Body Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma
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Body Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Stereotactic body radiation therapy may be a safe treatment option for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. This is the finding of a team of researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat. It develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. Signs and symptoms may include shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and fatigue. This cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. It can often take around 40 years for pleural mesothelioma to begin. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. Conventional treatment may include surgery, radiation…

Focused Radiation After Chemotherapy May Improve Mesothelioma Survival
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Focused Radiation After Chemotherapy May Improve Mesothelioma Survival

ByAlex Strauss

New research suggests that mesothelioma patients who have focused radiation after chemotherapy may live longer with slower disease progression than those who have other therapy combinations. Researchers used two kinds of focused radiotherapy (FRT) in the study. One was stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and the other was hypo-fractionated radiotherapy. Both treatments deliver a deadly dose of radiation into tumors while sparing normal tissue.  Italian researchers say giving focused radiation after chemotherapy makes it even more effective against mesothelioma that is not yet widespread.  Radiotherapy for Pleural Mesothelioma Radiotherapy is one of several possible treatments for mesothelioma. Most patients start with chemotherapy. But chemotherapy has limited effectiveness. Increasingly, researchers are looking for other approaches to combat mesothelioma.  Most patients get the…