Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, and early detection is nearly impossible, making it a difficult disease to pin down, but exciting discoveries have been made in the field of malignant mesothelioma research during recent years. Research is being conducted on all aspects of the disease including early detection, alternative surgeries and treatments, and palliative measures.
Although malignant mesothelioma is relatively rare as cancers go, scientists are seeing a consistent rise in the number of cases. In addition, the long period between exposure to asbestos and development of the cancer means that the effects from the enthusiastic manufacturing of asbestos products between the 1940s and the 1970s may soon result in an upsurge of cases. Another area of concern is the age and decay of buildings constructed of asbestos. One of the qualities that made asbestos an appealing building material was its virtually indestructible nature. The materials that bonded asbestos into workable materials are not equally indestructible. As decrepit buildings collapse or are destroyed by wind, storms or demolition, the clouds of dust thrown up are often loaded with asbestos. These factors have given malignant mesothelioma research increasing importance.
What’s New?
Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for asbestos cancer, malignant mesothelioma and other cancer patients for decades, usually as a palliative measure to deal with symptoms. New chemotherapy drugs and treatments are encouraging. The most important advancement for malignant mesothelioma patients is Alimta©. Used in combination with a proven chemotherapy drug called cisplatin, Alimta© is the only drug specifically approved for use on pleural mesothelioma patients by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Another advancement made in recent years that includes chemotherapy is a surgery pioneered by David J. Sugarbaker, MD. Over the past few years, Dr. Sugarbaker has refined a technique for surgical pleural mesothelioma resection that involves removing as much tumor tissue as possible and replacing parts of the membrane with man-made Gore-Tex material. The chest cavity is irrigated with warmed chemotherapy to kill remaining cancer cells before the surgical incision is closed.
A new drug called Onconase© is currently on the FDA’s Fast Track list awaiting final approval. The ground-breaking advantage to Onconase© over other conventional chemotherapy drugs is that it kills cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue.
Anti-Angiogenesis drugs are designed to stop angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the process that helps facilitate the spread of tumors. One anti-angiogenesis drug for malignant mesothelioma treatment is currently being offered. One such drug already on the market is Avastin, a drug that works by lowering the levels of a protein that starts angiogenesis.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a new radiation therapy that uses computerized 3D modeling to deliver specifically targeted high doses of radiation directly to cancerous tumors—and nowhere else. This represents a significant improvement over traditional radiation techniques which typically kill both cancer and surrounding healthy tissue.
Gene therapy is an exciting research that may prove invaluable in the control and cure of many diseases, including malignant mesothelioma. Gene therapy uses special viruses that have been modified to perform a specific task, to infect malignant mesothelioma cells, leaving them “open” and vulnerable. The virus-infected cells are injected with healthy genes containing interferon-beta, a natural or man-made immune system hormone (cytokine) designed to boost immune system function and help the patient’s body fight—and possibly defeat—the cancer.
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