Bacteria Linked with Mesothelioma Outcomes

Bacteria Linked with Mesothelioma Outcomes

ByHolly Zink

Scientists have found a connection between the bacteria found in malignant pleural effusions (MPE) and cancer diagnosis and prognosis. This study published in Scientific Reports compared the bacteria from MPE with bacteria from other types of cancers, including mesothelioma. The goal of the study was to link bacteria profiles with cancer outcomes. Treatment for Malignant Pleural Effusion Malignant pleural effusion is a type of cancer that affects the area surrounding the lungs. The pleural cavity is a space between the lungs and the chest wall. In MPE, fluid accumulates in this space. This fluid contains cancer cells, immune cells, and other substances that are produced by the cancer. The buildup of fluid can make it difficult to breathe and cause…

Australian Doctors Use Bacteria to Shrink Mesothelioma Tumors
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Australian Doctors Use Bacteria to Shrink Mesothelioma Tumors

ByAlex Strauss

Could bacteria responsible for problems ranging from sinusitis to food poisoning be used as a weapon in the fight against malignant mesothelioma? The results of a new study conducted by mesothelioma researchers at the University of Western Australia suggest that it might. The researchers focused their study on a compound made up of proteins produced by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, also called ‘Staph’ bacteria. The compound has been used clinically to induce pleurodesis, a closing up of the pleural space around the lungs that can become fluid-filled in people with mesothelioma. Based on its success in pleurodesis, the Australian team wondered if the S. aureus protein compound could also shrink tumors. Scientists in the University’s Centre for Asthma, Allergy and…