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[…]
From the blog
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[…]
Platelet Count Can Potentially Influence Mesothelioma Survival
Mesothelioma is a hard-to-treat cancer. Usually chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy are used, but they do not do enough to save people’s lives. Scientists may have figured out why this is the case and could potentially have found the main causes that affect survival. These include stage of the tumor,[…]
A Cancer Vaccine Could Potentially Help Mesothelioma Patients
Researchers are looking at a vaccine to maintain patient health after cancer treatment, which could be effective for mesothelioma in the future. The vaccine is specifically made for each patient based on the individual’s biology. The trial is currently being tested on head and neck cancer. It does not usually[…]
Researchers are Targeting Fibrosis to Improve Mesothelioma Care
Researchers have found that targeting lung fibrosis can help people with mesothelioma. People with mesothelioma usually suffer from fibrosis, which is the stiffening of tissue surrounding tumors. Certain drugs to treat mesothelioma are not very effective because the fibrosis prevents the drugs from penetrating the tumor. It also prevents the[…]
OT-101 Useful for COVID-19 and Cancers Like Mesothelioma
Researchers are looking at a new treatment for mesothelioma. It is a multimodal treatment (multiple treatments combined) consisting of the immunotherapy drug Keytruda and a new drug called OT-101. OT-101 is an antisense drug, which is a drug that blocks molecules that make certain proteins. The drug is also effective[…]
Prehab and Rehab for Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly cancer of the mesothelium, which is a membrane that surrounds multiple organs including the lungs and abdomen. The best thing for patients after a mesothelioma diagnosis is treatment in the form of chemotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy, or multiple treatments together. This can be mentally and[…]
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