New Cancer Drugs Offers Hope In Mesothelioma Treatment

According to a study published in the “Journal of Thoracic Oncology” 5 issue of a study. a drug that is used to treat kidney cancer may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy for mesothelioma.

Temsirolimus, a kinase inhibitor, It can blocks the growth of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) proteins. Order to slow tumor growth. The drug for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. However, the Austrian researchers found that temsirolimus may also slow down the growth of malignant pleural mesothelioma cells. Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that can start in the cavities of the lungs, the heart, or the abdomen. It is a rare cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium). Mesothelioma was found usually in the late, The effects of mesothelioma chemotherapy is disappointing. The researchers found that temsirolimus can strongly block the mTOR-mediated signal and play a role in inhibiting the growth or stop. However, cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapy drug for mesothelioma treatment, displayed hypersensitivity against temsirolimus. Because of this, researchers in the study believe temsirolimus can be used in combination with other current chemotherapeutic treatments as a second-line treatment. mTOR inhibitors, such as temsirolimus combined with chemotherapy or as a second-line treatment after failure of chemotherapy may be a promising therapeutic strategy.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium). It is a rare tumor, usually occurred in pleura, peritoneum and cardiac pericardium and so on. The majority is malignant, with short surviving period and high mortality. The treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, is still no effective cure methods. Pemetrexed disodium is the only agent for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM). Pemetrexed was initially approved in 2004 for treating patients with. Pemetrexed is a multitargeted antimetabolite that has shown activity in malignant pleural mesothelioma and NSCLC, which has been approved in more than 70 countries.

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Mesothelioma Cells And Resistance To Propylthiouracil

Another interesting study is called, The Human Type 2 Iodothyronine Deiodinase Is a Selenoprotein Highly Expressed in a Mesothelioma Cell Line by Cyntia Curcio, Munira M. A. Baqui, Domenico Salvatore, Bertrand H. Rihn, Steve Mohr, John W. Harney, P. Reed Larsen and Antonio C. Bianco - August 10, 2001 The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 276, 30183-30187 Here is an excerpt: Abstract - Types 1 and 3 iodothyronine deiodinases are known to be selenocysteine-containing enzymes. Although a putative human type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (D2) gene (hDio2) encoding a similar selenoprotein has been identified, basal D2 activity is not selenium (Se)-dependent nor has D2 been labeled with75Se. A human mesothelioma cell line (MSTO-211H) has recently been shown to have 40-fold higher levels ofhDio2 mRNA than mesothelial cells. Mesothelioma cell lysates activate thyroxine (T4) to 3,5,3-triiodothyronine with typical characteristics of D2 such as low K m (T4), 1.3 nm, resistance to propylthiouracil, and a short half-life (30 min). D2 activity is 30-fold higher in Se-supplemented than in Se-depleted medium. An antiserum prepared against a peptide deduced from theDio2 mRNA sequence precipitates a 75Se protein of the predicted 31-kDa size from 75Se-labeled mesothelioma cells. Bromoadenosine 35 cyclic monophosphate increases D2 activity and 75Se-p31 2.5-fold whereas substrate (T4) reduces both D2 activity and 75Se-p31 23-fold. MG132 or lactacystin (10 m), inhibitors of the proteasome pathway by which D2 is degraded, increase both D2 activity and 75Se-p31 34-fold and prevent the loss of D2 activity during cycloheximide or substrate (T4) exposure. Immunocytochemical studies with affinity-purified anti-hD2 antibody show a Se-dependent increase in immunofluorescence. Thus, human D2 is encoded by hDio2 and is a member of the selenodeiodinase family accounting for its highly catalytic efficiency in T4 activation.

Another interesting study is called, Concentration of hyaluronic acid in pleural fluid as a diagnostic aid for malignant mesothelioma. By T Pettersson, B Frseth, H Riska, and M Klockars - CHEST November 1988 vol. 94 no. 5 1037-1039. Here is an excerpt: Abstract - Hyaluronic acid (HA) was determined with a radiometric assay in the serum and pleural fluid of 85 patients with pleural effusions, including 15 with malignant mesothelioma, 32 with other cancer, 31 with nonmalignant inflammatory diseases, and seven with congestive heart failure. With a cutoff level at 100 mg/L, the pleural fluid concentration of HA was raised in 73 percent of patients (11 of 15) with malignant mesothelioma and in 23 percent with nonmalignant inflammatory diseases, but in none with other cancer and in none with congestive heart failure. The median concentration of pleural fluid HA was significantly higher in patients with mesothelioma than in those with other cancer (p less than 0.005). Determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in pleural fluid further helped to differentiate between mesothelioma and other types of cancer; concentrations of CEA above 10 micrograms/L were found in four of 15 (27 percent) patients with mesothelioma, but in 38 percent of the patients with other cancer. We concluded that in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusions associated with malignant tumors a high concentration of HA in pleural fluid combined with a low concentration of CEA suggests malignant mesothelioma as opposed to other types of cancer.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to these fine researchers for their work. If you found any of these excerpts helpful, please read the studies in their entirety.

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PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT

Peritoneal mesothelioma attacks the membranous lining of the abdomen, called the peritoneum. Ten to twenty percent of all malignant mesothelioma cases are peritoneal mesothelioma. Like all malignant mesothelioma cancers, peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by exposure to deadly asbestos fibers. It is thought to develop when victims breathe in the tiny fibers, and then cough them up and swallow them. The minute fibers may also be ingested with food or drink, or they may be inhaled and wind up in the abdomen via the lymphatic system. The asbestos fibers stick to the lining and become lodged between the cells that make up the lining of the abdomen. Malignant mesothelioma develops slowly over decades and is usually discovered in its late stages, which limits treatment options.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is one type of malignant mesothelioma, the other types being pleural mesothlioma, pericardial mesothelioma and testicular mesothelioma.

Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, alone or in any combination. Because there is no effective early detection screening procedure and peritoneal mesothelioma is difficult to identify until the tumors grow large enough to cause discomfort or flood the abdomen with fluid, it is rarely diagnosed early enough to cure. However, recent research focused on early detection using blood markers is encouraging. We may see blood screenings for early detection of malignant mesothelioma in just a few years.

Types of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Surgery

Three types of surgery are used in the diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma.

• Biopsy is a procedure often used to confirm the diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma. It is a non-invasive surgical procedure where a surgeon uses a long, thin needle to scrape out cells from the affected area for testing.
• Removing as much cancerous tissue as possible is called curative surgery. Recent advances in curative surgery combine heated chemotherapy drugs introduced to the abdominal cavity immediately after surgery to kill any remaining cancer.
• Palliative peritoneal surgery is used to relieve pain and other symptoms.

Surgery

Several biopsy procedures may be used to confirm a diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma and determine the extent of the disease.

During a fine needle aspiration, or laparoscopy, the oncology surgeon inserts a thin needle into the abdominal area where cancer is suspected and nips a small sample of tissue for testing.

If the results of the needle aspiration are inconclusive, the surgeon may perform a peritoneoscopy. A local anesthetic is administered for this procedure, and then the surgeon makes a small incision and inserts a tool called a peritoneoscope that allows him to see inside the abdomen with a light and a tiny camera attached to flexible tubing. A tissue sample is often collected during this exploration. In some cases, a more invasive biopsy is called for, and the surgeon may make a larger incision to collect additional tissue.

There are two linings that make up the peritoneum, called the visceral and parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum protects the internal organs and the intestinal tract. The parietal peritoneum covers the abdominal cavity. The cells that make up these linings secret a fluid that lubricates the organs, allowing free movement without friction, much like oil lubricates the moving parts of an automobile. Cancerous cells from peritoneal mesothelioma cause cells to overproduce, flooding the abdominal cavity with fluid. Oncologists use a long needle attached to tubing with a bag at the end to drain the fluid. This procedure serves two purposes. It relieves the pressure of the excess fluid to make the patient more comfortable, and the fluid is analyzed to add to the physician’s store of knowledge about the patient’s condition. This procedure is called an adoparacentesis or peritoneal aspiration.

Peritonectomy

If peritoneal mesothelioma is detected early, a peritonectomy may be performed. This surgery involves removing all or part of the diseased peritoneum. This is often combined with intraperitoneal hypothermic perfusion or bathing the abdominal cavity with heated chemotherapy immediately following surgery to kill any remaining cancer.

Cytoreductive Surgery

Cytoreductive surgery, also called debulking, is used to remove only the cancerous tissues and tumors. The surgeon opens a large incision in the patient’s abdomen and carefully removes the visible infected cells, then often follows the procedure with intraperitoneal hypothermic perfusion.

Not every patient is a candidate for surgery. The cancer has to be in the early stages so that enough healthy tissue remains to allow the body to function, and the patient has to be strong enough to withstand the procedure before it can be considered.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy refers to chemical treatments designed to kill cells and may take the form of pills, injections, intravenous treatments or delivered directly into the body cavity during surgery. Chemotherapy has many unpleasant side effects and is not suitable for patients already in poor health.

Chemotherapy drugs may be used alone or with other drugs, surgery or treatments. While chemotherapy is not a cure for malilgnant mesothelioma, the treatment is used to help slow the growth of the cancer. Other chemotherapy goals are neoadjuvant therapy, used to shrink tumors prior to surgery, adjuvant therapy to destroy tumorous cells following surgery, and palliative therapy to relieve symptoms that cause pain and discomfort to the patient.

It is important for patients to be completely honest about prescriptions, vitamins, supplements and over-the-counter medications, including herbal remedies when discussing chemotherapy with an oncologist. The more information the doctor has, the better the advice he can give.

Radiation

Ionizing radiation is a therapy used to kill existing cancer cells and prevent the cancer from spreading. It may be used by itself or in combination with chemotherapy and/or surgery. Radiation may be curative, to kill the cancer, or palliative, to reduce tumors and make the patient more comfortable. Two types of radiation therapy are used to treat malignant mesothelioma: external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy.

External beam radiotherapy is the most frequently used radiation therapy for malignant mesothelioma patients. It is an external treatment where the exposed skin over the cancerous area, the abdominal area in the case of peritoneal mesothelioma is irradiated. External beam radiotherapy is not specifically targeted enough to kill all cancer cells, and is most often used in conjunction with other forms of therapy to relieve symptoms and reduce pressure. During this procedure, tissue around the affected area is equally exposed and side effects typically result that include skin irritation, pain, and difficulty swallowing.

Brachytherapy involves implanting tiny radioactive rods, sometimes called seeds, directly into the cancerous area. This delivery method delivers a tiny dose of radiation directly into the cancerous tumors. Less damage is done to surrounding healthy tissues and as a result, there are fewer side effects.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a new procedure involving an advanced mode of delivering computer-controlled, high-precision radiotherapy. IMRT carefully controls the dose of radiation to conform precisely to tumors using three-dimensional (3-D) modeling. This allows a higher dose of radiation, tightly focused on diseased cells, while minimizing impact on healthy surrounding tissues and, as a result, minimizing side effects

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MESOTHELIOMA DEATH TOLL IN IRON RANGE AREA OF MINNESOTA RISES

According to a recent new story from the Associated Press, the number of deaths in the Iron Range region of Minnesota attributed to mesothelioma has risen to 82, up from 63 reported by state health officials just last year. Health officials say they discovered the additional mesothelioma deaths by checking death records in other states for former Iron Range residents who had moved out of Minnesota.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Mandel, the lead researcher on the state health study of area workers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, a “back-of-the-envelope” analysis shows that mesothelioma rates are higher than they should be in the area. Thus far, it is still unclear where the victims were exposed to asbestos.

The “Iron Range” is an area in the northeastern region of Minnesota with multiple distinct bands of iron ore. Interestingly enough, state health officials have found that a large number of mesothelioma cases seem to stem from the region, though there are no local asbestos mines. Early reports on the elevated number of mesothelioma deaths suggest that the exposure may have came from workers who dealt with commercial asbestos, such as pipe insulation, furnaces and boilers.

Though rare, mesothelioma is a deadly cancer of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure. The cancer does not manifest until decades after a patient’s initial exposure, which can make the disease’s case somewhat difficult to pinpoint, though it can usually be connected to occupational exposure, second hand exposure through a family member, or even exposure through working in a building that had asbestos in it.

Also, because mesothelioma tends to have symptoms of other, more common diseases such as the flu or bronchitis, mesothelioma tends to be misdiagnosed, or not properly diagnosed until it is in its later stages.

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Herbal For Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment

Mesothelioma cancer is one of the cancer which occurs to the chest and lung cavity. It is the rare cancer which is found. Is you or someone suffering from it? Want to get rid from it then here is the accurate cure for it with no side effects. 

Mesothelioma cancer is one the rare form of cancer in which the cells are found in the chest or the lung cavity. In this disease the cells become abnormal and divide without control or order. This cancer cells spread to the nearby tissues and organs of the nearby parts of the body. This is the disease caused as a result of malignant cancerous cells lining the patient's body cavities such as chest, abdominal region or the area surrounding the heart. It is very difficult to assess consistently due to the great variability in time before diagnosis and the rate of progression of malignant mesothelioma. 

The people who are exposed to asbestos that is their working area or the environment in which they are living are at higher risk of getting this cancer. This disease in many cases does not occur for decades after the exposure to the cancer causing substances. It is also said that all of us are exposed to this disease that is in the air we breath, water we drink, from the natural deposits in the earth and the asbestos products around us. 

The manufacturers of this asbestos product owners were prosper as they got much income to them. But the workers who worked for it had to ultimately suffer for it. Though the government took actions against this asbestos production and banned the usage of these products but yet it is still used, imported and making the people to get higher risk at their lives. So, to stop the people to getting addicted from this disease it is an urge need that the awareness should be given to the people about this asbestos and the effects of it as it turns them to the attack of mesothelioma cancer.

Smoking is also one of the risk for contracting mesothelioma cancer in the people. This also is one of the cause for the development of cancer in the body. We cannot find any of the earliest symptoms are less serious illness and they are neglected. In some cases this cancer does not show the signs of the sickness in the early stages of the development of the disease. 

The most common symptoms are dyspnea, pleuritic pain, lasting cough, fatigue, shortness or difficult in breath, chest pain, chronic or persistent coughs and weight loss. This disease is more found in men than women. This occurs in the people who are above the age of 30 years that is after the initial exposure to asbestos. But it should be treated in its initial stage as early as possible so that it may not go deeper. 

The major cause of this disease is the people working with asbestos. During the production of the asbestos products if the tiny particles of it are inhaled or swallowed then this causes serious health problems which in turn lead to mesothelioma cancer. But there are few cases that are reported without any known exposure to asbestos. If we are more exposed to asbestos then this can lead us to lung cancer, chronic lung ailment, other cancers like larynx and kidney. 

The faster you consult the doctor or the specialist it would be better to get specialized care for getting better and coming out of it to lead a normal life. So, it is the primary or the basic need to get more information and cure the disease. Many cancer treatment options are not very effective in treating mesothelioma. But at our center we provide you the treatment to reduce the cancer and free you from the suffering from our specialist with the medication which are natural and no side effects. 

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. 

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure. 

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. Sometimes, these treatments are combined. 

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Chemotherapy Treatments Can Cure Mesothelioma

In the world, this cancer has increased. For example, in England, the death rate increased by a factor of 12 between 1968 and 2001, and nearly 2000 deaths recorded in 2005. In 2013, the annual death rate due to mesothelioma is expected to increase to 2200. Found similar mortality rates in the United States and in Western Europe. Because the risk of exposure to asbestos, however, the epidemic will shift towards countries that produce or use large quantities of asbestos, such as Russia, China, Canada, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Zimbabew, India, and Thailand.


For mesothelioma patients, the addition of chemotherapy to control symptoms of the common active (ASC) does not appear to improve survival or quality of life, according to an article released on May 16, 2008 in The Lancet. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer of the mesothelium, a protective layer that covers the lungs. Commonly associated with asbestos exposure, it is almost always fatal.


To investigate the various treatment options for patients with MPM, Richard Stephens and Professor Mahesh Parmar, Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Trials Unit, London, England, and colleagues conducted a study of MS01, which is funded by Cancer Research UK. This randomized trial examined 409 patients with MPM from 76 centers in England and two in Australia. OF these, 136 were randomly assigned to ASC alone; 137 ASC plus MVP chemotherapy was given, which involves four cycles of mitomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin every three weeks, while the remaining 136 patients received ASC plus vinorelbine chemotherapy, a single injection of vinorelbine every week for two twelve weeks. Follow up is done every three weeks to 21 weeks after treatment. Due to the limited number of subjects recruited, assessment of individual chemotherapy treatment is not possible, so that the groups were combined and compared with the basic ASC only group for the primary outcome of overall survival.


When the analysis is done, 393 (96%) of patients had died. 132 comes from the ASC alone group, 132 came from the ASC / MVP, and 129 comes from the ASC / vinorelbine group. Small advantage for combination therapy is present but not statistically significant. Patients in the ASC / vinorelbine also showed increased survival, with a larger number alive after one year, but this is also not statistically significant. Analysis of quality of life in each group, including physical function, pain, shortness of breath, and overall health status, were similar.


The authors conclude that certain therapeutic methods do not improve the lot of patients with mesothelioma: "The addition of chemotherapy to ASC offers no significant benefits in terms of overall survival or quality of life, however, exploratory analysis suggests that further investigation of vinorelbine benefits .. "


Dr. Nicholas J Vogelzang, Nevada Cancer Institute, Las Vegas, NV, United States, contributed an accompanying comment in which he discusses the evidence on various regimens of chemotherapy for this disease. "Patients with MPM who want to be treated should be informed that the medical evidence which strongly sets the standard of care for MPM as cisplatin and pretrexed. Although cisplatin plus gemcitabine may be equally effective, there has never been a randomized comparison of two doublet regimens. "

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