Researchers at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are collaborating with Pfizer to study the effects of immunotherapy treatment Avelumab when combined with stereotactic body radiation therapy, or SBRT, for those suffering from mesothelioma. SBRT treatments use a device called a linear accelerator that delivers precise and intense doses of[…]
From the blog
Effective Chemotherapy May Rest Upon Reducing Overactive Enzyme
Chemotherapy for mesothelioma patients has been notoriously difficult and the cancer continues to be overwhelmingly unresponsive to such treatment in many cases. However, researchers and scientists have been continually investigating new techniques that involve adjusting how chemotherapy reacts on a cellular level. A study published in the Frontiers in Pharmacology[…]
February is National Cancer Prevention Month
Cancer is the second most leading cause of death in the United States affecting over 500,000 people. However, is estimated that 1/3 of all cancers could be prevented through daily activities such as eating healthy, exercising, or simply applying sunscreen on a sunny day. Cancers caused by asbestos exposure are[…]
The Orphan Drug Act and the National Organization for Rare Disorders Bring Attention and Funding to Rare Diseases
Testing and developing new drugs and treatments for an illness is a costly endeavor, but drug companies thrive in this business by being able to sell medication to the sick – especially those suffering from common conditions. The more common a condition, the more profits drug companies will make selling[…]
Gene Therapy and DNA Sequencing for Malignant Mesothelioma
Genes are the basic unit of DNA that creates unique proteins used for specific cellular function. The expression of that gene creates an effect and if a gene cannot make a specific protein, this can lead some health risks or problems. A multifactorial disorder, like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes,[…]
Multimodality Therapy in Pleural Mesothelioma
Even though there is no cure for mesothelioma, there are many different treatment options for those suffering from this almost always fatal cancer. Palliative therapy has been successful in lessening symptoms and making the patient more comfortable. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery are treatment methods that can be successful on[…]
An Inaccurate Mesothelioma Prognosis Can Result in Wrong Treatment
Mesothelioma is not easy to diagnose. Symptoms often mimic other ailments and patients often do not make the connection between asbestos exposure and their illness. Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, patients are often given a poor prognosis – typically less than one year. However, with recent advancements in treatments and immunotherapies,[…]
Screening for Mesothelioma: Detecting Mesothelioma Before Symptoms
Diagnosing mesothelioma in the early stages has proven to be difficult. Biomarkers and diagnostic procedures are the most common way of determining this cancer’s existence, but if mesothelioma could be identified through cancer screenings, the chances of survival could increase. Cancer screenings intend to identify cancer before symptoms appear, and[…]
Risk Factors From Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Could Be Determined By Early Biomarker
Peritoneal mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of mesothelioma that affects the abdominal lining, or peritoneum. Caused by asbestos exposure, peritoneal mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms are not entirely unique to the disease, so a diagnosis has to be more than just what symptoms are observed. Through[…]
ONCOS-102 Passes Safety Evaluation in Phase I Clinical Trials, Phase II Clinical Trial Recommended
A new immunotherapy developed by Targovax has recently passed Phase I clinical trials and is set to begin Phase II evaluation of this new treatment that may help those suffering from mesothelioma. ONCOS-102 was used in separate Phase I clinical trials; one in combination with chemotherapy, and one with immunotherapy.[…]
