The Persistence of Mesothelioma in a Post-Asbestos Era
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The Persistence of Mesothelioma in a Post-Asbestos Era

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by exposure to a harmful mineral called asbestos. It takes decades for mesothelioma to develop after exposure, showing a slow cancer process. Scientists have been working hard to understand how asbestos leads to this disease and find new ways to treat it. The Impact of Asbestos Regulations In the 1980s and early 90s, strict rules were put in place in many Western countries to limit or completely ban the use of asbestos. These measures have been successful in reducing the number of new mesothelioma cases. However, the total number of mesothelioma cases has not decreased significantly. In the United States, the total number hasn’t dropped due to an increasing population. There are a…

Discovering the Link to Mesothelioma Growth
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Discovering the Link to Mesothelioma Growth

ByHolly Zink

Italian researchers have found that a molecule called cycle adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is involved in the growth of mesothelioma. cAMP acts as a messenger in our cells and affects different processes in the body. When the cAMP pathway is too active, it can contribute to the growth and spread of tumors. In this study, researchers looked at the levels of cAMP in mesothelioma tumors caused by toxic fibers like asbestos. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that grows on the lining of internal organs like the lungs and abdomen. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is toxic to humans. Mesothelioma is a rare disease, so we do not know very much about how…

Women with Mesothelioma Have Better Odds than Men
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Women with Mesothelioma Have Better Odds than Men

ByHolly Zink

Women who are diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma usually have better odds of survival than men. This was one of the findings of a study published in the Journal of Surgical Oncology. The researchers looked at data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. Mesothelioma Rates Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare form of cancer the grows in the lining of the lungs. People with MPM might feel shortness of breath caused by fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and fatigue. This cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. This is a naturally occurring mineral found throughout the world. Even though it is toxic to humans, it is still used in manufactured materials in some parts…

New Tool to Measure Mesothelioma Stress

New Tool to Measure Mesothelioma Stress

ByHolly Zink

Researchers from Italy have created a tool to measure psychological distress in patients with malignant mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It is unique among cancers because of the combination of medical, psychological, social, and legal factors. The clinical characteristics of mesothelioma can make this disease especially difficult for patients and families. It can take decades for symptoms to appear, and they are often difficult to treat. Because of this, the prognosis usually is not very good for patients. The fact that asbestos exposure typically occurs at work is also difficult for patients to deal with. Unlike other cancers, mesothelioma patients can blame governments or companies for their disease. This can lead to feelings of…

New Mesothelioma Tool for Better Treatment and Prognosis
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New Mesothelioma Tool for Better Treatment and Prognosis

ByHolly Zink

Researchers from China have come up with a tool to check prognosis in mesothelioma patients depending on where the cancer is located. Mesothelioma develops in the lining that covers many of the internal organs in you body. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. There are different types of mesothelioma depending on where it develops. Pleural mesothelioma grows in the lining of your lungs and chest wall. Peritoneal mesothelioma grows in the lining of your abdomen. Mesothelioma can also occur in the testis or around the heart. The location where mesothelioma grows can have a big impact on diagnosis. It also affects how well you respond to treatment. When it takes longer to make an accurate diagnosis, the disease has…

Marital Status Effects Mesothelioma Outcomes
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Marital Status Effects Mesothelioma Outcomes

ByHolly Zink

Being married may be a factor in positive mesothelioma outcomes. This is the finding of a study by researchers from a Chinese university published last October. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. There are about 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year. The global occurrence of mesothelioma has increased at a steady pace in recent years. Mesothelioma usually has a poor prognosis. This is because symptoms don’t begin to appear until the cancer has become difficult to treat. Some factors that affect prognosis are patient health, the type of treatment, and the type of mesothelioma. Married Mesothelioma Patients Have Lower Risk of Death In other cancers, marital status can affect the outcomes…

New Tool Estimates Survival in Mesothelioma Patients
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New Tool Estimates Survival in Mesothelioma Patients

ByHolly Zink

Researchers in China have developed a new tool to estimate survival in patients with mesothelioma. This will help doctors to create effective treatment plans for mesothelioma patients.   A Rare Form of Cancer   Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects almost 2,000 Americans every year. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. The WHO predicts that cases of mesothelioma will be more common in the future. The five-year survival rate for mesothelioma patients is less than 10%.   Mesothelioma is hard to diagnose because it takes a long time to develop symptoms. By the time a doctor diagnoses a patient with mesothelioma, it can be difficult to treat.   Limited treatment options are available for mesothelioma. Treatment plans usually…

Second Treatment Course May Increase Mesothelioma Patient Survival
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Second Treatment Course May Increase Mesothelioma Patient Survival

ByHolly Zink

Oncologists report that a second treatment course may be a good option for some mesothelioma patients. Almost all mesothelioma patients experience progression after the first treatment. Recommendations for a second treatment are still unclear. There is very limited information available on second and repeat treatments. Pemetrexed combined with platinum-based chemotherapy is a standard first treatment for mesothelioma. A report in BMC Cancer says that a repeat treatment may be good for eligible patients. In this study, patients who received a second treatment of chemotherapy survived longer. Understanding Second Treatments or Retreatments Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer linked to asbestos exposure. There have been several recent treatment advances. But the mesothelioma prognosis is still poor with an average…

Patients Live Twice as Long with Less of this Biomarker for Pleural Mesothelioma
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Patients Live Twice as Long with Less of this Biomarker for Pleural Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

An enzyme that helps mop up the products of cellular oxidation might also serve as a powerful biomarker for pleural mesothelioma. People with the lowest levels of this enzyme  survived longer with mesothelioma than those with higher levels. Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX-1) is an enzyme found in all cells. It helps keep toxins from building up inside cells. It also helps regulate certain cellular processes.   But there is also evidence that GPX-1 may play a role in the development of cancer. Researchers in Egypt recently discovered that pleural mesothelioma tumors have more GPX-1 than the healthy tissue around them. The less they have, the better the prognosis.  The findings suggest that GPX-1 could be a useful biomarker for pleural mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma…

New Mesothelioma Grading System: A Better Path to Prognosis?
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New Mesothelioma Grading System: A Better Path to Prognosis?

ByAlex Strauss

A team of Australian researchers have developed a new mesothelioma grading system they believe is a more accurate method for predicting outcomes. The system assigns weighted scores based on things like mesothelioma subtype, the shape of the nuclei, BAP1 loss and other parameters. A higher score suggests the patient’s mesothelioma case may be more challenging to treat. Tests of the system in more than 350 patients show that it is highly accurate.  The team lays out their new mesothelioma grading system in a recent issue of the American Journal of Surgical Pathology. In the article, they make the case for why this new prognostic tool could be a helpful supplement to the current, more widely-used WHO system.  The Importance of…