Growing levels of asbestos are coming into the United States, even though there is a push to tighten regulations and even ban the substance. The main user of asbestos, the chloralkili industry, imported around 114 metric tons of asbestos from January through March of 2022. This is much higher than[…]
From the blog
Increasing Levels of Women are Dying from Mesothelioma
Over the past 20 years, the number of women dying from mesothelioma increased by 25 percent. This is happening even with less asbestos being used. Deaths in men have been falling, the reverse of what is happening in women. The information was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report[…]
Targeted Therapy is Showing Promising Results for Mesothelioma
Targeted research is advancing the treatment of pleural mesothelioma. Results from a study on a novel protein inhibitor known as tazemetostat (brand name Tazverik) were recently released. It is showing impressive results as a second line treatment for mesothelioma patients with the BAP1 genetic mutation. The control rate for disease[…]
Vudalimab for the Treatment of Mesothelioma
The MD Anderson Cancer Center is conducting a study on an immunotherapy drug that is specifically for rare, advanced tumors. Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma are both included in the study. The clinical trial is looking for effectiveness and safety of vudalimab. The treatment, also known as XmAb20717, was created by[…]
Proton Beam Radiation Therapy Use Increases for Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer
Proton beam radiation therapy is growing in popularity for treating mesothelioma and lung cancer. A study in JAMA Oncology looked at the use of this radiation for treating different types of cancer. There were almost 6 million patients in the study and data shows that proton radiation use tripled from[…]
Monoclonal Antibody Treatment was Found Not to be Effective on Pleural Mesothelioma
A phase II clinical trial comparing anetumab ravtansine to the chemotherapy drug vinorelbine did not have promising results for treating mesothelioma like researchers had hoped. Anetumab ravtansine is an immunotherapy drug that is a monoclonal antibody, which is an engineered antibody that can be used to fight cancer. Researchers found[…]
High HITHOC Dosage for Pleural Mesothelioma Improves Survival
High doses of hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITHOC) help pleural mesothelioma patients. A recent study found that when HITHOC is administered at a high dose, survival rates improve and periods of being disease free increase. HITHOC is the use of chemotherapy during surgery and is an experimental treatment for different types[…]
Two Cytoreductive Surgeries Can Improve Survival for Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients
If peritoneal mesothelioma patients undergo a second surgery after recurrence, they can improve their survival. Data from a retrospective review from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center shows that cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can be incredibly helpful for peritoneal disease sufferers. For some people, a second surgery has[…]
Checkmate 743 Shows Immunotherapy is Better for Mesothelioma Patients Who Cannot Receive Surgery
A clinical trial called Checkmate 743, which looks at the immunotherapy drugs nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy), shows that the combination can create a better quality of life when compared with the chemotherapy drugs pemetrexed, cisplatin, and carboplatin. Patient reported outcomes were recently reported. People who took Opdivo and Yervoy[…]
A Full Ban on Asbestos Was Recently Proposed
The Environmental Protection Agency just proposed a ban of all uses of chrysotile asbestos. It is the only asbestos that is imported into the country today. If banned, the material cannot be imported and the manufacturing, processing, distribution, and commercial use of it would be prohibited. The ban would be[…]
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