Scientists Find New Way To Treat Mesothelioma
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Scientists Find New Way To Treat Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Scientists Find New Way To Treat Mesothelioma Scientists think they can find new ways to treat mesothelioma by looking at its genetic makeup. The genetic changes and interactions between cancer cells and their environment could hold the key to new therapies. This is the hope of a group of scientists from Italy who published their ideas in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Mesothelioma Tumor and Cancer Genetics Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. One reason it is hard to treat is because it doesn’t have specific genetic targets like other types of cancer. The area around the mesothelioma tumor also makes it hard to treat. The environment around the tumor affects how the tumor…

BAP1 Not the Only Gene to Raise Mesothelioma Risk
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BAP1 Not the Only Gene to Raise Mesothelioma Risk

ByAlex Strauss

A new study is further evidence that a mutation on the BAP1 gene is not the only genetic anomaly to raise mesothelioma risk. Scientists at Philadelphia’s Fox Chase Cancer Center along with a team of international researchers recently published a study of 13 malignant mesothelioma patients. All of these patients had close relatives who also had cancer. This suggested that something in their genetic makeup might raise mesothelioma risk.  Previous research suggests one gene that makes people more susceptible to mesothelioma is BAP1. People with a mutation on this gene are more likely to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis. They are also more susceptible to several other conditions.  But the people in the new study were chosen because none of them…

Inflammation Protein May Impact Drug Therapies for Mesothelioma
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Inflammation Protein May Impact Drug Therapies for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

A protein involved in the inflammatory process could impact how patients respond to drug therapies for mesothelioma. The news comes from researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.  The team led by Joseph Testa, PhD, recently released a study of a protein called RIPK3 and its role in malignant mesothelioma.  Their research showed that people with little or no expression of RIPK3 were less sensitive to drug therapies for mesothelioma. Turning that gene back on might make tumor cells more responsive. The finding could lead to new, more powerful ways to treat this aggressive cancer.  RIPK3, Mesothelioma, and Inflammation Mesothelioma is a rare but fast-growing form of cancer that comes from asbestos exposure. Tumors grow on the tissue that…

Genetic Links to Mesothelioma Illustrated in New Interactive Model
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Genetic Links to Mesothelioma Illustrated in New Interactive Model

ByAlex Strauss

An interactive model of protein interactions could reveal new genetic links to mesothelioma and even lead to new treatments.  The model is the brainchild of researchers in the US and India. It is a map of the thousands of protein-to-protein interactions that govern how mesothelioma cells develop, thrive, and spread.  Understanding the genetic links to mesothelioma is key to understanding who gets the disease and who does not. It is also crucial for developing new therapies aimed at manipulating the way mesothelioma cells use certain proteins.  Proteins Govern Cellular Functions Mesothelioma is a cancer of the membranes around organs. Asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma worldwide. But only a small percentage of people who are exposed to asbestos go…

Estrogen Signaling Genes May be Secret to Survival for Women with Mesothelioma
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Estrogen Signaling Genes May be Secret to Survival for Women with Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Scientists think they now have a better understanding of why most women with mesothelioma live longer than men.  Malignant mesothelioma is four times more common in men than in women. But many studies show that women with mesothelioma do better than men after treatment.  Researchers with The International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston say the difference is in the genes. Their new study focused on the potentially protective role of estrogen signaling genes in female patients. The RERG Gene and Mesothelioma Survival In the latest study, researchers analyzed genetic data and survival in groups of mesothelioma patients. The groups included both men and women with mesothelioma. The goal was to determine what aspect of the women’s…

Chemoresistance in Mesothelioma: The Role of Genetics
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Chemoresistance in Mesothelioma: The Role of Genetics

ByAlex Strauss

A team of Swiss and German researchers have a theory about why so many mesothelioma patients experience chemoresistance.  Chemotherapy is the standard first-line treatment for asbestos cancer. But fewer than half of patients respond to it.  The new study suggests that this may have to do with an alteration on the BAP1 gene. Medicine cannot change a person’s underlying genetics. But knowing who is likely to experience chemoresistance could help patients and doctors choose the most effective treatments.  BAP1 Expression and Mesothelioma BAP1 stands for BRCA1 associated protein-1. People who have an inherited mutation of this gene produce less of the BAP1 protein. This seems to increase their risk for malignant mesothelioma and several other conditions. People with BAP1 loss…

BLM Gene Mutation Increases Mesothelioma Risk, Study Finds
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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….

Gene Editing Technology May Hold the Key to Curing Mesothelioma
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Gene Editing Technology May Hold the Key to Curing Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

New research on gene editing technology for cancer suggests that it could be the key to one day curing intractable cancers like malignant mesothelioma. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have used a technology called CRISPR to dramatically extend the lives of mice with some of the most serious kinds of cancer.  Gene editing technology alters the genes of cancer cells so they cannot replicate. The Israeli team found a way to make it target cancer cells.   It could be the breakthrough that many mesothelioma doctors have been hoping for.  Genes and Mesothelioma The genetic material inside a person’s cells determines how those cells will behave. Genes encode for proteins which give signals to cells. Gene editing technology aims to change…

Gene Targeting Slows Aggressive Form of Pleural Mesothelioma
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Gene Targeting Slows Aggressive Form of Pleural Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Scientists in Vienna are developing a new treatment for a particularly aggressive form of pleural mesothelioma.  This form of mesothelioma occurs in people with a genetic mutation. The mutation produces signals that fuel tumor growth. These patients typically have an even worse prognosis than other mesothelioma patients.  But the Austrian team came up with a way to block activation of the mutated gene. If the gene does not send its signal, this aggressive form of pleural mesothelioma may grow more slowly.  Aggression Fueled by Telomerase Malignant mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive kinds of cancer. It starts on the membranes around organs and can quickly spread to other parts of the body. By the time most people notice symptoms,…

CRISPR Gene Editing Technique and the Future of Mesothelioma Treatment
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CRISPR Gene Editing Technique and the Future of Mesothelioma Treatment

ByAlex Strauss

The powerful CRISPR gene editing technique might have a role to play in the future of mesothelioma treatment. CRISPR is a method for altering certain genes to help fight disease. This week, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania released data from the first study of CRISPR in US cancer patients.  It was only a safety study, but the results are promising. They could have wide-ranging implications for patients fighting aggressive cancers like malignant mesothelioma.  Modifying Genes To Help Fight Cancer The CRISPR gene editing technique is a simplified version of the method bacteria cells use to defend themselves against viruses. This antiviral defense system is called CRISPR-Cas9. The new Penn Medicine study involved just three cancer patients. Two of the…