Recent News

SS1P and Pentostatin Plus Cyclophosphamide for Mesothelioma

June 8, 2016

Purpose:Malignant mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops on the protective lining that covers the body s internal organs. It most often occurs on the lining of the lungs and chest wall or the lining of the abdomen. There is no known cure for malignant mesothelioma, so researchers are searching for new ways to treat it. Mesothelin is a protein that is found in mesothelioma and other types of cancer cells. An experimental cancer drug called SS1P is designed to attack cells that have mesothelin while leaving healthy cells alone. Researchers want to test how effective SS1P is when it is given with pentostatin and cyclophosphamide. These drugs help suppress the immune system and may make the SS1P more effective.

Tissue Procurement and Natural History Study of Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma

June 1, 2016

Purpose:Malignant mesothelioma is a malignancy arising from the mesothelial cells of the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, or tunica vaginalis.Mesothelioma accounts for 0.10% of deaths annually in the United States. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common of these, comprising of 80% of the cases with an annual incidence of about 2,500 in the United States.The median survival from diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is approximately 12 months. The majority of patients present with stage III or IV disease with 85-90% of patients considered unresectable at diagnosis. Peritoneal mesothelioma has a better prognosis than pleural mesothelioma; nevertheless, patients undergoing therapy for peritoneal mesothelioma have few well-studied treatment options due in large part to the rarity of the disease.

New Treatments Target the Immune System of Victims of Mesothelioma

May 31, 2016

Mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer, is a cancer that affects the mesothelium, which is the lining that surrounds internal organs. Pleural mesothelioma is cancer that appears in the lining…

Screening of Alberta Asbestos Exposed Workers for Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma

May 25, 2016

Purpose:Asbestos defines a group of naturally occurring mineral silicate fibers which are easily inhaled, resulting in a variety of diseases of the respiratory system including lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. Despite some advances in treatment, there has been little impact on overall survival for both lung cancer and mesothelioma in the past 20 years in great part because patients usually present with disease at an advanced and incurable stage. This study aims to develop and implement a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening approach for lung cancer and mesothelioma in asbestos-exposed workers in Alberta.

Intrapleural Administration of HSV1716 to Treat Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

May 18, 2016

Purpose:HSV1716, an oncolytic virus, is a mutant herpes simplex virus (HSV) type I, deleted in the RL1 gene which encodes the protein ICP34.5. Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive, asbestos-related tumour of the pleural and peritoneal cavities. It is a rare cancer which occurs in individuals who have been exposed to asbestos, although it typically occurs decades after exposure (10-40 years later). Malignant pleural mesothelioma forms plaques that are distributed on the surface of the pleural space in the lung. Approximately 30% of patients require an indwelling pleural catheter for drainage of pleural effusions. In this patient group, the indwelling catheter may be used to facilitate loco-regional delivery of HSV1716 to the pleural space. This study seeks to evaluate the safety and biological effects of single and multiple administrations of HSV1716 in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Transarterial Chemoperfusion: Cisplatin, Methotrexate, Gemcitabine for Unresectable Pleural Mesothelioma

May 12, 2016

Purpose:The purpose of this study is to determine whether the transarterial chemoperfusion treatment with cisplatin, methotrexate and gemcitabine is safe and effective in adults with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

Positive Genetic Studies and Treatment for Mesothelioma Patients

May 6, 2016

Understanding malignant mesothelioma and the way it develops is significant when discovering prevention, development control, and the eventual lead to a cure. Cancer researchers at the Mayo Clinic have been…

Efficacy and Safety of PIPAC/PITAC in Gastric,Ovarian, Colorectal Cancer and Mesothelioma With Pleural Carcinomatosis. (PIPAC/PITAC)

May 4, 2016

Purpose:Outcome measurement for patients with gastric, ovarian, colorectal, or pleural cancer/mesothelioma with peritoneal/pleural carcinomatosis undergoing pressurized intraperitoneal/intrathoracal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC/PITAC) with cisplatin and doxorubicin or oxaliplatin. Record of (partial/total) tumor response rate via survival rate, time until tumor progression (according to RECIST-criteria), peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI) before and after therapy, histological tumor progression/regression, ascites/pleural affusion volume, degree of tumor cell apoptosis.

Exciting New Developments in Research and Technology Regarding Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

April 18, 2016

Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, is rare, aggressive and fatal. Researches are discovering more and more about this disease daily, and with that, they are one step closer…

Do Your Genes Put You at a Higher Risk of Developing Mesothelioma

April 14, 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this research study is to investigate the possibility that a person’s genes put a person at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. The investigators will examine genes from DNA (genetic material) isolated from blood. This study will also examine the impact of environmental and work exposures and family history of common cancers on the development of mesothelioma. The genetic markers in this study will basically identify how a person’s body processes frequently encountered environmental pollutants and will not tell about chromosomes, specific diseases, or other potential health problems.