Search Results for: asbestos/

BLM Gene Mutation Increases Mesothelioma Risk, Study Finds
|

BLM Gene Mutation Increases Mesothelioma Risk, Study Finds

ByAlex Strauss

New research suggests an inherited mutation on the BLM gene increases susceptibility to deadly malignant mesothelioma. The research comes from the University of Hawaii, one of the world’s top locations for mesothelioma research.  Researcher Michele Carbone and his team sequenced the DNA of 155 mesothelioma patients. They found that people who are missing one BLM gene are much more likely to contract mesothelioma – especially if they are exposed to asbestos.  If people know they have the BLM gene mutation, they could potentially cut their risk for mesothelioma by being especially mindful of asbestos exposure.  Genetic Susceptibility to Mesothelioma Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma. Some people who live or work around asbestos develop mesothelioma years later….

Asbestos-Containing Cosmetics Removed From Retail Websites
|

Asbestos-Containing Cosmetics Removed From Retail Websites

ByAlex Strauss

Amazon and Ebay are the latest retailers to remove a list of asbestos-containing cosmetics from their sites after warnings from the Environmental Working Group. Asbestos can cause lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and other serious health issues. The EWG says tests by Scientific Analytical Institute found asbestos-tainted talc in three of 21 cosmetic products. The asbestos–containing cosmetics include two eye shadow collections and one toy makeup kit for children.  The scientific journal Environmental Health Insights recently published the EWG’s report. It is the latest in a growing body of research on the prevalence of asbestos contamination in personal care products.  Asbestos Contamination in Talc Most asbestos-containing cosmetics are made with talc. Talc is a soft, powdery mineral. Its moisture-absorbing properties make…

Long-Term Mesothelioma Survival: Follow-up is Critical
| | | |

Long-Term Mesothelioma Survival: Follow-up is Critical

ByAlex Strauss

A newly published French case report is a reminder that long-term mesothelioma survival requires long-term follow-up. The case comes from Aix-Marseille University in Marseille. In the Annals of Medicine and Surgery, doctors wrote about a man who survived mesothelioma for 14 years. In all that time, his cancer did not progress. The situation is unusual for mesothelioma. The life expectancy of most mesothelioma patients is about 18 months. Prolonged survival is two years or more. But the authors of the new report say their case shows that long-term mesothelioma survival is not impossible with the right approach. Treatment for Malignant Mesothelioma Malignant mesothelioma usually occurs in people who have lived or worked around asbestos. Many do not know they have…

New Cancer Blood Test: Could it Find Early Mesothelioma?
| | | |

New Cancer Blood Test: Could it Find Early Mesothelioma?

ByAlex Strauss

Researchers in England are testing a new cancer blood test that promises to reveal the presence of hard-to-find cancers like mesothelioma earlier. The country’s National Health Service will offer the test to 165,000 UK residents next year as part of a clinical trial.  “Early detection, particularly for hard to treat conditions like ovarian and pancreatic cancer, has the potential to save many lives,” NHS England’s’ chief executive Simon Stevens told The Guardian newspaper. “This promising blood test could therefore be a gamechanger in cancer care, helping thousands more people to get successful treatment.” If the trial of the new cancer blood test is successful, it could be available to help detect mesothelioma within a few years.  The Challenge of Identifying…

Asbestos-Based Clutches and Brakes Linked to Cancer in Italian Workers
| |

Asbestos-Based Clutches and Brakes Linked to Cancer in Italian Workers

ByAlex Strauss

Italian researchers say cases of lung cancer among people who work with asbestos-based clutches and brakes in the country have probably been underestimated. And it remains to be seen how many of these workers end up contracting malignant mesothelioma. The study was led by occupational medicine experts from the province of Brescia. They focused on an Italian company that produced asbestos-based clutches and brakes for more than 20 years.  The team conducted an analysis of the workers’ likely asbestos exposure levels. These levels were compared to the incidence of asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural mesothelioma.  The conclusion? The risk is bigger than anyone realized.  Mesothelioma Risk from Asbestos-Based Clutches and Brakes Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that…

Complications After PD Surgery for Mesothelioma
| | |

Complications After PD Surgery for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Durable air leak is one of the most common complications after PD surgery for pleural mesothelioma, according to the authors of a new study. People with overall better health are less likely than others to experience the problem.  Air leaks happen when inhaled air does not stay in the alveoli in the lungs. Instead, it leaks into the area around the lungs. This can cause breathing problems and put pressure on the heart. Too much leaked air can even collapse a lung. A new Japanese study found that more than half of mesothelioma patients analyzed experienced serious complications after PD surgery. One in three patients suffered from air leak for more than ten days.  Pleurectomy/Decortication for Mesothelioma Pleural mesothelioma is…

Could This Protein Play a Role in Survival of Pleural Mesothelioma?
| | | |

Could This Protein Play a Role in Survival of Pleural Mesothelioma?

ByAlex Strauss

Research funded by the National Cancer Institute has identified a protein that might play a key role in survival of pleural mesothelioma.  The protein is called UHRF1. It is encoded by a gene of the same name. Researchers believe it may be a driver of growth and spread in malignant mesothelioma.  The research will have to be confirmed on a larger scale. But if it turns out to be true, it could give doctors a new way to extend survival of pleural mesothelioma.  Finding Drivers of Mesothelioma Growth Pleural mesothelioma is a membrane (mesothelium) cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Although some people do survive mesothelioma, it is rare. Average survival of pleural mesothelioma is right around 18 months.  It can…

Asbestos Raises Mesothelioma Risk, Regardless of Type

Asbestos Raises Mesothelioma Risk, Regardless of Type

ByAlex Strauss

A new report led by the National Cancer Institute offers further evidence that every type of asbestos raises mesothelioma risk.  Scientists have known since the 1950s that asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. But some have argued that not all types of asbestos are equally dangerous. The new study refutes that idea. Researchers compared outcomes from people exposed to different kinds of asbestos. They conclude that asbestos raises mesothelioma risk, regardless of type.  Asbestos as a Carcinogen Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral. It has to be mined from the ground. Asbestos is strong, cheap, and impervious to heat and chemical erosion. It was a popular additive to many products before doctors realized that asbestos raises mesothelioma risk. The most…

First Patient Dosed in New Trial for Relapsed Mesothelioma
| | | | |

First Patient Dosed in New Trial for Relapsed Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Doctors in the UK have started treatment on the first patient in the trial of a new drug combination for relapsed mesothelioma. The drug is called bemcentinib. It blocks a protein encoded by the AXL gene. People with mesothelioma tend to overexpress this protein. Studies show that this extra AXL protein might help cancer cells hide from the immune system. It might also help them spread to other parts of the body.  In the new trial, patients with relapsed mesothelioma will get a combination of bemcentinib and Keytruda (pembrolizumab). Keytruda is an immunotherapy drug. Like bemcentinib, it helps make mesothelioma cells vulnerable to immune system attack.  Animal studies and tests in lung cancer patients show that bemcentinib may help immune…

Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma Through Release of This Protein, Study Finds
| | | |

Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma Through Release of This Protein, Study Finds

ByAlex Strauss

Some of the world’s top mesothelioma experts believe they now have a better understanding of how asbestos causes mesothelioma. The finding could help lead to more effective ways of treating it.  Malignant mesothelioma is a deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. There is no cure. Once symptoms develop, many patients do not live beyond a year.  Scientists have known since the early 1900s that asbestos causes mesothelioma. But they are still trying to figure out exactly how. A new international study led by the University of Hawaii may help answer the question. Membrane Cells Under Attack Mesothelioma is a cancer of a mesothelial membrane. The most common mesothelial membrane where mesothelioma occurs is the pleura. The pleura is a…