Search Results for: epithelioid

Uncovering the Secrets of Long-Term Survival in Pleural Mesothelioma: The DNA Repair Factor

Uncovering the Secrets of Long-Term Survival in Pleural Mesothelioma: The DNA Repair Factor

ByHolly Zink

DNA repair plays an important role in a type of cancer called malignant pleural mesothelioma. Scientists have found that mesothelioma patients who live for a very long time do not have active DNA repair function. Exploring Longevity in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. Pleural mesothelioma grows in the lining of the lungs. There are about 2,000 cases of pleural mesothelioma each year in the United States. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. This is a toxic material that has been used in construction, manufacturing, and many other applications. This type of cancer is hard to treat, and doctors often…

Insights from European Mesothelioma Databases
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Insights from European Mesothelioma Databases

ByHolly Zink

An international team of researchers analyzed data from two mesothelioma databases. They discovered trends about mesothelioma in Europe. These trends can help doctors make better treatment decisions for their patients. Improving Mesothelioma Treatment Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is both rare and aggressive. It is caused by exposure to a toxic mineral called asbestos. Asbestos is a fiber-like material that can be used in building and manufacturing materials. The two most common types of mesothelioma are pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma is found in the lining of the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma grows in the abdominal cavity. There are about 2,000 cases of pleural mesothelioma and 1,000 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma each year. There are also three different cell…

Rare Mesothelioma of the Liver
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Rare Mesothelioma of the Liver

ByHolly Zink

Doctors in China recently came across a rare case of primary sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma of the liver. This disease is a type of malignant mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Primary sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma is hard for doctors to diagnose because it is so rare. Doctors also don’t know very much about how it develops or how to treat it. When a person goes to the hospital with symptoms that could be caused by mesothelioma, there are a few different ways to get a diagnosis. Doctors will usually use imaging tests, tissue biopsies, and fluid tests to reach a diagnosis. Diagnosing a Rare Case In this case, a 69-year-old man went to the hospital because he had been having…

High Mesothelin Rates May Be Good for Mesothelioma Patients
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High Mesothelin Rates May Be Good for Mesothelioma Patients

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma patients who have higher levels of mesothelin have better survival rates. This is the finding of a new study out of Australia. Mesothelin Proteins Mesothelin is a type of protein found in mesothelioma cancer cells. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that develops from cells of the mesothelium, the lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. It is caused by exposure to a toxic mineral called asbestos. Typically, mesothelioma requires aggressive treatments to stop the cancer from growing and spreading. Such treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or some combination. Scientists aren’t sure what mesothelin does in cancer cells. But since mesothelin is only found in cancer cells, it could be a target…

Mesothelioma Patients with a Second Cancer
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Mesothelioma Patients with a Second Cancer

ByHolly Zink

Researchers in Italy looked at patients with pleural mesothelioma to see if having a second cancer affected how long they lived. They found that having a second cancer did not make a big difference in survival for most patients, but for those with a certain type of mesothelioma, it did make things worse. Factors for Multiple Types of Cancer Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that starts in the lining of organs, usually the lungs or abdomen. Most cases are caused by being exposed to asbestos. However, some people may have certain genes that make them more likely to get mesothelioma. People who have a specific gene mutation called BAP1 are more likely to get mesothelioma. They could also be…

New Mesothelioma Classification Selects Best Treatment
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New Mesothelioma Classification Selects Best Treatment

ByHolly Zink

Scientists have come up with a new way to classify malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) that could help treatments to be more successful. Doctors usually classify MPM based on how it looks under a microscope. But the scientists in this study think that there is more to classifying this cancer than its appearance. Three Types of Mesothelioma MPM is an aggressive cancer that grows in the lining of the lungs. It is caused by exposure to asbestos and can be difficult to diagnose and treat. One common way to diagnose MPM is by taking a sample of the cancer tissue and looking at under a microscope or running certain tests on it. This is called a biopsy and it is considered…

Women with Mesothelioma Have Better Odds than Men
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Women with Mesothelioma Have Better Odds than Men

ByHolly Zink

Women who are diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma usually have better odds of survival than men. This was one of the findings of a study published in the Journal of Surgical Oncology. The researchers looked at data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. Mesothelioma Rates Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare form of cancer the grows in the lining of the lungs. People with MPM might feel shortness of breath caused by fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and fatigue. This cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. This is a naturally occurring mineral found throughout the world. Even though it is toxic to humans, it is still used in manufactured materials in some parts…

Understanding the Rare Testicular Mesothelioma
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Understanding the Rare Testicular Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Testicular mesothelioma is a rare type of mesothelioma that occurs in fewer than 50 people each year. Researchers in Australia compared the qualities of testicular mesothelioma with more common types of this cancer. Asbestos Exposure and Treatment Most cases of mesothelioma occur around the lungs (pleural) or around the abdomen (peritoneal). However, there are two rare subtypes that can occur. One is found around the testis and the other can be found around the heart. Testicular mesothelioma is also called paratesticular or mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis. The most common symptom is a mass or hydrocele (buildup of fluid) inside the scrotum. Like the other types of mesothelioma, testicular mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. There is usually…

New Resource on Mesothelioma Genomics
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New Resource on Mesothelioma Genomics

ByHolly Zink

The MESOMICS project is the most comprehensive dataset of mesothelioma genomics to date. The data in this resource can help researchers to design precision treatments for mesothelioma patients This project was created by an international collaboration between scientists from France, Chile, and the United States. Understanding Diagnosis Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States alone every year. Because it is so rare, the treatment options are very limited compared to other types of cancer. The limited treatment options combined with the cancer’s ability to spread without being noticed makes mesothelioma a deadly disease. Median overall survival for mesothelioma patients is a little over a…

Struggles of Diagnosing Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
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Struggles of Diagnosing Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma and sarcomatoid carcinoma can be hard to tell apart during diagnosis. A study published in Diagnostics reveals that a new panel test could help to distinguish between these two diseases. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos. There are three different types of mesothelioma: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and biphasic. Patients who are diagnosed with sarcomatoid mesothelioma face a much poorer outlook than those with the more common epithelioid form of the disease. Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is also the least common form of this already rare cancer. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma includes only about 10 percent of the 2,000 to 3,000 mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the United States each year. Out of the three different types of mesothelioma, the sarcomatoid type is the…