Radiotherapy ‘Comparable to Chemo’ for Mesothelioma
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Radiotherapy ‘Comparable to Chemo’ for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

A recent study has concluded that palliative radiotherapy produces a response rate in malignant pleural mesothelioma that is comparable to chemotherapy. A recent analysis of 54 mesothelioma cases at a hospital in Cheltenham, England found that 43 percent of patients who received palliative radiotherapy according to their hospital’s policy, responded to the treatment. Based on the results of their pre- and post-therapy CT scans, 22 of the 54 mesothelioma patients analyzed experienced a partial response and 1 patient had a complete response. Fifty-seven percent reported some improvement in their symptoms. In an effort to help determine which mesothelioma patients are most likely to respond to radiotherapy, the research team correlated treatment responses with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment…

Mesothelioma IMRT More Effective Than Conventional Radiation
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Mesothelioma IMRT More Effective Than Conventional Radiation

ByAlex Strauss

Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) appears to be the most effective and safest type of radiotherapy for treating mesothelioma patients after surgery. A new study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology says IMRT has advantages over conventional radiotherapy when used as part of a multi-modality approach to combat mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma, the asbestos-linked cancer, can take 20 to 40 years to develop but once it does, it often grows quickly. No single therapy has been shown to be universally effective at combating mesothelioma. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the most effective approach involves removing as many cancer cells as possible through a radical surgery called extrapleural pneumonectomy, and following the surgery with a combination of chemotherapy and…

IMRT Multimodality Therapy for Mesothelioma Appears Safe
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IMRT Multimodality Therapy for Mesothelioma Appears Safe

ByAlex Strauss

Pleural mesothelioma, a malignancy of the lung lining caused by breathing asbestos, is notoriously difficult to treat. While they can improve quality of life, traditional cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation and surgical intervention have not been shown to improve survival rates in most mesothelioma patients beyond a few months. Researchers around the world are experimenting with advanced treatment options that may give mesothelioma patients new hope. A new study on Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) as part of a multi-modality treatment protocol appears to show improved safety over earlier studies that incorporated the same technology. IMRT is an advanced method of radiotherapy that uses a linear accelerator to deliver precise high doses of radiation directly into a tumor. One of…