Bortezomib Shows Promise as New Mesothelioma Treatment
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Bortezomib Shows Promise as New Mesothelioma Treatment

ByHolly Zink

A drug called Bortezomib can help treat malignant mesothelioma when given directly into the area affected by the cancer. This interesting finding comes from a team of scientists from Italy. They tested Bortexomib on mesothelioma cells to find out if it can stop cancer cell growth. New Research for New Treatments Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs, like the lungs and abdominal cavity. The treatment options for malignant mesothelioma are limited. Conventional treatments for mesothelioma consist of chemotherapy, surgery, and sometimes radiation therapy. Even with treatment, the prognosis for mesothelioma is not good. The median survival rate of patients with…

Testing 527 Cancer Drugs on Mesothelioma

Testing 527 Cancer Drugs on Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A new study from Finland tested over 500 cancer drugs on malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cells to find new treatments for this aggressive disease. As of this writing, the only FDA approved chemotherapy for MPM is a combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin. Even though this is the most common first-line treatment for MPM, it is not always effective at improving survival. This is why studies that look for new drug treatments are so important. This research can help doctors to find better treatments for MPM in the future. Worldwide Poor Prognosis MPM is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It affects the membranes around the lungs and can spread to the lungs and elsewhere in the chest. MPM has…

Possible New Drug for Mesothelioma Gets First FDA Approval
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Possible New Drug for Mesothelioma Gets First FDA Approval

ByAlex Strauss

A possible new drug for mesothelioma has received FDA approval for the treatment of advanced epithelioid sarcoma.  Tazemetostat (Tazverik) is an oral medication made by a company called Epizyme. It is a brand new kind of drug that blocks a protein called EZH2. Tazemetostat is in testing for several different types of cancer, including malignant mesothelioma.  The recent FDA approval is an encouraging sign that it could one day be a new drug for mesothelioma.  In Search of a New Drug for Mesothelioma  Malignant mesothelioma is one of the most serious consequences of exposure to asbestos. Once asbestos fibers get into the lungs and other tissues, they never leave. Their presence sets up a cascade of cellular reactions that can…

Mesothelioma Growth Slowed by Breast Cancer Drug
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Mesothelioma Growth Slowed by Breast Cancer Drug

ByAlex Strauss

A drug most often associated with the treatment and prevention of breast cancer may offer a new way to treat pleural mesothelioma, too. A new study conducted by Ireland’s Royal College of Surgeons and published in the medical journal Anticancer Research focuses on tamoxifen as a novel mesothelioma therapy. How Tamoxifen Works Tamoxifen helps fight breast cancer and protect high-risk women from getting it by blocking cancer cells from using the estrogen they need to grow. Given that some types of mesothelioma tumors also appear to rely on estrogen to fuel their growth, the Irish scientists theorized that a drug like tamoxifen, which modulates estrogen receptors, could be used to enhance mesothelioma therapy. Testing Tamoxifen on Mesothelioma Cells The researchers…