Tremelimumab Earlier in the spring of 2017, scientists and researchers from the University of Salford in the UK published a special report questioning the effectiveness of the new immunotherapy treatment known as tremelimumab. Trials of the check point inhibitor did not show promising results and there was concern about the[…]
From the blog
Improvements in Radiation Therapies Give More Treatment Options
When it comes to different treatments for mesothelioma patients, there is no shortage of diversity, as options include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, immune-based therapies, gene-based therapies, and more. Chemotherapy treatments cisplatin and pemetrexed are first line treatments, especially among those who do not quality for surgery. Radiation treatment is available, but[…]
Multiple Genetic Variants Increase Mesothelioma Risk
The term “high-risk predisposition,” is a well-known term in the cancer world that means a person could have certain genetic factors or other factors that places him or her at a higher risk for certain cancers. For mesothelioma, a high risk factor is the mutated BAP1 gene: a tumor suppressor[…]
Mesothelioma Patients Receive Zoledronic Acid as Treatment
Known as a bisphosphonate, zoledronic acid is typically used for bone diseases such as osteoporosis, and to treat high calcium levels in the blood that can lead to other health complications. Nitrogen containing bisphosphonates like zoledronic acid are known to have cancer suppressing qualities, and scientists and researchers were eager[…]
Time Increases Risk for Mesothelioma, Study Finds
Asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis have been known to develop over a period of decades, affecting people years and years since their last exposure. Many studies over the years have suggested that the length of the amount of time that has passed since initial exposure and subsequent symptoms[…]
Giving Cediranib Another Chance
A Phase I study for cediranib, a VEGFR/PDGFR kinase inhibitor, showed promising results in shrinking tumor size and increasing survival rates for those suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma. This is not the first time cediranib has been studied as a possible treatment for mesothelioma. In 2011/2012 a Phase II trial[…]
Calretinin More Effective Than Mesothelin in Detecting Mesothelioma Early
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that is difficult to diagnose because symptoms often mimic other diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis or lung cancer. Pathology reports and biopsies help distinguish this cancer from other illnesses, but often patients will have already developed more serious symptoms because the cancer has[…]
Survival Rates Based Upon Subtypes of Mesothelioma
A recent study published in the British Journal of Cancer compared survival rates of mesothelioma patients that received their diagnosis through either cytological or by histological method for those with the epithelioid, biphasic, or sarcomatoid subtype of mesothelioma. The concern is that those with the biphasic subtype of mesothelioma are[…]
Phase I Clinical Trial Underway for CAR T-cell Therapy
A Phase I clinical trial for an immunotherapy treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is currently underway at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Immunotherapy treatments support the body’s immune system response to diseases. It is often looked to as a positive alternative for treating[…]
Pembrolizumab Update: Aduro Biotech Collaborates with Merck
A biopharmaceutical company named Aduro Biotech recently announced its collaboration with Merck to further evaluate the findings for the Phase II trial of KEYTRUDA ® (pembrolizumab) and to combine their own immunotherapy treatment, CRS-207. Information regarding KEYTRUDA ® treatment began to circulate late last year when data presented at the[…]
