New Study
In addition to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, those suffering from mesothelioma also have the option for surgery (if they are physically able). Surgery is one of the better options for mesothelioma patients because it can remove most if not all the cancer; however, often times since the cancer is generally diagnosed in the later…
Mesothelial cells are found in the lining of major organs such as the chest or the abdomen. When asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they slice through the soft tissue and become embedded in the lining of these organs. These fibers cause genetic mutations in the mesothelial cells which then cause the cells to reproduce…
Diagnosing mesothelioma in the early stages of the disease has proven to be a difficult task, and to better improve chances of survival from this aggressive cancer, the cancer needs to be found and treated quickly. Typical first steps in diagnosing mesothelioma are imaging techniques such as an x-ray, CT (CAT) scan, or an MRI.…
The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) was established nearly two decades ago by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the National Cancer Institute of the United States. The purpose of these published rules was to universally define when cancerous tumors stabilize, progress, or just respond to any given treatment.…
Peritoneal mesothelioma is an incredibly rare form of cancer that affects the peritoneum, or abdominal lining. It is not entirely understood how exposure to asbestos causes this type of cancer, but scientists and researchers theorize that ingested asbestos fibers work themselves into the peritoneal cavity, or if inhaled, are transported through the lymph node system.…
Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that has been notoriously difficult to treat. Caused by asbestos exposure, the latency period between the time of initial exposure and disease spans decades and generally by the time the cancer is detected, it is highly advanced. Surgical treatments for those with pleural mesothelioma are generally more…
Exposure to asbestos does not always mean that the individual exposed will develop an asbestos-caused disease or cancer. However, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and if you have encountered friable asbestos fibers unprotected, you are at risk of developing lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma. While we know today that asbestos exposure is…
The type of mesothelioma can be based upon where the cancer is located in the body, but it can also be based upon cell type – meaning, which cell has turned cancerous. The body has many different types of cells including epithelial, which make up the lining of the mesothelium (where mesothelioma develops). When these…
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 radiation to target cancer cells…
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 examines a specific enzyme that…
