Treatment Combination for Younger Pre-Treated Mesothelioma Patients

Treatment Combination for Younger Pre-Treated Mesothelioma Patients

ByHolly Zink

There are many systemic therapies recommended for mesothelioma patients. Different therapies may work best for different patient populations. Different therapies may work better for older versus younger patients. Or, patients who have received treatment before. An international team of clinicians published a new study on this topic. They found a treatment strategy that works best for younger pre-treated patients. The Young (65 years or younger) and Pre-Treated Patient Mesothelioma patients who have received treatment once before, are often called “pre-treated.” Clinicians often have more personalized data available for these patients. This affects the clinician’s treatment strategy. A new study compared the data from nine different mesothelioma clinical trials. These clinical trials spanned standard and experimental treatment options. The results are…

Using Electric Fields to Treat Tumors: Combining Standard and Innovative Treatments
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Using Electric Fields to Treat Tumors: Combining Standard and Innovative Treatments

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer and standard therapies are limited. So most patients consider one or more different treatments. Different types of therapies can be used and they are usually not exclusive. Mesothelioma patients can move from one type to another. And, if their doctors agree, can sometimes use them in combination. One of the non-standard treatment therapies is the use of electric fields. Tumor-treating electric fields can disrupt cancer cell division. This treatment is approved for mesothelioma treatment. A new combination of treatments has recently been proposed. Does the combination of tumor-treating fields with a standard treatment effective? A new global clinical trial combined tumor-treating fields with sorafenib. This medication blocks cell protein signals to prevent cancer cells from…

Access to Multi-Modality Mesothelioma Treatment Limited for Uninsured & Rural Residents
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Access to Multi-Modality Mesothelioma Treatment Limited for Uninsured & Rural Residents

ByAlex Strauss

A new study shows a person’s insurance status and where they live often impact their access to multi-modality mesothelioma treatment. This can have an impact on their survival.  Researchers at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center conducted the new study. They shared their findings at the recent virtual world conference of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.  The study found that access to multi-modality mesothelioma treatment was more common in patients with private insurance or Medicare. It was also more common among those who lived closer to larger medical centers.  People who lived further out or who did not have insurance often did not receive the treatments that offer the best odds of mesothelioma survival….