Immunotherapy’s Impact on the Mesothelioma Immune System
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Immunotherapy’s Impact on the Mesothelioma Immune System

ByHolly Zink

The battle against mesothelioma has seen significant developments in recent years. Many developments are with the introduction of immunotherapy as a treatment option. This cancer, caused by asbestos exposure, has been an enduring puzzle due to its rarity and lengthy latency period. Brazilian researchers studied the complex relationship between mesothelin and the immune system. The findings provide fresh insights into how mesothelin influences cancer aggressiveness. And it has a few implications for patient treatment decisions. The Mesothelioma Puzzle Mesothelioma is a tough-to-treat cancer linked to asbestos exposure. It has long challenged doctors and scientists because it is so rare and takes decades for symptoms to appear. In the last decade, a special kind of treatment called immunotherapy has been used…

Revolutionizing Mesothelioma Treatment: Harnessing the Power of Immune Proteins
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Revolutionizing Mesothelioma Treatment: Harnessing the Power of Immune Proteins

ByHolly Zink

Scientists found that a combination of special agents that boost our immune system and immune proteins. These act like “checkpoints” and can be a powerful treatment for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a serious cancer affecting the lining of organs. When it grows in the lining of the lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is caused by breathing in tiny asbestos fibers. This can happen if you are exposed to old buildings or products containing asbestos. Scientists have been working hard to find better ways to treat this disease and may have made an important discovery.The conventional treatment for mesothelioma is a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Doctors might also recommend immunotherapy for their patients. This is a type of…

Breaking Down the Three Types of Mesothelioma: Insights from Recent Research
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Breaking Down the Three Types of Mesothelioma: Insights from Recent Research

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects a special lining around our organs called the mesothelium. Mesothelioma most commonly grows in the lungs. It is caused by exposure to a toxic material called asbestos. Understanding Mesothelioma: Types, Causes, and Diagnosis There are different types of mesothelioma that each have unique qualities. Identifying the specific type of mesothelioma that someone has is important. It can help their doctors understand how the cancer behaves and how best to treat it. There are three main categories: epithelioid, biphasic, and sarcomatoid. But, figuring out which category a case of mesothelioma falls into can be tricky. This is because the cancer cells can look different even within the same tumor. This is where…

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…

Genetics Affect Accuracy of SMRP Test for Mesothelioma
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Genetics Affect Accuracy of SMRP Test for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

The SMRP test for mesothelioma is a tool doctors use to help diagnose asbestos cancer and plan treatment. But new research suggests that the test is not as useful as it could be due to genetic variability.  Slovenian doctors say a person’s genetics influence how much SMRP they produce.  Based on their research, they recommend combining the SMRP test for mesothelioma with genetic testing. Their findings suggest the combination method produces a more accurate and useful mesothelioma biomarker. What is the SMRP Test for Mesothelioma? SMRP stands for soluble mesothelin-related peptides. They are produced when proteins found in the mesothelial membranes start to break down. Malignant mesothelioma is one condition that can trigger this breakdown.  As a mesothelioma tumor grows…

Biomarker for Pleural Mesothelioma: Transforming Growth Factor-Beta
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Biomarker for Pleural Mesothelioma: Transforming Growth Factor-Beta

ByAlex Strauss

A protein called transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) might be an effective biomarker for pleural mesothelioma. New research shows it could help diagnose the asbestos cancer and distinguish it from other lung conditions.  The findings come from researchers at the West German Cancer Center in Essen, Germany.  They studied patients with malignant mesothelioma, non-malignant pleural diseases or lung cancer. TGF-β levels were different in mesothelioma patients than they were in people with other diseases.  They correlated with mesothelioma survival. This suggests that TGF-β could make a good biomarker for pleural mesothelioma. How Do Doctors Use a Biomarker for Pleural Mesothelioma? A biomarker for pleural mesothelioma is a substance whose presence indicates that a person has the disease. Some biomarkers occur in…

Analysis of Three Top Mesothelioma Biomarkers
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Analysis of Three Top Mesothelioma Biomarkers

ByAlex Strauss

New research confirms that some mesothelioma biomarkers are much more effective than others for detecting asbestos cancer. The news comes from a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Researchers ran an analysis of more than 50 studies on three popular mesothelioma biomarkers. They concluded that two of them make good mesothelioma screening tools but one of them does not.   The Challenge of Early Mesothelioma Diagnosis Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. As with most cancers, the odds of surviving mesothelioma are higher if it is caught early. But mesothelioma does not cause many symptoms in the early stages. This can make it challenging to diagnose. Even…

Mesothelioma Tumor Progression Can be Tracked With Blood Test
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Mesothelioma Tumor Progression Can be Tracked With Blood Test

ByAlex Strauss

Italian researchers say it’s possible to monitor mesothelioma tumor progression with a simple blood test. They make their case in a Letter to the Editor in the latest edition of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. The researchers say blood serum levels of the protein mesothelin correlate closely with tumor volume in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients. They are recommending that the blood test be used alongside CT to track mesothelioma tumor progression. The Importance of Monitoring Mesothelioma Tumor Progression Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer with a grim prognosis. Mesothelioma tumors tend to grow and spread quickly. Doctors have to carefully monitor mesothelioma tumor progression to tell if a treatment is working. Most mesothelioma patients have chemotherapy with Alimta (pemetrexed) and…

SMRP Still Among Best Diagnostic Biomarkers for Mesothelioma
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SMRP Still Among Best Diagnostic Biomarkers for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Chinese researchers say soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP) in lung fluid is still one of the best biomarkers for mesothelioma, even if it sometimes produces false positives.. SMRP has been studied extensively as a way to help diagnose mesothelioma. The most popular test to check levels of SMRPs in the body is a blood test called MESOMARK. In recent years, other biomarkers for mesothelioma have also emerged. But SMRPs are not just in the blood. A new meta-analysis of SMRPs from pleural effusions finds that they have a valuable place among top biomarkers for mesothelioma. Biomarkers for Mesothelioma: SMRPs and Others Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that starts on the membranes around the lungs, heart or abdomen. SMRPs are…

Mesothelin Flawed But Still the Best Mesothelioma Biomarker
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Mesothelin Flawed But Still the Best Mesothelioma Biomarker

ByAlex Strauss

Patients who are suspected of having mesothelioma often want to know whether there is a test to determine for certain if they have the disease. Unfortunately, no such test exists. Instead, mesothelioma diagnosis typically involves a complex combination of work and family history, symptoms, scans, biopsies and, often, a test for a protein called mesothelin. While mesothelin is not a perfect biomarker for malignant mesothelioma, a team of Australian mesothelioma researchers has confirmed that it is probably still the best one available. Biomarkers are measurable substances that can help indicate whether a patient has a particular disease. As the search for the most effective mesothelioma biomarkers continues, doctors at the University of Western Australia’s National Center for Asbestos Related Diseases…