Exploring Cutting-Edge Treatments for Pleural Mesothelioma
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Exploring Cutting-Edge Treatments for Pleural Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A new study looks at the current treatments available for people with mesothelioma. The authors of this overview are based in Italy at the University of Bologna. Advancements in Mesothelioma Treatment Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers internal organs. When mesothelioma grows in the lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma. This aggressive cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a toxic mineral found in nature. It can be used in manufacturing and construction materials and is illegal in many countries. Mesothelioma is a very rare cancer, and the symptoms can be like many other diseases. This makes it hard for doctors to make a diagnosis. For mesothelioma…

proton therapy for mesothelioma
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Mesothelioma Care: Why Academic Centers Hold the Key to Improved Survival

ByHolly Zink

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic found out that people with mesothelioma who were treated at academic centers had a better chance of living longer than those treated at community centers. They shared their discoveries at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is tough to treat, and there aren’t many options for therapy. It happens when someone is exposed to a harmful mineral called asbestos. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are common treatments. The Difference Between Academic and Community Centers Medical centers with expert doctors and more resources are called academic centers. They often see more cases of rare cancers like mesothelioma. But until now, we didn’t know if getting…

Examining the Hype: Lackluster Performance of New Mesothelioma Treatment
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Promising Results of CRS/HIPEC Treatment

ByHolly Zink

A new treatment can lead to good short- and long-term outcomes for patients with mesothelioma. It’s called cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC). Research results came from the Medical University of Vienna in Austria. They looked at the first 100 mesothelioma patients who had this treatment in their hospital. Advancing Mesothelioma Care Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that grows in the lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year. The standard treatment for mesothelioma usually includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The typical prognosis with standard treatment is survival between one and five years….

biomarkers for mesothelioma
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Identifying Mesothelioma: How Extracellular Vesicles Could Be the Key

ByHolly Zink

Scientists believe that particles called extracellular vesicles could be used as biomarkers to identify malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, usually at work. It has a low survival rate, so it is important to find ways to diagnose it early. It is also important for doctors to be able to predict how it will develop in patients. How Mesothelioma is Diagnosed Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after a person goes to a doctor because they are experiencing symptoms. For MPM, a person might feel shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and…

first-line Keytruda treatment
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Treatment Combination Used Most for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is being used by doctors to treat malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) more often. This is the finding of a study published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology. This is promising news because research has shown the CRS-HIPEC can be an effective treatment for patients with MPM. Mesothelioma Caused by Asbestos Exposure MPM is caused by exposure to a toxic material called asbestos. Most doctors believe it is caused from ingestion of asbestos fibers and that microscopic asbestos fibers become embedded in the abdomen. After about 20-50 years, these fibers can cause inflammation and mutations that ultimately caused tumors to form. This cancer occurs in less than 1,000 people in the United States…

Breaking Through the Treatment Desert of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Malignant Mesothelioma
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Bortezomib Shows Promise as New Mesothelioma Treatment

ByHolly Zink

A drug called Bortezomib can help treat malignant mesothelioma when given directly into the area affected by the cancer. This interesting finding comes from a team of scientists from Italy. They tested Bortexomib on mesothelioma cells to find out if it can stop cancer cell growth. New Research for New Treatments Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs, like the lungs and abdominal cavity. The treatment options for malignant mesothelioma are limited. Conventional treatments for mesothelioma consist of chemotherapy, surgery, and sometimes radiation therapy. Even with treatment, the prognosis for mesothelioma is not good. The median survival rate of patients with…

boost the effectiveness of mesothelioma treatment
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New Mesothelioma Classification Selects Best Treatment

ByHolly Zink

Scientists have come up with a new way to classify malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) that could help treatments to be more successful. Doctors usually classify MPM based on how it looks under a microscope. But the scientists in this study think that there is more to classifying this cancer than its appearance. Three Types of Mesothelioma MPM is an aggressive cancer that grows in the lining of the lungs. It is caused by exposure to asbestos and can be difficult to diagnose and treat. One common way to diagnose MPM is by taking a sample of the cancer tissue and looking at under a microscope or running certain tests on it. This is called a biopsy and it is considered…

Navigating Treatment Options for Mesothelioma Patients: Immediate vs. Deferred Therapy

Mesothelioma Confused with Ovarian Cancer in Women

ByHolly Zink

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma can easily be confused with ovarian carcinoma in women. This was the case for a 55-year-old woman who went to the hospital for help with abdominal pain, fatigue, and nausea. Hard to Diagnosis Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly type of cancer that affects the lining of organs inside the body. When it develops on the lining of the abdominal cavity, it is called malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM). MPM and other types of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms look just like other common diseases. For MPM, the symptoms could include abdominal pain and swelling, night sweats, and fever. Several diagnostic tests may be needed to reach…

post-surgery mesothelioma treatment
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High-Energy Radiotherapy Treatment for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A new Italian study found that accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy was an effective and safe treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The patients in this study lived longer and had a lower risk of MPM coming back. Treatment Approaches MPM is a rare cancer that is difficult to treat. It develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. MPM is caused by exposure to asbestos. Since MPM is a rare disease, the standard therapies are limited. The treatment plan for MPM depends on a few different factors. The stage of cancer, cell type of the cancer, and the health of the patient all affect what treatments will work the best. The most common treatment approach…

Examining the Hype: Lackluster Performance of New Mesothelioma Treatment
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Largest Study Shows HIPEC Treatment Effective for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) could be an effective treatment for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM). This is the finding of one of the largest and longest studies on the use of CRS-HIPEC to treat MPM. Researchers from the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center looked at data from 111 patients over 28 years. Diagnosed with MPM MPM is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos. Symptoms of MPM are usually noticed first in the abdomen or the gastrointestinal system. People might feel abdominal pain or swelling, fever, and night sweats. MPM occurs in less than 1,000 people in the United States every year and accounts for about 20-25% of all mesothelioma cases. Patients diagnosed with MPM have longer life expectancy…