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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, April 15, 2010
Researchers in London have estimated that when a malignant mesothelioma patient undergoes surgery to remove a portion of the cancerous lining of the lung or abdomen the survival rate increases by approximately nine months.
The researchers further found that mesothelioma patients who had multi-modal treatment of surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy showed the best results. They survived about 32 months on average – or roughly twice as long as patients who had other types of treatments.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen closely associated with asbestos exposure. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
When analyzing the results of the types of treatment, the researchers divided the treatment data into four groups:
- Mesothelioma patients who did not have surgery;
- Mesothelioma patients who had their chest cavity opened surgically, but did not have organs removed;
- Mesothelioma patients who had tissue such as a lung and the lining of the lung removed, but did not undergo chemotherapy afterward;
- Mesothelioma patients who had organs and cancerous tumors removed as well as receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation.
Researchers at the University College London published the results in the European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
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Labels: Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has released the NCCN Guidelines for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Led by Lee M. Krug, MD of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the guidelines were presented at the 15th annual NCCN conference.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma has an extended latency period with symptoms sometimes taking between 20-40 years to appear. By the time the symptoms appear the disease has progressed to an advanced stage, with life-threatening complications.
While there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation. Each case of mesothelioma can be different, and determining the appropriate treatment often depends on the expertise of the treating physician
With the new treatment guidelines, doctors can rely on the evidence-based recommendations finding information regarding surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and staging information.
Among the recommendations, the guidelines suggest the use of pemetrexed and cisplatin or carboplatin “as the optimal first-line combination chemotherapy regimen for patients.” Krug noted that while mesothelioma was previously thought to be chemoresistant, new evidence suggests that certain chemotherapy regimens can benefit patients.
The most recent version of this and all the NCCN Guidelines are available free of charge at NCCN.org.
Release of Guidelines Announced
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Rosetta Genomics recently published an article describing the development and validation process of their line of products known as miRview. The products are the company’s microRNA-based tests for identification of primary origin of metastases. miRview meso is the first single test that accurately differentiates malignant pleural mesothelioma from other carcinomas in the lung and pleura.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial cells, caused by breathing in asbestos fibers that become lodged in the thin membrane that lines and encases the lungs. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for the disease.
Rosetta Genomics’ website states:
Unlike the tests currently available, miRview™ meso is a microRNA-based molecular diagnostic tool that provides a differential diagnosis with:
- Accuracy
- Simple interpretation
- Routine sample preparation
Rosetta explains that miRview meso is easy to use and is designed to assist patients and physicians diagnose cases of cancer of unknown primary (CUP). By identifying the origin of metastasis patients may not need to undergo additional expensive medical tests to identify the primary site of origin. The quick identification of mesothelioma will allow the patient to begin appropriate treatments.
Rosetta Genomics miRview Publication
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Labels: Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 9:00 AM
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Last year the FDA gave approval for Alimta, a chemotherapy used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma, to be used in maintenance treatment in patients with advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has not progressed after four cycles of platinum-based first line chemotherapy.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial cells, caused by breathing in asbestos fibers that become lodged in the thin membrane that lines and encases the lungs. While there is no cure, mesothelioma can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation. Alimta is often used in combination with cisplatin, another chemotherapy drug for the treatment of mesothelioma.
Patients taking Alimta (pemetrexed) as a maintenance therapy for advanced non-squamous lung cancer lived a median of five months longer than patients taking a placebo. The findings were presented at the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.
Maintenance therapy, which involves continuous chemotherapy treatment for cancer treatments, is gaining popularity among physicians and patients. Previously, chemotherapy treatments ended when the cancer was under control and was restarted if the cancer began to worsen.
Patients are often given a break from the treatments but restart chemotherapy before the cancer returns. Maintenance therapy is becoming more accepted due to the improved survival rates and because some of the newer cancer drugs have less side effects than the toxic older ones.
Read more about maintenance therapy in Cure.
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, a Chinese manufacturer and supplier of branded generic pharmaceuticals and manufacturer of the patented anti-cancer biotech product Endostar, announced this week the successful completion of Endostar Phase IV clinical trial.
Since September 2005, Endostar has been approved to treat Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in China. Endostar is a modified version of recombinant human Endostatin designed to stop the growth of cancer by starving it of oxygen and other nutrients. Endostar, also known as Endu, is the first anti-angiogenic drug in the world. Because mesothelioma cells rely on a large number of blood vessels to grow, researchers believe that Endostatin will be an effective treatment for mesothelioma and other fast-growing cancers.
Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer which can take up to five decades to be properly diagnosed, is responsible for approximately 3,000 new cases each year in the United States. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
The findings of the clinical study verified that by combining Endostar with standard chemotherapy regimens the treatment could improve the median survival time and overall survival rate of patients with advanced NSCLC with no significant increase of the adverse effects of chemotherapy.
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Labels: Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:15 AM
Monday, February 15, 2010
For going above and beyond the scope of usual duties in serving as the liaison between the cancer program at South Nassau and the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC), Shahriyour Andaz, MD, FACS, was named a recipient of an Outstanding Performance Award. Doctor Andaz is the director of thoracic oncology at South Nassau Communities Hospital in New York.
Dr. Andaz is board certified in both thoracic and general surgery and he specializes in complex chest cancer procedures and minimally invasive thorascopic surgery. The minimally invasive approach that Andaz provides offers patients faster healing and shortened recovery time. Chest wall sarcoma resection and reconstruction, and mesothelioma are several of the areas of Andaz’s expertise.
Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer which can take up to five decades to be properly diagnosed, affects approximately 3,000 patients each year in the United States. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation. The goal of the surgery is to remove as much of the malignancy as possible. However, the disease’s complex growth pattern makes complete removal a very difficult task.
The award was given to Dr. Andaz for his accomplishments in spearheading CoC initiatives within the hospital’s cancer program; collaborating with local agencies, such as the American Cancer Society; and facilitating quality improvement initiatives utilizing data submitted to the CoC’s National Cancer Database (NCDB).
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
TomoTherapy, a company that provides radiation treatment equipment, has named their recipients for the 2009-10 Clinical Investigation Grants. The grant program supports research on the clinical benefits of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) for improving cancer care.
Klaus Herfarth, M.D., of University of Heidelberg, Germany will use the grant to examine whether treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with helical TomoTherapy can reduce the radiation dose to the non-diseased lung. Many patients with mesothelioma had no therapy options before due to the unusual shape of the tumor and the inability to reach cancer cells when they are wrapped around sensitive normal tissues.
Mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, can take up to 50 years to develop after exposure to asbestos has occurred. There is no known cure for the disease, although it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
Herfarth hopes TomoTherapy will decrease overall toxicity, enabling delivery of higher doses of radiation to further reduce recurrence rates. He says he is grateful for “the chance to offer patients with pleural mesothelioma a safe and sufficient radiation therapy in a multidisciplinary approach.”
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
A treatment known as chemoembolization, where anticancer drugs are injected directly into a cancer tumor, has shown effective in the treatment of mesothelioma according to its supporters being treated in Germany. However, the National Health Service (NHS), the publicly-funded healthcare system in England, is not convinced.
England’s Department of Health says they do not have enough information about the risks and benefits of the treatment to support it in patients with mesothelioma. Chemoembolization has proven effective in the treatment of liver cancer.
Mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, can take up to 50 years to develop after exposure to asbestos has occurred. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
One patient who says the treatment has prolonged his life by years, as well improved his quality of life, had to use his life savings to pay for the treatment. He and others in a Devon, England mesothelioma support group are pressing NHS to reconsider its policy on funding the treatment.
Devon Primary Care Trust has indicated that any future applications for chemoembolization treatment would be reviewed based on the latest clinical information.
Source:
Mesothelioma Treatment Funding
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly with most cases of mesothelioma diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
Adjuvant chemotherapy is one treatment method used for mesothelioma where chemotherapy is prescribed after surgery to kill cancerous cells that remain once the tumor was removed. In some cases, the surgery will appear to have removed all of the cancerous tissues, but some will remain that are undetectable to the medical team. This is especially true for mesothelioma patients, because the diffuse nature of mesothelioma’s invasion pattern makes complete surgical extraction very difficult, if not impossible, to perform.
High risk patients, those that had a large tumor and the mesothelioma has spread or metastasized, may find that the benefits of chemotherapy as an adjuvant treatment outweigh the side-effects and can slow or halt the regrowth of cancer cells. The side-effects of chemotherapy are well known and often instill fear in patients causing them to reject the treatment. Improvements have been made in the new chemotherapy drugs, however, and this combined with some adjustments to diet and lifestyle can minimize the effects.
Heather Wakelee, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford Cancer Center, says that adjuvant treatment is typically offered over a period of three months, approximately 8 treatments, and the toxicity level is not as high as neoadjuvant chemotherapy given prior to surgery.
Dr. Wakelee offers the following suggestions for managing your chemotherapy side-effects:
- Fatigue. While this is one of the biggest challenges of chemotherapy, it can be managed. Many patients want total rest due to the draining effect, but this can actually increase fatigue. Wakelee suggests patients get some form of exercise every day, walk around some, to help recover your energy.
- Low red blood cells or anemia. While blood transfusions are an option to improve this if the count gets too low, a change in diet can help you get the iron you need to raise the count. These foods are all high in iron: red meat, spinach, broccoli, beans, bran, tofu.
- Low white blood cells. Infection is a possibility with low white blood cell counts. Doctors are concerned about this in patients although it can be managed. Ways to avoid infection include avoiding raw fish, thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables, and washing your hands often.
- Nausea/vomiting. Significant improvements have been made in the medicines available to treat nausea, and many patients find they have little to no problems and can eat a normal diet. The patient may take medicines for several days after a treatment and should not be afraid of chemotherapy for this side effect. If there is a problem the doctor can use additional medicines.
- Hair loss. Some drugs do not cause hair loss, but they may not be the right drug for the patient. Once chemotherapy treatment is completed the hair often grows back quickly and thicker than before.
- Skin rash. This can happen although is not often severe. The use of topical lotions, and potentially with steroids, the rashes can be controlled.
Make sure to discuss your concerns and any side-effects you experience with your mesothelioma specialist so he can make any adjustments to your treatment to minimize any side-effects.
Sources:
Mesothelioma Treatment: What is Chemotherapy?
Understanding Adjuvant Therapy for Early-Stage Lung Cancer
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 9:34 AM
Monday, January 25, 2010
Researchers reported in December that through a combination of surgery and chemotherapy used as a “bath” applied directly to the cancer site, they have improved the survival rate for patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, can affect the lining of the lungs known as pleural mesothelioma, or the lining of the abdomen resulting in peritoneal mesothelioma. In rare instances, the lining of the heart can be affected resulting in pericardial mesothelioma. There is no known cure for the disease.
Researchers at eight medical research universities throughout the world including the U.S., Italy, and Australia, collaborated on the study and reported that of the patients treated for peritoneal mesothelioma, the overall median survival rate was 53 months, and 47 percent of the patients were alive after five years.
After surgery to remove the cancerous tumors from the lining of the abdomen, the doctors then used procedure called hyperthermic interperitoneal chemotherapy. The patient’s abdominal cavity was bathed for several hours in a heated chemotherapy solution to treat remaining cancer cells while the patient was in the operating room.
The researchers said that the improved survival rate could be attributed to the absence of cancer having spread to the lymph nodes, the completeness of the tumor removal and the chemotherapy treatment. The treatment can also help reduce pain associated with mesothelioma.
Source:
Combo Treatment for Mesothelioma in Abdomen Helps Some Patients Live Longer
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 9:02 AM
Friday, January 15, 2010
Mesothelioma is a rare, serious and aggressive cancer that normally occurs in the lungs and is conclusively linked to exposure to asbestos fibers. This exposure to asbestos fibers typically occurs in the workplace and is sometimes brought home on a worker’s clothes. Mesothelioma has an extended latency period – symptoms can sometimes take between 20-40 years to appear. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
Determining your treatment plan is critical to your survival, and communicating with your medical team and your mesothelioma specialist is key to ensuring that you understand and are comfortable with the selected plan of action. Prior to meeting with your physician to determine your treatment plan, research mesothelioma and cancer treatments to find as much information as you can to be best prepared to plan your future.
Learn about clinical trials, handling the side effects of chemotherapy treatments, surgical options, nutrition and cancer, and many other topics that can impact your recovery during your struggle with mesothelioma. See CancerCare Connect Education Workshops for a series of podcasts on the above topics, and many more.
When discussing your treatment options, be engaged with your doctor and use the following suggested questions to better understand his/her approach to your treatment.
- What type of mesothelioma do I have?
- What treatment options are available to me, and which would you recommend?
- Why do you recommend this treatment?
- What are the side effects and risks with which I should be concerned?
- Are there any mesothelioma clinical trials available?
- How many specialized mesothelioma treatment cases have you handled in the course of your career?
If you have recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you undoubtedly feel overwhelmed with questions. Learning about the medical diagnosis and prognosis, your treatment options, and available support resources can help you feel better about your fight against mesothelioma. Get educated to help you make critical decisions about your treatment.
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Italian researchers found that while a second surgery to treat a recurrence of malignant mesothelioma may not increase the survival rate for a patient, the surgery may relieve a patient’s pain. The results were determined after reviewing 74 cases of mesothelioma patients who underwent surgery over 20 years to remove a diseased lung as well the membrane tissue covering the lung and heart, and diaphragm muscle.
Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, can affect the lining of the lungs known as pleural mesothelioma, or the lining of the abdomen resulting in peritoneal mesothelioma. In rare instances, the lining of the heart can be affected resulting in pericardial mesothelioma.
The researchers, Dr. Leonardo Politi of the University of Florence, and Dr. Giuseppe Borzelleno of the University of Verona, determined that extrapleural pneumonectomy, the surgical procedure, did not offer the expected curative benefits they had hoped to see when treating a recurrence of malignant mesothelioma. They did say that the procedure should be considered an option for certain malignant mesothelioma patients who cannot tolerate additional radiation treatment.
Source:
Does Follow-up Surgery for Recurring Malignant Mesothelioma Improve Survival?
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Yoga Bear, a non-profit organization started in 2006, supports the belief that “cancer patients and survivors can benefit from yoga as a complementary treatment in cancer recovery.” The MD Anderson Cancer Center, known for their mesothelioma treatment center, also agrees with this approach offering yoga classes for patients in their cancer center.
Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer which can take up to five decades to be properly diagnosed, is responsible for approximately 3,000 new cases each year in the United States. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation, accompanied by holistic therapy.
Holistic therapy and yoga offers students a mind/body approach to coping with mesothelioma and other cancers. One study conducted by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that yoga offers beneficial effects on social functioning among breast cancer survivors. Also, yoga appears to enhance emotional well-being and mood.
The team at Yoga Bear is dedicated to offering both patients and survivors with opportunities for wellness and healing and matches them with free local yoga classes. Yoga Bear also provides on-site yoga classes in hospitals across the country including George Washington University Hospital, Kaiser, Maimonides, and Mt. Sinai, cancer centers, and through support groups such as The American Cancer Society and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Yoga is the primary activity that can “massage” all internal glands, organs and joints of the body that rarely, or never, get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. This stimulation and massage benefits the health of mesothelioma patients by improving flexibility and mobility.
Before undertaking yoga, or any exercise regimen, check with your physician.
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
When Marie Augustine of British Columbia was diagnosed with mesothelioma three years ago, her doctors told her there was nothing else they could do for her. She had pleural mesothelioma and her lung and pleura, the thin sac that protects the lungs, were fused together making the cancer inoperable. She was given 6 months to live.
Not willing to miss her 50th wedding anniversary still seven months away, Marie found a resolve to fight the disease. With the support of her husband and her family, she began taking various alternative treatments with each therapy causing slight improvements in her mesothelioma symptoms. Her son and husband stayed by her side encouraging her and helping to keep her moving.
Finally, they discovered a Brazilian herb called pawpaw that proved to be the right herb at the right time. The fruit from the tree is highly nutritious being rich in proteins, good fats, and complex carbohydrates. The leaves and twigs contain acetogenins known for their anti-cancer properties.
Marie was getting weaker and weaker when her son finally convinced her to give it a try. Within a month Marie began improving and she eventually went from not being able to get up on her own, to walking, driving and even attending local events.
Marie says, “I am extremely fortunate and I would like people to know there is hope. Just don’t give up.”
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A 73-year old malignant pleural mesothelioma patient in Japan has demonstrated that alternative therapies can result in the complete disappearance of a mesothelioma tumor. The patient took a mushroom extract as well as alternative parasympathetic nerve stimulation therapy. The complete disappearance of the tumor was found at the 29-month follow-up.
In September 2003 the patient underwent a cytoreduction pleurectomy, instead of an extrapleural pneumonectomy, due to the aggressiveness of the tumor. By May 2004 the patient was in poor condition, however, he refused continuance of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
The patient instead began taking a mushroom extract containing Agaricus blazei Murill Kyowa (ABMK) in addition to alternative parasympathetic nerve stimulation therapy. The nerve stimulation is a modified acupuncture treatment that has shown immune system improvement. Four months after the start of the alternative treatments the tumor began to decrease. Over the next two years the tumor completely disappeared.
ABMK is an edible mushroom that has been used in other countries to treat a variety of diseases including cancer. It has been reported to inhibit tumor growth through both anti-angiogenic and immune-modulatory activity.
Sources:
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Surviving Mesothelioma
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 2:00 PM
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Diagnosis of any terminal disease can leave patients feeling depressed, anxious, and angry. With the rarity of mesothelioma, patients diagnosed with the disease may have the added feeling of isolation with few people with which to discuss their feelings and concerns.
Keeping your emotions inside may lead to stress and can leave you with additional physical discomfort. Finding someone that you trust and can confide in will not only help you feel better, but can lead you to helping other mesothelioma victims down the road.
While a patient advocate provides emotional support, additional individuals and support networks can be beneficial. Below are some suggestions for locating confidants.
- Ask your primary care physician or oncologist for referral to a social worker or therapist who specializes in treating cancer patients.
- Your church or other religious organizations often have support groups that hold regular meetings.
- Many non-profit organizations dedicated to mesothelioma patients offer support referral services and can put you in touch with other mesothelioma patients.
- Ask friends and family if they know of any support groups or patients with mesothelioma to which you can talk.
Talking with others that have battled mesothelioma, or are trained counselors, who can give you insight into your emotions and into what’s to come can ease your mind and allow you to focus on your treatments and recovery.
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Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:40 AM
Monday, November 30, 2009
The American Cancer Society and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), one of the leading fitness certification organizations in the world, have introduced the Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer™ certification (CET).
The certification is offered to fitness professionals that work with clients with cancer at various stages and levels of treatment. Studies have shown that exercise and proper nutrition can improve the quality of life and aid recovery in certain mesothelioma patients.
Having fitness professionals knowledgeable with the needs of those suffering from cancer, including mesothelioma patients, and for cancer survivors, is critical for patients and their caregivers who do not know which exercises are safe and effective.
To earn the CET certification fitness professionals who have achieved the “gold standard” through ACSM will need to successfully pass an exam focused on exercise and cancer.
Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer (CET)
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Labels: Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 2:00 PM
Friday, November 27, 2009
Pinpointing the exact location of a lung cancer tumor and the extent of pleural effusion in mesothelioma is difficult with the traditional imaging techniques such as CT and MRI. Lung cancer tumors move with breathing, circulation and heartbeats making it difficult to focus radiation treatments and to evaluate the extent of disease.
Recent advances in imaging technologies, however, have improved how patients receive their radiation treatments. Dynamic imaging allows the medical staff to monitor the tumor movement throughout the respiratory cycle improving the quality of radiation therapy resulting in better patient outcomes.
Additional improvements include fusion technology where images from different imaging techniques can be combined, and online imaging offering images in the same room where radiation is given to more accurately guide the radiation therapy.
These improvements have led to non-invasive techniques which allow for the characterization of the aggressiveness of the tumors helping the medical
specialists better identify the therapy regimens or experimental clinical trials appropriate for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients.
Sources:
Chest Journal Study
National Lung Cancer Partnership
Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 2:00 PM
Monday, November 16, 2009
Prometheus Laboratories Inc, a pharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing novel pharmaceutical and diagnostic products to help physicians individualize patient care, launched its ProOnc line of cancer diagnostics in October.
The ProOnc diagnostic tests are based on recently developed, highly sensitive microRNA technology. “MicroRNAs are small, non-coding sequences of RNA that are critically important in many biological and pathological processes,” said Harvey Pass, M.D., Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology at New York University Langone Medical Center and its NYU Cancer Institute. The sensitivity of microRNA diagnostics enables physicians to more confidently differentiate cancers.
The ProOnc MesotheliomaDx utilizes cutting-edge molecular diagnostics using microRNA to differentiate malignant pleural mesothelioma from peripheral adenocarcinoma of the lung and metastatic carcinomas involving the lung and pleura.
Prometheus believes that ProOnc TumorSourceDx and ProOnc SquamousDx, as well as ProOnc MesotheliomaDx, will provide cancer specialists with more objective and quantitative results than existing diagnostics leading to more personalized treatments for patients.
Prometheus Laboratories Diagnostic Tests
Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 3:16 PM
Friday, November 13, 2009
Source: www.libbyasbestos.org
Residents of Libby Montana, where asbestos-related disease has created a health crisis, will receive federally-funded health screenings starting Monday. The screenings will include a chest x-ray, health history and current health status.
Malignant mesothelioma (a cancer in the lining of the lungs) has been very high in the area with a population of fewer than 10,000. Lung cancer rates in are 30% higher in Libby than in similar populations not exposed to asbestos. Deaths and illness in this area is due to deadly asbestos fibers at the now closed W.R Grace and Company vermiculite mine.
In June, leaders of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in declaring a public health emergency in Libby. The emergency declaration required the provision of federal health care services to the area residents.
Vermiculite was discovered in Libby, Montana in 1913. The mine and mill were purchased by Grace in 1963 and employed about 200 people between that time and 1990. The processing of vermiculite ore that contained a form of asbestos led to widespread asbestos exposure in the community.
Labels: Treatment News
posted by Wade Rawlins at 3:04 PM
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, September 29, 2009
Eli Lilly and Co. announced this month that their drug Alimta has extended the life of lung cancer patients by about three months. The clinical trial findings were compared with patients who received the best treatment currently available and a placebo. The study was reported in The Lancet, a British medical journal.
Alimta is approved for treatment in non-squamous tumors which is about 70 percent of all lung cancers. The patients, when treated with Alimta, lived for 15.5 months as compared to 10.3 months for the patients receiving a placebo. Alimta is also approved as a treatment for mesothelioma.
Alimta is used as “maintenance therapy” on patients who have previously received chemotherapy and whose cancer has not progressed. The clinical trial was conducted on a group of 663 patients.
Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News
posted by Nancy Meredith at 4:15 PM
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
By Jennifer Glatt
Seeking treatment at a major medical center that specializes in treating mesothelioma may improve survival odds, according to leading oncologist and mesothelioma specialist Anne Tsao, M.D. As assistant professor and director of the Mesothelioma Program in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Dr. Tsao says that nonspecializing centers may miss some of the symptoms of mesothelioma when the disease is in its earliest stages and focused care can add years to some patients’ lives.
In an interview on “Patient Power,” an Internet radio series, Dr. Tsao said that specialization is crucial in certain types of treatment, such as extrapleural pneumonectomy. Specialized care can be essential in improving symptoms and prolonging survival. “We know that with the grim prognosis with our current treatment modalities, we need to make a breakthrough… and I do believe that systemic therapy with targeted agents is the way to go,” says Dr. Tsao.
Major medical centers are often the hub of emerging technologies, research, diagnostic procedures and treatments, and often are involved in new drug therapies, as well.
According to the MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Web site , “since mesothelioma is such a complex disease, it’s important for patients to receive multidisciplinary care from a team of specialists, possibly including thoracic oncologic surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists and pulmonologists.
For a number of reasons, mesothelioma has not been researched very much. A major cancer center that treats hundreds of mesothelioma patients a year will most likely be conducting research that may help patients and eventually lead to a cure.”
To listen to the entire Patient Power episode with Dr. Tsao, visit the Publications section. An informative question-and-answer session with Dr. Tsao can also be found on the MD Anderson Web site.
Labels: mesothelioma, Treatment News, treatments
posted by Nancy Meredith at 2:34 PM
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Coming Soon
Labels: Treatment News
posted by Your Attorney at 9:10 AM