Mesothelioma Latest Research
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure, which makes it a unique form of cancer because symptoms don’t manifest for decades. By the time diagnosis has been made the disease has progressed to its advanced stages, rendering treatment ineffective.
Therefore, researchers and oncologists are trying to focus on learning exactly how asbestos changes mesothelial cells and their DNA to cause this deadly cancer. Because understanding how asbestos fibers develop cancer might help in preventing this deadly cancer. ( for more information http://www.mesotheliomaresourceonline.com )
What’s New in Mesothelioma Research and Treatment?
Chemotherapy is one of the most effective forms of mesothelioma treatment that is used as a palliative measure to relieve symptoms and make the patients more comfortable. Currently, the FDA has approved a chemotherapy drug Alimta in combination with Cislatin, which works to stop abnormal cell division.
Another clinical trial shows that the Onconase is a first-in-class drug, has a low toxicity, has been shown to target cancer cells, break down RNA (part of a cell's genetic material) and then eliminate mesothelioma tumors at the right time. FDA suggests Onconase as an effective chemotherapy drug because of its potential for helping mesothelioma patients to live longer. Larger clinical trials are currently underway.
Veglin is another promising chemotherapy drug in clinical trials which has the ability to stabilize and shrink tumors. The University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine is currently testing Veglin on mesothelioma patients to determine its success rate. Researchers hope to slow down the rapid metastasis of mesothelioma with this medication.
Photodynamic Therapy
Another new research conducted by the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). The research was published in the June 2011 issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and states:
"Patients who undergo PDTshow superior overall survival than patients treated using the conventional therapy of extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)."
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is the latest treatment tested on mesothelioma patients. Several researchers are focusing on gene therapy to treat a number of diseases, includingmesothelioma. According to the American Cancer Society, in gene therapy, special viruses that have been modified in the lab are used. The modified virus is injected into the pleural space and infects the mesothelioma cells. When this infection occurs, the virus injects the desired gene into the cells. This may help activate immune system cells to attack the cancer cells. Clinical research on gene therapy is still inits early stage.
Targeted Drugs (Angiogenesis Inhibitors)
Researchers have developed new drugs to specifically target the changes occurring at an advanced stage of mesothelioma. Targeted drugs are designed to work differently from standard chemotherapy drugs and often have less severe side effects.
These targeted drugs are called Anti-Angiogenesis drugs or angiogenesis inhibitors that target the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels (angiogenesis). The process of angiogenesis allows tumor cells to grow larger and spread quickly. That is why researchers are looking for ways to halt the process of angiogenesis in mesothelioma patients.
An anti-angiogenesis drug for mesothelioma treatment, Avastin, is currently being tested on patients. It helps minimize the levels of a protein that prompts angiogenesis, therefore inhibiting cell growth. Other new targeted drugs being tested in mesothelioma clinical trials include sorafenib (Nexavar), imatinib (Gleevec®), dasatinib (Sprycel®), bortezomib (Velcade®), and vorinostat (Zolinza®).
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
Intensity modulated radiation therapy is the latest form of radiation therapy which limits the amount of radiation hitting the healthy tissue surrounding the area where the tumor is located.
Discovery of Mesothelioma through Blood Tests – Another Recent Breakthrough
There is a considerable amount of interest among researchers inconducting blood tests to detect signs of mesothelioma whilst it is still in its early stages. Since the non-specific nature of the symptoms makes diagnosis very difficult, therefore, blood tests will make it possible to pick up on the presence of mesothelioma far earlier.
Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc. (FDI), a world-leader in oncology testing, introduced a new blood test for mesothelioma "MESOMARK". MESOMARK is a manual enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) for managing mesothelioma. It works by identifying a specific group of molecular markers called soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRP), which are released into the blood-stream by mesothelioma cells; and which indicate the presence or absence of mesothelioma. This blood test increases that rate of early diagnosis as well as improves the chances of delivering treatment to the patient.
While these researches, clinical trials,treatments and testsshow promising results, much remains to be learned. Oncologists and researchershope that this deadly disease can one day be considered as non-terminal through the discovery of effective and quick mesothelioma treatments whichcan improve the quality of life of mesothelioma patients.
