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- Mesothelin Finding Could Lead to Early Detection of Mesothelioma
- New York Attorney Calls for International Ban on Mesothelioma-Causing Asbestos
- Protein Can be Reliable for Diagnosing Malignant Mesothelioma
- Biomarker Successes Remain Elusive For Mesothelioma and Cancer Researchers
- Avastin May Not be Effective for Breast Cancer, But is Still an Option for Mesothelioma
- Options for Funding Mesothelioma Research
- Golf Outing to Raise Funds for Mesothelioma Research
- 3 Year Mesothelioma Survivor Stays Busy Raising Awareness of the Disease
- MesotheliomaHelp Website Offers Mesothelioma-Related FAQs
- CDMRP System Offers Funding Opportunity to Help Military Mesothelioma Sufferers
Thursday, October 29, 2009
by Nancy Meredith
Mesothelioma, often referred to as an orphan disease due to the minimal amount of research dedicated to finding a cure, now has several tissue banks and data warehouses for researchers to access when studying the disease. These databases and biospeciman registries are designed and offered to advance the knowledge and understanding of mesothelioma and to help scientists find a cure for the disease.
Shared Pathology Informatics Network (SPIN)
Funded in 2001 by the National Cancer Institute, SPIN was started in conjunction with “Healthy People 2010.” Healthy People 2010 is a set of health objectives and priorities established by the Department of Health and Human Services for the United States to achieve over the first decade of the new century. The Shared Pathology Informatics Network is related to the priority area of cancer.
The objective of SPIN is to use “state-of-the-art informatics techniques to establish an Internet-based virtual database that will allow investigators to locate appropriate human tissue specimens for their research.” SPIN provides researchers access to data of archived tissue specimens stored at various institutions. The institutions maintaining the data and the tissue banks are able to continue to maintain local control of the data.
Harvard, UCLA, Indiana University and the University of Pittsburgh all utilized the software to forward their research for all types of cancer. The need for tools such as SPIN has become more important as the use of tissues, diagnostic specimens, and their related clinical data in biomedical research has grown.
In a February 2006 assessment of the success of SPIN researchers concluded that pre-existing archives in pathology departments are “adequate sources of tissue blocks that can be used in many types of research efforts. This assessment shows that individual institutions can utilize electronic data to search for archival tissues which are of interest to researchers.”
The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB)
The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB) is provided through a collaborative effort of the Departments of Biomedical Informatics, Epidemiology, and Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh, and is funded by a grant from the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This virtual bank links data associated with specimens collected and stored at different institutions across the United States. The NMVB provides real-time access to all information including demographic, epidemiologic, pathologic, genotype, and follow-up data associated with biospecimens.
NMVB has close to 1,000 biospecimens including: paraffin embedded tissue, fresh frozen tissue, and developed mesothelioma tissue microarrays (TMAs) with associated multimodal data annotation. The NMVB staff, as well as physicians and researchers, recognize that progress in mesothelioma clinical research can only be achieved through access to high-quality tissue that is associated with data.
The data is available to all researchers, and can be queried by: age at diagnosis, work history, cancer history, genotype, and staging, among other areas. The search is available at no cost to all researchers whether academic or commercial, as well as US-based or foreign.
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
M.D. Anderson, one of the leading mesothelioma treatment centers in the United States, maintains a mesothelioma tissue bank. Every patient that is treated for mesothelioma is asked to donate tissue and blood specimens in the name of research.
The data will be used in ongoing research testing chemotherapies. M.D. Anderson uses the samples in their database, from 89 patients, as well as obtaining sample from outside laboratories.
Labels: Featured Story
posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:00 AM
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Power plant workers can breathe easier now that the Environmental Protection Agency issued a consent decree to allow for the passage of new rules aimed at reducing toxic emissions of soot, mercury, and other chemicals from coal-fired and oil-burning power plants.
The EPA was sued by a coalition of public health and environmental groups claiming that the EPA failed to meet the deadline for issuing regulations controlling toxic air pollution from power plants as per the Clean Air Act of 1990. The agency plans to adopt this new set of rules by November 2011.
Power plants utilized asbestos as an insulation material and some of the workers have since developed malignant mesothelioma, a serious cancer caused by asbestos that attacks the lining of the lungs and has no known cure. While it is unclear if any plants continue to use asbestos containing materials, the new rules may help lower the risk of asbestos exposure.
Mercury emissions and soot pollution were the primary focus of the lawsuit. The pollution from the chemicals can cause respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis and have also been known to contribute to heart attacks and stroke.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
In September the National Institutes of Health announced the winners of their awards designated to encourage high-risk research and innovation. They have awarded $348 million to “encourage investigators to explore bold ideas that have the potential to catapult fields forward and speed the translation of research into improved health.”
The awards fall under three research programs supported by the NIH Common Fund’s Roadmap for Medical Research. The NIH Director’s Transformative R01 (T-R01) Awards – new in 2009, Pioneer Awards, and New Innovator Awards, are funded through the 2006 NIH Reform Act which emphasizes innovation and risk taking, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
One of the T-RO1 winners, Sanford Markowitz, MD, PhD, of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, is undertaking research for “identifying inborn genetic susceptibility to development of cancer metastasis.” Most deaths from cancer are a result of metastasis, and Markowitz is setting out to determine why some people are resistant to the spread, while others have an inborn genetic predisposition to the spread of the disease.
Markowitz believes the results of this study will “be felt in the identification of entirely new biological pathways that will be key to cancer management, to cancer prognosis, and to developing new and more effective anti-cancer therapies.”
The researchers are given the flexibility to work in large, complex teams if the complexity of the research problem demands it. The projects are funded over a five year period.
For a listing of all 2009 Transformative R01 Award Recipients see the NIH website.
Labels: cancer, Research News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 9:43 AM
Friday, October 23, 2009
By Jennifer Glatt
Hawaii is known for many things: surfing, beautiful beaches, pineapples, and now, cancer research. Michele Carbone, MD, PhD (Human Pathology), has recently been named director of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii. He began his three-year term September 1, 2009, having previously served as the Center’s interim director since December 2008.
Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Carbone had been a professor at Loyola University Medical Center’s Cardinal Bernadin Cancer Center in Chicago and has spent most of his career researching thoracic cancers. Deemed an authority on malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer related to asbestos exposure, Dr. Carbone and his research team have studied the impact of genetics, environmental carcinogens and viral infections on mesothelioma development.
“Our goal is to develop novel preventive and therapeutic approaches and bring them to the community and the patient’s bedside,” Carbone says. “We work in synergy with the major hospitals in the State of Hawai‘i, with their physicians, and with other cancer organizations to prevent and cure cancer.”
When Carbone first began studying the disease in 1991, little was known about its causes beyond its link to asbestos. During the course of his career, he has uncovered a link between genetics and a U.S. government-mandated vaccine from the 1950s and ’60s that can greatly increase odds of contracting mesothelioma. “I found… that humans had massively been exposed to SV40 (a DNA tumor virus) in the late ’50s and early ’60s through contaminated polio vaccines,” he says, “and that the enormous increase in the incidence of mesothelioma from about zero in 1950 to 2,000 to 3,000 deaths per year presently had occurred after people were exposed to SV40.” Not every dose contained the virus, but it is estimated that 10 million to 30 million Americans were exposed.
Dr. Carbone has received more than half of all federal funding for mesothelioma and approximately 90 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s funding allocated for mesothelioma research. “Funding from the National Institutes of Health is very low because of the whole economy of the United States, so we have gone from a pay line six years ago of about 26 percent to a pay line of 11 percent. Therefore, it’s a difficult time to do research and you need to find additional sources of funding, specifically philanthropy,” he says. “I think it will help Hawaii if people on Mainland do not think of Hawaii only as a vacation place, but also as a place where normal people live normal lives and have normal jobs, for example, medical research.”
Carbone and his research offer hope for a diagnosis that has been nothing but grim in the past. He and his research team have participated in studies that led to the isolation of a new serum marker, osteopontin, which appears useful to identify patients with early mesothelioma. He explains that, “If we can validate prospectively the usefulness of these serological markers, we will be able to monitor cohorts of workers exposed to asbestos for early sign of mesothelioma and for early treatment that is linked to a better survival. I really believe that we can help people and make a difference.”
To learn more about clinical trials, research and education from the Cancer Center of Hawaii, visit their Web site at http://www.crch.org/.
Labels: Featured Story
posted by Nancy Meredith at 1:15 PM
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Belluck & Fox, one of the leading law firms in the United States representing individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, won a $1.5 million verdict and $750,000 in punitive damages against Fisher Controls International. Belluck & Fox represented the family of Ronald Drabczyk who died from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos while on the job at Hooker Chemical in Buffalo, New York.
Drabczyk repaired valves, from 1970 to 1988, manufactured by Fisher Controls and sold to Hooker Chemical which contained asbestos gaskets and packing. The evidence presented during the trial proved that Fisher was aware of the presence of asbestos and the associated dangers as far back as 1946, and that they acted negligently in failing to warn of those dangers.
This case is the first instance that Fisher Controls has been found liable for using asbestos in its products, as well as being the first punitive damage award in an asbestos case in New York State in more than 20 years. Attorney Jordan Fox stated, “the punitive damage verdict underscores that corporations have a duty to workers to protect them from hazards known or knowable regarding their products.”
See the full story.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 11:37 AM
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, a Chinese pharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of branded generic and proprietary pharmaceuticals, has joined forces with OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of the United States, to develop, manufacture, and market its KDR/Kit inhibitor OSI-930 in China.
OSI, based in Long Island, NY, specialized in the discovery and development of innovative molecular targeted therapies. OSI-930 targets both cancer cell proliferation and blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) in selected tumors. In preclinical studies, OSI-930 shows broad efficacy in small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal, gastric and other cancers. The drug is also being tested for the treatment of mesothelioma.
Dr. Colin Goddard, Chief Executive Officer of OSI Pharmaceuticals said, “As a leading Chinese pharmaceutical company with a successful track record of developing and commercializing oncology products in China, we are confident that Simcere has the right capabilities and resources to successfully manufacture, develop and market OSI-930 in China.”
According to the World Health Organization, China will have the world’s highest number of lung cancer patients, close to 1 million a year by 2025, if smoking and pollution are not effectively curbed.
Simcere stocks (NYSE: SCR) rose 10% yesterday after the news was announced.
Reference NCT00603356 on ClinicalTrials.gov for further information on OSI-930.
Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 9:03 AM
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Study: Pemetrexed (ALIMTA) Plus Cisplatin Followed by Surgery and Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma
Start Date: January 2009
End Date: January 2020
Recruiting Contacts
Andrea Foster, 416-946-4501 ext 5010, Andrea.Foster@Uhn.on.ca
Jennifer Hornby, BSc CCRP 416-340-4857, Jennifer.Hornby@uhn.on.ca
Information
The University Health Network of Toronto is currently recruiting participants for a clinical trial using a combination of Pemetrexed (Alimta) with Cisplatin prior to surgery followed by radiation therapy after surgery. The goal enrollment for the trial is 45 patients that have been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma but have not yet undergone treatment.
Previous studies have shown that complete removal of mesothelioma is possible in approximately 30% of the patients, with treatment typically continuing with chemotherapy followed by radiation. The chances of the tumor returning after this trimodal therapy remains high, and the chances of long term survival remains low.
According to the trial information, the combination of Pemetrexed (Alimta) with Cisplatin as chemotherapy treatment is likely to benefit, and potentially cure, a group of patients.
For complete information see ClinicalTrials.
Labels: ClinicalTrial, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 1:07 PM
Friday, October 9, 2009
The FirstHealth of the Carolinas, a private, not-for-profit health care network serving the mid-Carolinas, Clinical Trials Department has partnered with the Wake Forest School of Medicine to promote participation in a research study investigating the development and progression of asbestos-related lung diseases and cancers. The study is requesting participants that have been diagnosed with mesothelioma to contact FirstHealth Clinical Trials.
Dr. Jill Ohar of Wake Forest University who has been researching mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer, for more than 20 years, is the study’s principal investigator. Dr. Ohar has found during her research “that there is a strong tendency for mesothelioma to run in families and it tends to be associated with a family history of cancer, which suggests a genetic susceptibility.”
The current study is being conducted to examine the associated environmental factors and genetic markers of people diagnosed with mesothelioma. Specifically the research will attempt to identify how frequently encountered environmental pollutants affect the body and determine the genetic factors that make some families more susceptible than others to mesothelioma and other forms of cancer.
See FirstHealth for more information.
Labels: mesothelioma, Research News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 9:34 AM
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
by Nancy Meredith
Mesothelioma patients know that the best treatment they can receive is offered at cancer centers that have a mesothelioma program staffed with physicians and medical teams that specialize in the treatment of their disease. Many times patients find that while the treatment required is available, the hospital or facility can be hundreds or even thousands of miles away. The cost of getting to the facility can be prohibitive for many of the patients leaving them with no alternatives to their treatments.
Thanks to the generosity of thousands of pilots, volunteers, and numerous charity organizations patients can receive free or reduced air travel for medical treatment. Angel Flight, Corporate Angel Network, and Pilots for Patients are just several of the organizations comprised of pilots that donate their time, their planes, and their financial resources to provide air transportation for those who are financially needy or are too sick to travel on public transportation.
History of Volunteer Medical Air Travel
Angel Flight is one of the original charitable flying organizations, formed by Jim Shafer, a medical professional, in 1983 with 15 of his pilot friends. In the mid-1980′s various other organizations were formed offering one to two flights per week to patients in need of medical care that was otherwise out of reach for them. Angel Flight maintained this trend averaging 200 flights per year through 1999. Since 2000 the number of flights has risen exponentially with over 2,000 flights now offered by Angel Flight every year.
As the number of organizations and flights increased, so too did the need for coordination and support for the flights and the patients. Air Care Alliance (ACA) was formed in 1990 out of 19 flight organizations. Today there are over 60 humanitarian flying organization members of ACA whose pilots are dedicated to ensuring the transport of the sick and their family. Each of the participating organizations operates solely through donations.
Network of Support
Many of the flying organizations are geographically based making finding the appropriate organization to meet the needs of the patient difficult. With the assistance of ACA, the Air Charity Network (ACN), Mercy Medical Airlift (MMA), the National Patient Travel Center (NPTC) and many medical facilities, patients can often make one call to get the support requested and find the best charitable flight organization for them.
The requirements for each of the organizations vary, but most of them request the following of the patient:
- The patient is ambulatory or has some mobility.
- The patient is medically stable and able to fly in an unpressurized plane.
- The patient or family has financial need or is unable to afford other means of commercial transportation.
- There is no other suitable or appropriate transportation available.
- The patient has received a medical diagnosis that requires treatment at a hospital specializing in that disease or ailment.
The requesting patient will typically be screened by the oversight organization to determine the suitable transportation. Some of the flying services, such as Corporate Angel Network, transport only cancer patients to approved cancer centers. Often the service includes pick up and transportation to the aircraft as well as transportation at the destination. There is no charge for the referral service.
A New Chance at Life
Many patients have been given a new chance at life through the generosity of the charitable flying organizations. Able to receive specialized treatment at hospitals and medical facilities far from home, mesothelioma patients, and other severely ill patients do not have to turn away from advanced care. The abundance of testimonials and thank you notes sent to the organizations prove that angels do exist.
Labels: Featured Story
posted by Nancy Meredith at 3:13 PM
Monday, October 5, 2009
Senator Patty Murray (WA) and Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-4) have introduced resolutions in Congress designating September 26th as “National Mesothelioma Awareness Day.” Mesothelioma Awareness Day was introduced by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) over 4 years ago and has been supported by volunteers.
Chris Hahn, Executive Director of MARF, hopes that now “mesothelioma will finally become part of a broad national conversation about its tragic impact on our society.”
Murray and McCollum believe that ‘National Mesothelioma Awareness Day’ is a chance to raise awareness of the disease and to support the victims and their families. They hope this national day will start educating the nation about the causes of mesothelioma and the deadly effects of asbestos.
In addition to the Awareness Day proposal, both women vowed to continue fighting to ban asbestos.
To support this resolution go to the MARF Action Center to send a letter to your representative.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 1:14 PM
Friday, October 2, 2009
Legislation is being considered that would replace the existing ineffective system for regulating toxic chemicals. The new proposal, presented by the Obama administration, will overhaul the regulation of thousands of chemicals that are used in everyday products and in the workplace. The Senate version of the legislation is sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).
The current law is stringent requiring the EPA to determine that any risks posed by a chemical are not outweighed by the substance’s economic and societal benefits. The lack of concern for human safety was demonstrated when after years of documenting the hazards of asbestos, a carcinogen known to cause mesothelioma, the EPA ban was overturned by a federal court.
EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson, said that “as more and more chemicals are found in our bodies and in the environment, the public is understandably anxious and confused.” The legislation, she states, is overdue.
Chemical manufacturers would now have to disclose information about the risks of any existing products as well as any new products developed. The companies will no longer be able to claim trade secrets should prevent them from having to disclose the information. They would also need to comply with regulations requiring safety tests on the chemicals.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 1:37 PM