Understanding Mesothelioma: Clues in the Blood
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Understanding Mesothelioma: Clues in the Blood

ByHolly Zink

Pleural mesothelioma is a tough cancer caused by asbestos. It’s hard to treat because it is rare and grows differently in people. A recent study tried to find clues that could help doctors figure out how to treat mesothelioma better. Helping Treat Mesothelioma In this study, they looked at 98 people with pleural mesothelioma. Researchers checked the patient’s blood for a few different factors. They wanted to see if a patient’s blood could tell how long someone might live with this cancer. They also wanted to use a patient’s blood to predict which treatment may work best for them. Researchers also learned from what treatments had worked for these patients in the past. Some treatments like surgery or multi-modal treatment…

Mesothelioma Research Gets a Boost From New Tissue Bank
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Mesothelioma Research Gets a Boost From New Tissue Bank

ByAlex Strauss

A new biobank of mesothelioma cell samples in the UK is set to help advance mesothelioma research around the world. The recently-opened mesothelioma tissue bank, called MesobanK UK, will be an international resource of cells specifically for use in mesothelioma research. Mesothelioma Cell Samples and More When the biobank is complete within the next few years, it is expected to contain samples of tissue, blood and pleural fluid from 300 patients with mesothelioma as well as 26 new mesothelioma cell lines. In addition to these cells, which are vital for mesothelioma research, the biobank will also include details from the medical records of these mesothelioma patients, collected by permission. “MesobanK has been created to establish a bioresource of pleural mesothelioma…

‘Breast Cancer Gene’ May Impact Mesothelioma Treatment
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‘Breast Cancer Gene’ May Impact Mesothelioma Treatment

ByAlex Strauss

A gene most often associated with breast cancer may also play a vital role in the effectiveness of mesothelioma treatment. BRCA1 has been shown to be closely linked to the risk of breast cancer and a number of other malignancies. But a new study out of Ireland suggests that there may also be a connection between BRCA1 expression and sensitivity to vinorelbine, an antimitotic chemotherapy drug, in mesothelioma tumors. Classified as a plant alkaloid, vinorelbine attacks tumor cells by interfering with their ability to properly divide the chromosomes in their nuclei (mitosis). To test the connection between BRCA1 and vinorelbine sensitivity in mesothelioma, the researchers tested 144 mesothelioma tissue specimens for their level of BRCA1 expression.  They found that 38.9% of…