Posts by Steven Chervenick
Neoadjuvant Durvalumab and Tremelimumab With and Without Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma
Primary Objective The primary objective is to test whether the combination of platinum-based chemotherapy and pemetrexed with durvalumab / tremelimumab or durvalumab / tremelimumab alone improves recurrence-free survival for patients with resectable MPM compared to historical, published data for surgery with chemotherapy. Secondary Objective The secondary objectives are to determine the safety of and whether…
Read MoreGalinpepimut-S and Nivolumab are Effective and Safe for Mesothelioma
The combination of galinpepimut-S and nivolumab is showing promising results for mesothelioma. The study looked at patients who were refractory or relapsed after at least one standard treatment. The combination met safety and efficacy standards for treatment, leading to a completed phase one trial. The median overall survival, which was measured as the time of…
Read MoreWhy Patients Quit PIPAC for Mesothelioma
PIPAC, or pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy, is showing promising results for mesothelioma, but patients don’t finish all their sessions. This is a problem because the patients then limit the effectiveness of their treatment. Researchers in France decided to figure out why patients are quitting their treatments early. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer mainly caused by…
Read MoreIncreased Doses of Radiation Improve Survival in Mesothelioma Patients
Researchers are trying to find out if increasing the dose of radiation can improve survival in mesothelioma patients. Radiation is typically seen as a secondary treatment after the combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. Some doctors do not believe it is a valid treatment for mesothelioma patients because it can impact their quality of life.…
Read MorePembrolizumab and Chemotherapy Improve Survival in Pleural Mesothelioma Patients
The mix of chemotherapy and pembrolizumab extended survival in patients with pleural mesothelioma. It was given as a first line treatment to adults with the cancer. Data shows that pembrolizumab and chemotherapy reduced death by 21 percent compared to chemotherapy alone. Doctors like the combination of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy because it is already used effectively…
Read MoreNew Rules for Asbestos Abatement in Canada
Canada is creating new rules for asbestos abatement. The government in British Columbia is going to require that companies that perform asbestos abatement have licenses issued by the government for them to operate. The Canadian workers’ compensation statutory agency WorkSafeBC is creating the requirements for companies to be fully licensed to safely remove asbestos. Asbestos…
Read MoreResearchers are Searching for Mesothelioma Biomarkers
Mesothelioma could soon be diagnosed by blood test. Researchers in China have found a new method to analyze blood samples of people with mesothelioma. The researchers used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The hope was that the researchers would find biomarkers in the blood of mesothelioma patients that could help with diagnosis of the cancer. Mesothelioma…
Read MoreFinding Out How Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma
Finding Out How Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma Researchers are finding out why it takes a long time for mesothelioma to develop. A study in the Journal of Environmental Research found that the immune system sensing and interacting with particles changes how mesothelioma develops in the body. Researchers found that the main reason mesothelioma is caused by…
Read MoreNew Guidelines Created by the FDA Should Help Keep Asbestos Out of Cosmetic Products
Significant changes were made to ensure cosmetic safety. This was done through the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, which is one of the biggest changes in cosmetic safety by the Food and Drug Administration since the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was passed in 1938. Americans use anywhere from six to 12…
Read MoreResearchers are Trying to Find Ways to Prevent Mesothelioma in Asbestos Exposed Individuals
Researchers are trying to find out if mesothelioma can be prevented. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of certain areas of the body including the lungs, abdomen, heart, and testicles. After asbestos exposure, some people develop mesothelioma over a period of many years. Asbestos fibers become lodged in the mesothelium which then causes DNA…
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