The Crucial Role of Initial Tests in Mesothelioma Treatment
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The Crucial Role of Initial Tests in Mesothelioma Treatment

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment begin with a series of initial tests to determine the specific type of the disease. A recent study explored these tests and their accuracy in predicting mesothelioma types. Discover why getting it right from the start can be a matter of life and death for mesothelioma patients. Prognosis and Treatment Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and other organs. Doctors often use surgery to remove the cancer. In some cases, they also use chemotherapy before the surgery to shrink the tumor. Before starting treatment, doctors conduct tests to figure out what type of mesothelioma their patient has. A recent study looked at how accurate the initial tests were in…

Tailoring Mesothelioma Treatment with Accurate Subtype Identification

Tailoring Mesothelioma Treatment with Accurate Subtype Identification

ByHolly Zink

A new study is exploring a new method for classifying mesothelioma subtypes. It offers hope for more accurate diagnoses and tailored treatments. Improving Mesothelioma Prognosis Mesothelioma is a type of aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma are challenging. This is due to its late detection and non-specific symptoms. Mesothelioma is classified into three subtypes based on how the cancer cells look. The three types are: epithelioid, biphasic, and sarcomatoid. Each subtype has unique characteristics and can mean different things to a patient’s outlook. Accurately identifying the subtype is crucial for determining treatment options for patients. Currently, doctors will identify a patient’s subtype just by looking at their cancer cells under a microscope. There is…

Mesothelioma Histology Impacts Response to Chemotherapy
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Mesothelioma Histology Impacts Response to Chemotherapy

ByAlex Strauss

Response to chemotherapy for people with malignant mesothelioma may depend – at least in part – on the histology or subtype of their tumor. That is the finding of a new study from a team of Spanish doctors. The doctors analyzed the cases of 189 pleural mesothelioma patients treated at their hospital between 2002 and 2020.  Their study confirms what other studies have suggested: People with epithelioid tumors have better response to chemotherapy than those with non-epithelioid subtypes. These patients experienced both longer progression-free survival and longer overall survival.  Systemic Treatment for Pleural Mesothelioma The first chemotherapy drug for malignant pleural mesothelioma received FDA approval in 2004. Alimta was the only approved systemic (whole body) treatment for pleural mesothelioma until 2020. …