Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that primarily affects those who have at some point in their lives been exposed to asbestos fibers. This form of cancer can affect the lining of the lungs, heart, and abdomen, which is known as the mesothelium. It is almost always highly malignant, and often leads to mortality within just a few years. Cases of this deadly disease have been steadily growing, and while asbestos is now banned in most countries, it seems that many more people will be affected by mesothelioma.
The first documented cases of mesothelioma cancer occurred in the early 1940s, but as we understand it now, the cancer takes root early and lies dormant in its hosts. It can take anywhere from 20 years to 50 years from the time of asbestos exposure for mesothelioma to actually manifest in a person. While those who experienced prolonged exposure to asbestos are more likely to get this type of cancer, even people who were only exposed for a few months are sometimes at risk.
The first hints of mesothelioma cancer, and the dangers of asbestos, came about in the very early 1900s in Great Britain. Serious lung disease started to become a major problem for people working in factories that used asbestos. It wasn’t until 1930, however, that the British government launched a study to determine the link between asbestos and lung disease. And, because of its long dormancy, the link between asbestos and mesothelioma took even longer to discover. While there was a lot of evidence pointing to the problems, the asbestos industry was very profitable, and so many companies make little to no effort to try and establish the connection.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that a South African medical researcher discovered the exact link between asbestos and mesothelioma. He studied 33 cases of severe lung diseases – and 32 of those cases had been heavily exposed to asbestos. Unfortunately, even in the face of this evidence, businesses and governments were slow to move, and many companies that owned asbestos mines and factories actually tried to discredit the report or hide its findings. Thus, very few people who worked with asbestos were ever alerted to the dangers that they faced from mesothelioma and other serious illnesses.
Today, many more people are aware of the links between asbestos and the diseases it cause. Yet still, asbestos is considered a serious occupational hazard for over 1.3 million workers in America alone who work in construction and renovation. As cases of mesothelioma and other related illnesses continue to grow each year, it is clear that the problem is far from over.
There is no known cure for mesothelioma. While the cancer does sometimes respond to treatment in the form of chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, these measures are merely palliative. Even with the best treatment, most people do not survive more than 5 years after being diagnosed with the disease. This is why programs dedicated to the awareness of asbestos and mesothelioma are extremely important to help ensure that more people aren’t exposed to this potentially deadly material.
Mesothelioma Will be Discussed at Asbestos Awareness Conference
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) will be having its sixth Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference on the weekend of April 9-11, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel.
The conference is scheduled to provide families, employees and scientists throughout the world with information surrounding the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO also plans to instill their efforts on banning asbestos and encouraging researchers to improve treatment options for asbestos-related diseases.
Malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, is a fatal illness that has yet to be cured. Most treatments for this cancer aim to provide relief from symptoms and improve overall quality of life for patients. Only experimental treatment options offer patients the chance to beat the cancer.
Throughout the conference, physicians, scientists and health care professionals representing the United States, Canada, England, Brazil and Germany will talk about the latest information regarding the impact of asbestos in the United States and on a global scale.
On Friday, April 9, families, patients and caregivers will gather to share stories and attend a reception. Entertainment during the reception will be provided by Jordan Zevon, whose father, rock musician Warren Zevon, passed away from mesothelioma.
On Saturday, April 10, the main conference will take place and all topics surrounding asbestos will be discussed. A recognition segment will honor those who have demonstrated great efforts in increasing asbestos awareness.
Those being recognized include United States Senator Richard Durbin, Dr. Hedy Kindler, Fernanda Giannasi, June Breit and the Center for Asbestos Related Disease in Libby, Montana.
The Unity and Hope Brunch on April 11 will honor and remember loved ones who have lost their lives to asbestos-related diseases.
The international conference is made possible by ADAO, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat.
Additional information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
Mesothelioma Prognostic Factors Studied in Long-Term Survivors
The purpose of the prognostic study, published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, was to assess prognostic features in long-term pleural mesothelioma survivors following surgery.
A total of 456 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were included in the study. The epithelial subtype was observed in 41 percent of participants and non-epithelial subtype was seen in 40 percent.
All patients either underwent an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), a pleurectomy/decortication (PD) or pleurodesis/biopsy, and follow-up lasted 18 months. Surgical procedures included EPP in 59 patients, PD in 250 patients and pleurodesis/biopsy in 147 patients.
Approximately 9 percent of patients underwent positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, 9 percent received adjuvant radiotherapy and 10 percent received postoperative pemetrexed combination chemotherapy. Typically, malignant mesothelioma will respond to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but these treatments are not able to fully cure the cancer.
The 18-month survival in this study was 28 percent. Prognostic factors associated with the 18-month survivors included: age 65 or younger, presence of malignant pleural effusion and epithelial subtype, adjuvant radiotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy. The data also revealed that epithelial subtype and undergoing an EPP were independently associated with 18-month survivors.
In conclusion, the researchers found “The actual 18-month survival was 28% in 456 pleural mesothelioma patients who underwent operation. Epithelial histologic subtype and EPP were identified as independent predictors for 18-month survivors.”
Additional information about mesothelioma and treatment options may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Study Unveils Potential Treatment
According to a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may be beneficial for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma patients.
The study, titled “Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: multi-institutional experience,” was carried out in Sydney, Australia at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
T.D. Yan and colleagues evaluated cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in 405 patients with diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM).
The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the overall survival of the patients. Another objective involved analyzing prognostic variables to determine what dictated the overall survival. A follow-up was performed with 401 patients (99 percent) included in the study.
The median follow-up period for patients was 33 months. The overall median survival was 53 months and the three- and five-year survival rates were 60% and 47%.
The researchers concluded that the data recovered from the study suggested that cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC may prolong the overall survival of patients with DMPM.
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Exposure occurs when the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos are either inhaled or ingested into the body. This typically happens after asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed and have released asbestos fibers into the air.
Some of the more common locations for asbestos exposure have included the construction, shipyard, railroad, power plant, chemical plant and automotive industries. In addition to this, exposure in the home has also been a problem as those who worked around asbestos would carry home asbestos fibers on their skin and clothes, exposing family members to the hazardous substance.
Treatment for this cancer is limited to palliative care as a cure does not currently exist. However, studies such as the one conducted at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia are bringing researchers from around the world closer to finding a cure.
Additional information about mesothelioma may be found at the Mesothelioma Center.
Pleural Mesothelioma Cell Growth Decreased by Cancer Inhibitor
A recently published article in the journal Clinical Cancer Research has demonstrated a potential new strategy involving vascular endothelial growth factors for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma.
The multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor E7080 was tested for efficacy against malignant mesothelioma cells in mice, which were implemented with three different human pleural mesothelioma cell lines. These included MSTO-211H, NCO-H290 and Y-MESO-14.
According to K. Ikuta and colleagues from the University of Tokushima, treatment with E7080 slowed the progression of all three malignant pleural mesothelioma cell lines. The mice survived much longer than anticipated, which was largely due to the decreased numbers of malignant pleural mesothelioma cells in the tumor.
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure. There is no cure and current treatment options only offer relief from symptoms. Most patients are diagnosed when the cancer has already reached the advanced stages of development.
The study found encouragement while evaluating inhibitors of growth factor receptors as a potential therapeutic option for mesothelioma patients. In addition, the inhibitors targeting vascular endothelial growth factors became a particular interest because of their involvement in mesothelioma cell growth.
Experimental treatments and clinical trials are also being carried out around the world in an attempt to find a solidified cure for mesothelioma. Today, progress with mesothelioma treatment is being made thanks to the increased amount of funds and awareness towards the disease.
Continued research on asbestos and related cancers will hopefully provide new insights on curable treatment options for mesothelioma patients.
Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
Treatment Options for Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops in the abdominal cavity, specifically in the mesothelial cells that form the peritoneum. Doctors and researchers have found a clear relationship between this cancer and high levels of asbestos exposure, but they have yet to find a cure.
Due to the low incidence of peritoneal mesothelioma, few studies have been conducted on experimental treatments for patients. The majority of treatment methods are similar to those recommended for pleural mesothelioma.
A multimodality approach for treating peritoneal mesothelioma has shown encouraging results in some patients. With this method, two or more treatment options are completed at the same time, often involving the combination of surgery, chemotherapy and sometimes radiotherapy. However, this mesothelioma treatment method can only be used for a small percentage of patients that have a chance to beat the cancer.
Those diagnosed during the advanced stages of malignant mesothelioma can receive palliative treatments to help with comfort, but no standard method has been established for these patients. Palliative treatment options usually involve some form of chemotherapy and are aimed to improve the overall quality of life for the patient.
Chemotherapy drugs for peritoneal patients have included but are not limited to cisplatin, doxorubicin, carboplatin and pemetrexed (Alimta). In some cases, such medications have been noted to stall the progression of mesothelioma tumors.
Pemetrexed acts by disrupting the cell replication process of the cancerous tumor and slows its progression throughout the rest of the body. In 2004, pemetrexed received worldwide approval to be used in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Studies have shown that pemetrexed also has a positive effect on malignant peritoneal mesothelioma cases as well.
Because the low number of peritoneal mesothelioma patients diagnosed each year, researching this rare cancer can be difficult. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma may be encouraged to enroll in clinical trials with the hope of improving their cancer prognosis.
Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
Exhaled Biomarkers for Asbestos-Related Disease May Aid Diagnosis of Asbestosis and Mesothelioma
A study recently published in the journal Respiratory Medicine investigated the value of measuring exhaled biomarkers among those exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has toxic effects in humans, causing diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. Asbestosis is a progressive pulmonary disorder, asbestos-induced lung cancer is expressed like other lung cancers, and mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that typically affects the lining of the lungs.
Asbestos exposure can also cause less fatal conditions such as pleural plaques (PP) and diffuse pleural thickening (DPT). Pleural plaques are the most common asbestos-induced abnormality and are generally considered benign markers of asbestos exposure. Conversely, diffuse pleural thickening is rarer and can restrict airways even in the absence of asbestosis. A patient with asbestosis or mesothelioma can have both pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thickening.
Researchers note, “Traditional methods of assessing lung inflammation (such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), biopsy) in asbestos-related disorders are hampered by the fact that these are invasive, and patients affected are usually elderly, with poor lung function and frequent concurrent disease. Simple, non-invasive tests which accurately reflect lung pathology would therefore be of considerable use in diagnosis and possibly also in monitoring progress of these disorders.” This statement highlights the importance of researching non-invasive diagnostic tests for all types of asbestos-related disease since most patients are elderly.
The recent development of non-invasive techniques to assess lung disease has shown good results in various studies and some of these techniques involve the measurement of exhaled breath. Every exhaled breath goes through a gaseous phase and a liquid phase that can be collected and measured as exhaled breath condensate (EBC). In this study researchers were measuring levels of inflammation and oxidative stress, such as the exhaled biomarker nitric oxide (FeNO) (which is elevated in patients with lung diseases such as asbestosis, asthma and pulmonary fibrosis). This biomarker is non-specific (meaning it can be found in a number of lung disorders), but nonetheless still helpful in assessing asbestos-related conditions.
The results showed that markers of inflammation and oxidative stress are significantly elevated in patients with asbestosis when compared with healthy individuals, but not when compared to patients with pleural diseases. Researchers found, “In conclusion, our study has confirming the relevance of oxidative stress and nitrogen species in asbestosis, and suggests that EBC biomarkers may prove useful non-invasive tools in diagnosing and distinguishing between the different asbestos-related disorders in the future.”
Additional information on mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
Pleural Mesothelioma Phase III Clinical Trial Will Continue
An independent Data Safety and Monitoring Board has recently recommended the continuation of Merck’s VANTAGE 14, a phase III clinical trial studying the experimental use of vorinostat in patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma.
According to their Web site, Merck & Co. Inc. is the second-largest pharmaceutical company in the world. Their researchers have helped find new ways to treat and prevent illness while maintaining a strong dedication to developing animal care products.
The clinical trial is specifically studying patients who have already received treatment involving the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed (also known as the brand name Alimta).
Vorinostat (marketed as ZOLINZA) is an oral histone deacetylase inhibitor made by Merck that is currently being used for treating patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. To date, the efficacy and overall safety of vorinostat for the treatment of cancers such as malignant mesothelioma has not been proven.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that typically develops in the lining of the lungs. The primary cause of this disease is exposure to asbestos and patients often do not experience symptoms until 20 to 50 years after their initial exposure. Currently, there is no cure for mesothelioma.
Eric Rubin, Vice President and researcher from Merck Research Laboratories, says, “Advanced malignant mesothelioma is a devastating form of cancer. VANTAGE 14 has enrolled more than half of its target of 660 patients, so we look forward to completing enrollment and continuing this important study.”
VINTAGE 14 is still accepting patients for studying. Patients or physicians who would like more information about enrollment in this study can call 1-866-890-6619 (in the U.S.) or 1-888-577-8839 (outside of the U.S.) and mention study 2005_010. The clinical trial can also be accessed through www.merckcancertrials.com and search for NCT00128102.
Additional information about mesothelioma may be found though the Mesothelioma Center.
Mesothelioma Chemotherapy: Study Compares Cisplatin to Carboplatin
An article recently published in the scientific journal Lung Cancer investigated the benefits and costs of substituting the established combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed with carboplatin and pemetrexed.
Chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed is one of the few chemotherapeutic options that have shown to be moderately successful for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients; however, this combination can be quite toxic on the body. There is no cure for malignant mesothelioma and the treatments that attempt to cure the disease are considered aggressive and can be accompanied by a range of unwanted side effects.
Authors of the study note that “two randomised phase III studies have demonstrated a survival benefit in MPM with the use of antifolates such as raltitrexed or pemetrexed, when combined with cisplatin… These two studies have demonstrated an absolute improvement in median overall survival of 2.6 and 2.8 months, respectively, compared with single agent cisplatin treatment. This has led to many institutions adopting cisplatin and pemetrexed as standard first line palliative chemotherapy for MPM.”
Unfortunately, the combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed produces unwanted toxic effects and this prompted researchers to study other chemotherapy drugs to pair with pemetrexed. Researchers commented, “Recently, two phase II trials have evaluated the efficacy of carboplatin and pemetrexed in MPM. These two studies demonstrated overall response rates of 18.6 and 25%, with median survival rates of 12.7 and 14 months. Following on from these results, we have conducted a retrospective analysis of MPM patients treated with carboplatin and pemetrexed in our institution outside the context of a clinical trial.”
In an effort to find a chemotherapeutic combination with less toxicity and side effects, researchers further investigated the approach of substituting cisplatin with carboplatin when paired with pemetrexed. Using a retrospective review approach, researchers evaluated 49 cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma treated with carboplatin and pemetrexed and compared the results with established data on cisplatin paired with pemetrexed.
The disease control rate (which was defined as no signs of progression from a CT scan) for the evaluated patients was 69 percent, and partial response and stable disease percentages were 28 percent and 41 percent, respectively. Clinical improvement rate was shown in 69 percent of patients and the majority of the patients with symptomatic improvement reported the benefit after two cycles of chemotherapy. Toxicities were generally low and better than toxicities reported with cisplatin and pemetrexed.
The median time to treatment failure was 4.6 months. The median overall survival in this study was 14 months, which is comparable to the cisplatin-pemetrexed overall survival of 12.1 months. Researchers found, “In conclusion, our data would suggest the combination of carboplatin and pemetrexed may be a viable option in the treatment of MPM, especially in patients where there are anticipatory problems with the use of cisplatin.”
Additional information about mesothelioma and treatment options may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
Mesothelioma Study from Italy Finds Therapeutic Treatment Method
According to researchers performing a study in Fano, Italy, evidence shows asbestos exposure may be associated with causing DNA breaks, abnormal chromosome segregation and chromosomal rearrangements, which are all considered to be changes that lead towards the development of malignant mesothelioma.
Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer most commonly affecting the lining of the lungs. While exposure to asbestos may not cause immediate health changes, long-term side effects of this toxic substance can be life-threatening.
Through the study, researchers from the University of Urbino found that cellular transformation in malignant pleural mesothelioma may also be caused by genomic instability and DNA methylation, which is the suppression of gene expression.
The researchers also found an increased expression of DNMT1, which is the most expressed DNA methyltransferases in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells. As a result, researchers compared two experimental strategies for treating pleural mesothelioma.
One strategy involved silencing the expression of DNMT1. Another strategy used the demethylating agent Decitabine. Interestingly enough, both strategies demonstrated substantial decreases in cell survival of malignant pleural mesothelioma cells. However, DNMT1 proved to be a simpler method of treating the cancer.
According to the researchers, “These results indicate that the two approaches act probably through different mechanisms and, thus, that DNMT1 silencing can be considered an effective alternative to Decitabine for cancer treatment.”
Additional information on mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.
Mesothelioma Research Shows Photodynamic Therapy to Be Effective
Recently published in Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, an article on photodynamic therapy highlights the effectiveness of the treatment in mesothelioma cancer.
Caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure, malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that usually affects the lining of the lungs but can also affect the lining of the abdomen or heart. Unfortunately, mesothelioma has earned a reputation as a cancer that is difficult to treat. It rarely responds to aggressive treatment approaches and no cure has been found, but combining therapies has shown to extend the survival rate and improve prognosis in some cases.
Combining one or more therapies, known as multimodality therapy, has shown the greatest improvements in mesothelioma treatment. Uniting surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is currently the most effective multimodality treatment, however not all mesothelioma patients qualify for this aggressive approach.
Therapies that reduce the amount of cancer treatment reaching nearby vital organs tend to be the easiest on mesothelioma patients. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of these treatments that aim to treat the tumor while sparring exposure to neighboring organs and tissues.
PDT is a light-based treatment consisting of three components: a nontoxic photosensitizing compound, oxygen and visible light. The three components independently have no effect, but the combination is lethal to treated cells. The treatment is primarily delivered by means of intracavitary administration during the surgical procedure but can also be performed when surgery is not an option.
The FDA has approved PDT for several forms of cancer, but the treatment remains in the experimental stage for mesothelioma patients. When used on mesothelioma patients, PDT usually follows surgical removal of the tumor and endeavors to eliminate residual microscopic disease (tiny, remaining portions of the primary tumor).
Researchers report that PDT has successfully been paired with lung-sparing pleurectomy and decortication and does not prevent other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation. They also note that “PDT appears to bolster an immunologic effect by rendering the cancer cells that have been destroyed by the light-activated photosensitizer more presentable to the immune system. Local control and survival rates have been sufficiently rewarding to merit ongoing development of this combination of surgical technique and PDT.”
Additional information about mesothelioma and treatment options may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.