Lower Platelet Count Linked to Longer Mesothelioma Survival
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Lower Platelet Count Linked to Longer Mesothelioma Survival

ByHolly Zink

A high platelet count may not bode well for people battling malignant pleural mesothelioma. New evidence suggests that survival rates may be higher for mesothelioma patients with a lower platelet count. This news comes from the Kocaeli University which analyzed malignant mesothelioma patients between 2008 and 2014. They wanted to know if certain clinical characteristics could predict longer patient survival. Platelets and Health Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. It develops from cells of the mesothelium, the lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. While it is uncommon, it has a high mortality rate. Smaller than either red or white blood cells, platelets are the components in blood that facilitate clotting. The normal range for platelet…

Nivolumab + Ipilimumab Provides Long-Term Survival Benefit in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
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Nivolumab + Ipilimumab Provides Long-Term Survival Benefit in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Nivolumab + ipilimumab continues to provide a long-term survival benefit in malignant pleural mesothelioma. A new report shows a 3-year follow-up in the CheckMate Clinical Trial. Long-term clinical benefits remained the same for all patient groups. Background on the Nivolumab + Ipilimumab Treatment Two years ago, the FDA approved the combination of nivolumab + ipilimumab. It is the first-line treatment for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The CHECKMATE randomized multi-part trial investigated the effectiveness. The trial showed a significant improvement in patient survival. Today, this treatment combination improves patient survival rates over chemotherapy. Mesothelioma patients showed an improved survival using this line of treatment. A new report from the Annals of Oncology describes updated data with at least…

Top Three Factors Predicting Mesothelioma Survival are Age, Histological Type, and Surgery Status
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Top Three Factors Predicting Mesothelioma Survival are Age, Histological Type, and Surgery Status

ByHolly Zink

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive malignancy with a dismal prognosis. A new study is predicting mesothelioma survival among male and female patients in the United States. Identifying factors “associated with mesothelioma mortality is important research given the poor prognosis” according to Dr. Bian Liu from the a Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. A new study applied a machine-learning algorithm to 12,210 patients to predict survival. The top three factors were age, histological type, and cancer-directed surgery status. Analyzing Over 12,000 Mesothelioma Patients Scientists from the New York State Department of Health included 12,210 mesothelioma patients. They involved only malignant pleural mesothelioma patients. They excluded cases with unknown diagnostic confirmation and unknown survival…

Treatment Advances Fail to Improve Mesothelioma Survival Trends
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Treatment Advances Fail to Improve Mesothelioma Survival Trends

ByAlex Strauss

A new report shows mesothelioma survival trends have remained steady for decades, despite new drugs, new surgery techniques, and the introduction of pleural catheters.  The report comes from cancer researchers at Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre in Canada. Canada has one of the world’s highest rates of malignant pleural mesothelioma. This is likely related to the country’s long history of asbestos production. To compile the new report, researchers compared mesothelioma outcomes in three different decades between 1991 and 2019. There were surprisingly few differences in mesothelioma survival trends in the three decades.  Mesothelioma’s Destructive History Pleural mesothelioma is a virulent cancer of the pleural membrane. This is the tissue or mesothelium that surrounds the lungs. It is thin but flexible and…

Pleural Mesothelioma Rates Expected to Decline Just as Lung Cancer Deaths Have
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Pleural Mesothelioma Rates Expected to Decline Just as Lung Cancer Deaths Have

ByAlex Strauss

A new report suggests that pleural mesothelioma rates will continue to decline worldwide over the next decade as many countries get wise to the dangers of asbestos. The report comes on the heels of another study showing dramatic declines in US lung cancer deaths.  The report on mesothelioma rates comes from market research website, Research and Markets. The company evaluated malignant pleural mesothelioma incidence in seven countries to come up with an 11-year forecast. According to the research, the US, UK, Japan, and four European countries can expect declining rates of asbestos cancer through 2030. Those who do receive a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis may benefit from some of the same drugs that are helping lung cancer patients survive. Lung Cancer…

PD-L1 Expression and Mesothelioma Prognosis
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PD-L1 Expression and Mesothelioma Prognosis

ByAlex Strauss

The largest study yet on PD-L1 expression and mesothelioma prognosis shows that patients with more of this protein in their cells have poorer odds of survival. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) helps cancer cells evade immune system attack.  Other studies have suggested a link between PD-L1 expression and mesothelioma prognosis. But the new meta-analysis performed by two Chinese researchers appears to confirm it with an even bigger data set.  Understanding Mesothelioma Prognosis Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon cancer that typically carries a poor prognosis. Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma lose their lives to the illness within a year.  But there are also many exceptions. Some mesothelioma survivors live for decades after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Australian Paul Kraus is an example….

Who Survives Mesothelioma and Why?
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Who Survives Mesothelioma and Why?

ByAlex Strauss

A new study of National Cancer Institute data aims to better understand who survives mesothelioma and why. Malignant mesothelioma is a highly aggressive cancer of internal membranes. Very few people diagnosed with mesothelioma live longer than 18 months. But researchers around the world are working to change those odds. One important step is to look at the characteristics of those who live longest with the asbestos cancer. NCI Data Shows Who Survives Mesothelioma Scientists at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York turned to the National Cancer Institute database to get a better picture of who survives mesothelioma. The database contains information reported by mesothelioma doctors from around the country. It includes information about the ages, gender, lifestyle, mesothelioma type,…

Researchers Name Six Top Mesothelioma Survival Factors
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Researchers Name Six Top Mesothelioma Survival Factors

ByAlex Strauss

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have named what they say are the top six mesothelioma survival factors. According to their new study, patients with one or more of these factors tend to have better mesothelioma treatment outcomes and live longer. Malignant mesothelioma – also called asbestos cancer – is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. It starts on internal membranes and spreads quickly. There is no cure and the disease is very hard to slow down. Many mesothelioma patients die within 12 to 18 months. But there are cases of much longer mesothelioma survival. Some patients have even lived for decades after mesothelioma treatment. The Pittsburgh researchers wanted to find the mesothelioma survival factors shared by the longest…

Ginsburg’s Recovery Shows Value of Healthy Lifestyle for Mesothelioma Survival
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Ginsburg’s Recovery Shows Value of Healthy Lifestyle for Mesothelioma Survival

ByAlex Strauss

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s successful lung cancer surgery illustrates the value of healthy lifestyle for mesothelioma survival. Although Ginsburg did not have mesothelioma, people battling the asbestos cancer would do well to pay attention. The 85-year-old Supreme Court justice recently had two nodules removed from her left lung. Her lung cancer was in an early stage. Doctors say they were able to remove all signs of cancer and Ginsburg is now recovering at home. Ginsburg’s Regular Exercise Routine Justice Ginsburg has survived cancer twice before. She had colon cancer in 1999 and pancreatic cancer in 2009. In both cases, she bounced back quickly. She did not miss a day on the bench. Ginsburg is known for her healthy lifestyle. She eats…

Belgian Mesothelioma Survival Study

Belgian Mesothelioma Survival Study

ByAlex Strauss

A new Belgian mesothelioma survival study contains important insights for patients and doctors. Cancer center researchers did the study with data from the Belgian Cancer Registry. It includes more than 1400 patients. They received mesothelioma diagnosis between 2004 and 2012. The analysis is similar to past mesothelioma research. It shows the longest-surviving patients are the ones who have chemotherapy. Surgery patients also live longer. The third longer-living group are patients treated at experienced cancer centers. Mesothelioma Survival and Treatment The mesothelioma survival study asks what kinds of patients live longest and why. Researchers had to first see what treatments most patients receive. They found that most mesothelioma patients have chemotherapy. Chemotherapy usually includes pemetrexed (Alimta) and cisplatin. This is the…