads no larger than the tip of a needle. The beads go to work next to the mesothelioma tumor. Here, they work to produce continuous, high doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2). IL-2 is a natural compound that triggers white blood cells to fight cancer. The study … Continue reading New ‘Drug Factory’ Implant Eliminates Mesothelioma in Mice
Using Electric Fields to Treat Tumors: Combining Standard and Innovative Treatments
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer and standard therapies are limited. So most patients consider one or more different treatments. Different types of therapies can be used and they are usually not exclusive. Mesothelioma patients can move from one type to another. And, if their doctors agree, can sometimes use them in combination. One of the non-standard treatment therapies is the use of electric fields. Tumor-treating electric fields can disrupt cancer cell division. This treatment is approved for mesothelioma treatment. A new combination of treatments has recently been proposed. Does the combination of tumor-treating fields with a standard treatment effective? A new global clinical trial combined tumor-treating fields with sorafenib. This medication blocks cell protein signals to prevent cancer cells from … Continue reading Using Electric Fields to Treat Tumors: Combining Standard and Innovative Treatments
Radiotherapy Outcomes in Mesothelioma Linked to Pembrolizumab
Canadian researchers say radiotherapy may hold the key to improving outcomes in mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a fast-growing membrane cancer caused by asbestos. Doctors have not found a single therapy that can beat it. For most patients, a combination of treatments offer the best survival odds. Pembrolizumab plus Radiotherapy Pleural mesothelioma is a rare lung-related cancer caused by asbestos exposure. There is no cure for mesothelioma. Most mesothelioma patients have a combination of therapies. Radiation is one of the methods doctors use to help slow its spread. Outcomes in mesothelioma vary widely with the use of radiotherapy. Pembrolizumab is used in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for mesothelioma. Radiotherapy uses beams of intense energy to kill cancer cells. One … Continue reading Radiotherapy Outcomes in Mesothelioma Linked to Pembrolizumab
Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma Patients: Value and Timing
The value and safety of radiation therapy for mesothelioma patients are promising. Oncologists from the Fox Chase Cancer Center released new data on radiotherapy. What are the options for radiation therapy? What is the best timing? Who should receive it? This guide shows the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma Radiosensitivity and Treatment Combinations Mesothelioma tumors are radiosensitive. This means they are sensitive to X-rays and radiant energy forms. In other words, mesothelioma tumors are treatable with radiation therapy. The use of a multi-modality treatment has also shown potential for mesothelioma patients. A tri-modality treatment uses three different treatment types. The combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy is most common. Understanding Timing and Adverse Effects There are … Continue reading Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma Patients: Value and Timing
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