Understanding Mesothelioma: Clues in the Blood
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Understanding Mesothelioma: Clues in the Blood

Pleural mesothelioma is a tough cancer caused by asbestos. It’s hard to treat because it is rare and grows differently in people. A recent study tried to find clues that could help doctors figure out how to treat mesothelioma better. Helping Treat Mesothelioma In this study, they looked at 98 people with pleural mesothelioma. Researchers checked the patient’s blood for a few different factors. They wanted to see if a patient’s blood could tell how long someone might live with this cancer. They also wanted to use a patient’s blood to predict which treatment may work best for them. Researchers also learned from what treatments had worked for these patients in the past. Some treatments like surgery or multi-modal treatment…

New Advancements in Personalized Medicine for Mesothelioma
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New Advancements in Personalized Medicine for Mesothelioma

Genomics is a new branch of medicine that involves using a patient’s genetic information to create personalized treatment. New research has begun looking at genetic personalized medicine for mesothelioma. Students from the University of Montana are developing personalized medicine for mesothelioma. Personalized Medicine and Mesothelioma Treatment Mesothelioma is a rare rare and aggressive cancer often caused by asbestos exposure. Environmental exposure to asbestos often causes a higher incidence of malignant mesothelioma. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the U.S. every year. Current standard of care involves a multi-targeted drug combination of Pemetrexid and Cisplatin. This is the only FDA approved chemotherapy for mesothelioma. Chemotherapy is a group of toxic drugs that kill mesothelioma cells by damaging their…

MicroRNAs in Cancer Development and Mesothelioma Personalized Medicine
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MicroRNAs in Cancer Development and Mesothelioma Personalized Medicine

A special issue was published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine. Dr. Alessandra Pulliero from the University of Genoa in Italy talks about microRNA. Specifically, the role of microRNA in cancer development and personalized medicine. A microRNA (miRNA) is a small part of an RNA molecule. MiRNAs play a key role in the regulation of gene expression in cells, including mesothelioma cells. Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer often caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos also causes a progressive lung disease called asbestosis. Environmental exposure to asbestos often causes a higher incidence of malignant mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is characterized by poor prognosis and short survival. Personalized Medicine and Mesothelioma Scientists now know that the role of miRNAs changes once they…