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Mesothelioma Non-Profit Research Institute Launches Informative Web Site

2010-08-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

The Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (PHLBI), a medical research non-profit focusing on mesothelioma cancer, recently launched a new patient resource Web site to help mesothelioma patients and their families.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive and rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Because of the aggressive nature of the cancer, treating it with just one mode of therapy typically results in a poor response. However, when doctors combine therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, an improvement in survival is commonly recorded.

The recently launched Web site offers information for mesothelioma patients and details the research efforts and accomplishments of Dr. Robert Cameron, a world renowned mesothelioma surgeon. Dr. Cameron is the scientific advisor of the PHLBI, in addition to his roles as the director of the mesothelioma program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the chief of thoracic surgery at the West Los Angeles Veterans’ Administration Medical Center.

PHLBI’s medical research is under the direction of Dr. Cameron, innovator of the lung-sparing pleurectomy/decortication (PD) surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma and has performed the procedure on more than 300 patients. Research programs at PHLBI currently focus on immunotherapy, screening, early detection and prevention of mesothelioma.

Utilizing Dr. Cameron’s more than 20 years of experience in treating mesothelioma patients, PHLBI is supported by a leading mesothelioma expert and dedicated to the advancement of mesothelioma research and treatment.

Additional information on mesothelioma and current treatment options may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

Mesothelioma Screening Techniques May Improve Detection

2010-08-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Researchers from the University of Western Australia and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital have further confirmed that higher levels of a particular protein, serum mesothelin, are found in patients with asbestos-related cancer.

Their research has encouraged the use of screening tests such as the MESOMARK

Mesothelioma Risk being Reduced by Florida Mayor Determined to Protect the Public

2010-08-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Davie, Florida Mayor Judy Paul is pushing for the removal of asbestos-contaminated piping at a mobile home complex that is slated to be redeveloped into a public park.

The asbestos-cement pipes previously functioned as drinking water and sewer lines for the old mobile home park. Some town staffers formerly claimed the contaminated pipes were safe enough to provide drinking water for the planned park. However, Mayor Judy Paul contends that safe enough should not be the standard when it comes to protecting the public from asbestos exposure.

Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma cancer. Exposure occurs by either inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. These fibers have the potential to become lodged in the lining of the lungs, heart or abdominal cavity, where they can cause damage that leads to cancer. Due to the latency period of mesothelioma symptoms, which can range between 20 and 50 years after exposure, the average mesothelioma life expectancy for patients upon diagnosis is four to 18 months.

Mayor Paul stated at a recent town council meeting in August,

Mesothelioma Claims the Life of 18-Year-Old Girl

2010-08-24T08:39:00.001-07:00

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

After a five-year battle with mesothelioma cancer, 18-year-old Sophie Ellis passed away a little over a week ago. She was Britain’s youngest person to pass away from the asbestos-related disease.

Sophie was only 13 years old when she was first diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare age for mesothelioma patients. With a latency period typically ranging between 20 and 50 years after asbestos exposure, most patients are diagnosed around the age of 60.

Being exposed to asbestos as a young child can significantly influence the early development of mesothelioma cancer. Although there is no recollection as to how Sophie may have been exposed, it is assumed that asbestos was the culprit since the disease is almost exclusively caused by the toxic mineral.

The majority of mesothelioma patients are males who have previously worked in the shipyard, construction, manufacturing or automotive industry. Other occupations that present an increased risk of contracting mesothelioma include plumbers, electricians, roofers and painters.

While doctors told Sophie she only had months to live, she defied the average mesothelioma life expectancy of most patients by living another five years.

During her battle with the cancer, Sophie always spoke in support of the Mirror’s Asbestos Timebomb campaign. She said,

Mesothelioma Immunotherapy in Combination with Traditional Therapies May Improve Prognosis in Some Patients

2010-08-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Although there is no cure for malignant mesothelioma, headway is being made in extending the life span of mesothelioma patients by combining traditional therapy with unique treatments such as immunotherapy.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. The cancer rarely responds positively to one mode of treatment. Medical professionals have learned that combating the cancer requires more than one mode of treatment. Known as multimodality therapy, this approach combines treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy or some unique form of treatment like immunotherapy to improve mesothelioma life expectancy.

In most cases, the patients who qualify for this aggressive treatment approach are those diagnosed in an early stage of cancer development. Since there is no cure for mesothelioma, researchers have been turning to novel treatments like immunotherapy to improve multimodality therapy.

According to mesothelioma researchers Dr. Sutapa Mukherjee and Dr. Bruce W. S. Robinson (authors of the chapter

Mesothelioma Survivor Reaches Third Year Cancer-Free and Now Aids in Raising Public Awareness

2010-08-23T06:33:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Three years after an invasive surgery to remove her cancerous lung, mesothelioma survivor Janelle Bedel remains cancer-free and now helps to raise public awareness of the asbestos-caused cancer.

Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. The disease is known for its aggressive nature and is particularly difficult to treat. Although no cure currently exists, a number of mesothelioma patients who are diagnosed early enough may qualify for a combination of aggressive therapies, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. This combination of therapies, known as multimodality therapy, presently has the best chance of extending a patient’s mesothelioma life expectancy.

Before her mesothelioma diagnosis, Bedel thought she was struggling with a chronic sinus infection. But when her doctors couldn’t explain the cause of her back pain and the swelling in her lungs, Bedel began researching her symptoms online. Her research led her question if she was facing mesothelioma, a rare cancer that primarily affects older men with a history of occupational asbestos exposure.

Bedel’s research led her in the right direction and at the age of 31 she was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. After imaging scans, tests to confirm diagnosis and some chemotherapy, Bedel went to New York for an invasive surgery to remove her affected lung.

Bedel said her surgeon, mesothelioma expert Dr. Valerie Rusch,

Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines Recently Released from a European Cancer Society

2010-08-22T22:33:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) recently released clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Because there is no cure for this aggressive cancer, the mesothelioma life expectancy for most patients currently ranges between four and 18 months following diagnosis, hence the motivation to improve and standardize treatment of this condition.

The ESMO guidelines address the incidence, diagnosis, staging and risk assessment, treatment, response evaluation, and follow-up of malignant pleural mesothelioma. The publication reports that pleural mesothelioma patients usually turn to their doctor with symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain. Then physicians produce a diagnosis through the help of imaging studies (CT scans are common). To help with a definitive diagnosis, an occupational history should be obtained from the patient to search for history of asbestos exposure.

Authors of the guidelines explain,

Mesothelioma Risk Continues in the U.S. as Asbestos Exposure Persists in Certain Industries

2010-08-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 6th, 2010

According to recent investigative research conducted by the BBC’s International News Service and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism (ICIJ), the detrimental effects of America’s asbestos age linger in growing mesothelioma fatalities, in addition to other asbestos-related disease.

Asbestos exposure is the principal cause of mesothelioma cancer. Following repeated exposure to the naturally occurring mineral, symptoms can take as long as 20 to 50 years to arise. A patient’s life span is often poor since there is no cure for this cancer. Combining aggressive therapies has the potential to improve mesothelioma life expectancy by several months or more, but not all patients qualify for this treatment approach.

According to the BBC and ICIJ article,

Mesothelioma Trial Compares Radical Surgery with Palliative Surgery

2010-08-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

Results from a mesothelioma clinical trial were recently published in the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. The study compared the success rates of radical surgery versus palliative surgery in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. The rare cancer does not respond well to current mesothelioma treatment methods, including surgical treatments. Researchers across the world are conducting numerous studies in an effort to develop more effective treatment methods.

The purpose of this study was to compare the survival benefits of radical surgery with palliative surgery, the latter being noninvasive surgical procedures that aim to improve quality of life rather than attempt to cure the disease.

The trial compared outcomes between 13 patients who underwent an invasive surgery known as radical decortication with 13 case-matched patients, who had palliative surgery over a period of two years from June 2006 onward. According to the authors,

Mesothelioma Study Evaluates Varied Impacts of the Cancer

2010-08-21T22:33:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

In a study published in the European Journal of Cancer Care, researchers from the United Kingdom reviewed the experiences patients face while living with mesothelioma cancer. The study was titled,

Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Litigation May Cost GM Billions

2010-08-21T14:33:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

This week bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber granted permission to creditors to request documents from General Motors (GM) in an effort to estimate the cost of asbestos claims against the company.

The effects of asbestos exposure are still being felt today as many former industrial, construction and shipyard workers are becoming diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Unfortunately, the average mesothelioma life expectancy is four to 18 months once a patient is diagnosed.

Motors Liquidation Co. is the company left to settle liability claims from GM’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy and reorganization. This company plans to create a trust with funds set aside for future tort claims, allowing it to exit bankruptcy. The estate estimated their asbestos liability amounted to $648 million, but a committee of creditors estimated the company may encounter claims five to 10 times more than the calculated $648 million.

GM has long faced mesothelioma and other asbestos-related claims due to their previous use of asbestos fibers in some of their products, such as brake linings. Those who worked with asbestos-contaminated products in GM factories (in addition to auto mechanics who replaced these contaminated brakes) experienced exposure that placed them at an increased risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

The creditors stated they needed more information from GM regarding their claimants (such as their age, diagnosis and work history) to achieve a more accurate estimate of the liability costs associated with mesothelioma cancer.

Currently there is no cure for malignant mesothelioma. The cancer is highly resistant to modern treatments, although a combination of therapies can improve life expectancy for those patients diagnosed early enough to qualify for aggressive treatment. Research is ongoing across the globe and a limited number of mesothelioma survivors show that progress is being made in the treatment of mesothelioma.

Additional information on mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

Mesothelioma Risk Concerning for Veterans Exposed to Asbestos During Service

2010-08-21T00:36:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

According to data released by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, thousands of military veterans are now suffering from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma. This illness is a result of veterans being exposed to asbestos while working on naval vessels where it was used in a number of materials, especially as the primary source of insulation.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported every year in the United States. The cancer has earned a reputation as being particularly difficult to diagnose and treat, and to date no cure has been found. Some patients who are diagnosed in an early stage of development may qualify for a combination of treatments (known as multimodality therapy) with hopes of improving their mesothelioma life expectancy.

Although asbestos materials were used in every division of the Armed Forces, the Navy alone used more than 300 asbestos-containing products from the 1930s through the 1970s. The toxic mineral appeared on most ships used by the Navy and in shipyards where vessels were built. Because mesothelioma can take 20 to 50 years to develop, those who served decades ago are now demonstrating symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses.

Asbestos was commonly used as insulation around piping, boilers, sleeping quarters and navigation halls aboard vessels. The mineral’s natural resistance to fire and highly durable characteristics made it ideal for use in all sectors of the military, where it was also used in aircraft, vehicles and buildings.

Mesothelioma cancer typically develops decades after moderate to heavy exposure to asbestos. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can become lodged in tissue, causing inflammation or infection over time.

The threat of asbestos exposure remains a risk for military men and women who are deployed and stationed in countries around the world or those who repair and demolish contaminated ships. Veterans who suffer from mesothelioma as a result of service-related exposure may apply for Veteran Affairs benefits. Those who suspect they may have been exposed to asbestos should seek annual checkups for signs of asbestos disease.

For more information on asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, please visit the Mesothelioma Center.

Mesothelioma Risk at Rhode Island Beach Pavilion Being Addressed by Asbestos Abatement

2010-08-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

In an effort to reduce risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, asbestos abatement is set to begin August 23 on the Town Beach North Pavilion in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

The Town Beach North Pavilion structure dates back to the 1950s, when asbestos was commonly used in many construction materials. The pavilion presently contains asbestos in the wall paneling and roofing. Plans to replace the pavilion were dropped by the Town Council in June over conflicts regarding the $9.5 million proposal. It was at that time that the Town Council agreed to repair the degrading structure.

Asbestos is a toxic and naturally occurring mineral known to cause terminal health conditions such as malignant mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually. Prognosis is generally poor since the disease is usually undetected until it has progressed to later stages of development.

The local company Vortex will be performing the asbestos mitigation. Vortex is known for their asbestos removal in Narragansett’s contaminated schools. The company verified the presence of friable asbestos (which can release toxic fibers) in the roofing of the changing rooms and confirmed the asbestos in the wall paneling was encapsulated and safe. The company plans to pressure wash and paint the roofing of the changing rooms, a means of encapsulating and sealing off the asbestos fibers. Thus, the asbestos material itself will not be removed, but covered up to prevent the release of toxic fibers.

Town Manager Grady Miller explains,

Mesothelioma Study Investigates Role of Mesothelin Gene in Cancer Development

2010-08-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Japanese researchers recently investigated the mechanism by which mesothelin is expressed in malignant mesothelioma. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Human Pathology.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Because there is no cure for this disease, the mesothelioma life expectancy for most patients ranges between four and 18 months after diagnosis. Although no cure currently exists, some mesothelioma patients are diagnosed early enough to qualify for a combination of aggressive therapies, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The combination of therapies, known as multimodality therapy, currently has the best chance of extending a patient’s life expectancy.

Authors of the study explain,

Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Early Detection Broadens Treatment Options

2010-08-19T00:30:00.001-07:00

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Although there presently is no cure for mesothelioma, a number of patients are being diagnosed early enough to qualify for aggressive treatments that have the potential to extend life expectancy.

Malignant mesothelioma is a form of cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure most often occurs when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, resulting in the release of small, toxic fibers that can be inhaled or ingested.

Fighting the aggressive cancer mesothelioma can be challenging for patients for a number of reasons. For the majority of those who receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, the cancer has already reached an advanced stage of development. This late diagnosis is due to the fact that symptoms of the cancer do not arise until the cancer has reached a later stage of development. In most cases, patients do not begin to experience signs of the cancer until 20 years after their initial exposure to asbestos.

Receiving an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis is difficult, as many physicians can overlook this cancer due to its rarity and the resemblance of its symptoms to other illnesses. Because of these challenges, mesothelioma treatment is often limited to palliative measures rather than curative. However, receiving an early diagnosis can significantly improve a patient’s treatment options and potentially improve life expectancy.

Recent developments in testing for mesothelioma have shown improvement in the early diagnosis of this disease. Mesomark is an easily performed blood test that uses an enzyme-linked test to measure the amount of Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptides (SMRP) in human serum, which can be present in mesothelioma patients and may be a precursor that could aid in the early diagnosis of the cancer.

Another test, known as miRview Meso, is a microRNA-based molecular diagnostic tool that helps to differentiate pleural mesothelioma from peripheral adenocarcinomas of the lung or metastatic carcinomas involving the lung’s pleural lining. Put simply, this test helps doctors determine if a patient truly has mesothelioma or some other cancer that is similar in appearance.

If a mesothelioma patient is diagnosed during Stage 1 or 2 rather than Stage 3 or 4, attempts at curative surgery may be an option. For those who know they have been exposed to asbestos, the key to receiving an early diagnosis is to seek annual examinations that check for signs of asbestos disease.

Those who may have been exposed to asbestos in the past should explain their exposure history to their doctor. If possible, consulting with a pulmonary physician or oncologist who is experienced in detecting signs of asbestos exposure or dealing with mesothelioma cancer is most beneficial.

Additional information about mesothelioma or asbestos exposure may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

Review : Proactol The Best Weight Loss Pill I Ever Know

2009-06-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Weght Loss Pill Review :
Poactol is Old brand weight loss pill, its work best all for you both man and woman (15-65 years old). its safe and guarantee not waste your money.

The worlds 1st clinically proven natural fat-binder. Proven to bind over 27% of dietary fats, this product is so effective it is classified as a medical device (MDD 93/42/EEC). It is backed up by clinical trials and is the only natural diet pill approved by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) - one of the strictest medical regulatory agencies in the world, and it bears their CE stamp of approval!

Less than two years ago when Proactol first came to market we were able to try it and became believers in how well it worked, no other product has surfaced since then to take it off our #1 spot, we though Alli was going to do it but the side effect were too much. So here we are in 2009 still proudly recommnding Proactol for you if you wish to lose weight.

"Proactol is a new and exciting diet pill, and we see it playing a major role in the battle against the bulge. Proven through 4 clinical trials to reduce fat intake from food by up to 28%, if you want results, and you want them quickly and safely, Proactol is our #1 recommendation by far.

How does it work?

Proactol works by binding with the fats in the food you consume, after your meal, you take 1-3 tabs depending on how fatty you feel your meal was. The active ingredient Neoptunia binds with the fat and stops it being absorbed by your intestines, resulting in less fat intake.

Proactol pills come in handy tabs so they are easy to carry around with you, each box contains 120 pills.

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Proactol is backed by no less than 8 clinical trials (available on the left)

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Proactol is Clinically Proven To:

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Endostatin a new Mesothelioma Medicine

2009-04-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

Endostatin

Endostatin is a new Mesothelioma medicine that may help patients. The results of a Phase I trial of Endostatin conducted at the University of Texas revealed promise for patients suffering from this cancer. Most significantly Endostatin was shown to be safer than many alternative therapies. It also showed some effectiveness in combating tumor growth and in two of the twenty five patients caused tumor shrinkage.

The results of the trial seemed to indicate that Endosatin may be safe for non-clinical use. In the trial, the drug exhibited few toxic side effects and was well tolerated by all the participants. The study also reported that the drug slowed the flow of blood in the body in proportion to dosage increases. This effect may be useful in limiting blood flow to tumors so that they become malnurished, stop growing, shrink or even disappear.

During the trial, Endostatin was injected intravenously and as the test went on dosages were increased. To monitor the pharmalogical effects of the drug and the progress of the patient, researchers conducted regular biopsies, PET scans, Computer Tomographies (CT) as well as physical exams. The patients that participated in the trial suffered from a range of cancer types including melanoma, head and neck cancer, renal cell carcinoma, colon cancer, breast cancer, and sarcoma. Though no patients with mesothelioma participated in the trial, researchers feel that Endostatin may hold promise for this type of cancer as well.

The participants of the trial were all patients that were being treated at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson previously. All had undergone standard therapy for their condition but treatment had been unsuccessful. Patient's interested in participating in similar studies should contact their treating physician to learn about the options.

How Endostatin Works: Anti-Angiogenesis

Endostatin is an anti-tumor drug that attacks a process called angiogenesis (sometimes also called an Angiogenic Inhibitor). Angiogenesis is the way that a tumor nourishes itself by forming a network of blood vessels. Essentially the tumor sends out signals that summon blood vessels to nourish them. With this nourishment the tumors grow (or metastasize) and eventually kill the patient. Endostatin is designed to disrupt angiogenesis so that tumors are eventually starved and die.

Until recently, Endostatin had only been tested on laboratory animals. It succeeded in reducing tumors in mice but had not been tested on humans. Currently Endostatin is being tested in clinical trials on terminally ill cancer patients and not long ago Phase I testing concluded at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. The results were generally positive. Endostatin caused few toxic side effects and caused tumor shrinkage in 8% of the participants.

At this writing, there are only three major clinics were Endostatin clinical trials are being conducted with patients: Dana Farber/Partners Cancer Care in Boston, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center in Madison. So far only phase one trials have been conducted and the sample group has been relatively small. Between the three cancer centers, only a 100 or so terminally ill cancer patients have undergone Endostatin treatment. So unfurtunately there are not many oppurtunities to participate in a clinical trial.

Like all Phase I trials, the trials have mostly been concerned with testing the safety of Endostatin. Nevertheless researchers have also paid close attention to Edostatin's anti-angiogenesis effect. All of the patients in the trial are late stage cancer patients so any slowing of the cancers progression as a result of anti-angiogenesis is regarded by researchers as a very encouraging sign. Therefore they have been pleased to see that between roughly 6-8% of the combined group have shown tumor shrinkage.

Since its earliest trials in laboratory mice, doctors and researchers have seen a great deal of potential in Endostatin as a less toxic alternative to conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The clinical trials have thus far shown Endostatin to be a safe drug and the medical community remains hopeful that further testing will not only strengthen this verdict, but show Edostatin to be an effective alternative to conventional treatments.

Researchers believe that Endostatin will be most effective treating fast growing cancers with tumors that rely on a larger number of blood vessels such as mesothelioma, renal cell carcinoma, melanoma and breast cancer.

Patients, Doctors, Trial Lawyers and Defendants Invest in Curing Mesothelioma

2009-02-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

Uniting Against the Common Enemy: Patients, Doctors, Trial Lawyers and Defendants Invest in Curing Mesothelioma

SOURCE: Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

SANTA BARBARA, CA, Aug. 23/US Newswire --The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF), the national nonprofit organization whose mission is to eradicate mesothelioma as a life-ending disease, has a vision: doctors, mesothelioma sufferers and their attorneys, and the corporations targeted for exposing millions of Americans to asbestos should all contribute to cure this most deadly of asbestos-related diseases.

Recent events prove the vision is becoming reality – and none too soon.

Traditional medical thinking was nihilistic: mesothelioma could not be cured, life could not be extended, and one could only hope to ease suffering before certain death. The statistics indeed remain grim: most die within 8 to 18 months of onset.

In the past decade, a core of medical experts committed to finding effective treatments arose, but these pioneers lacked financial backing, both from the Federal Government and the private sector. The legal system focused on finding fault, not funding a cure. Before MARF, there had never been a U.S. nonprofit dedicated to funding mesothelioma research.

The ones who have suffered the most – the patients and their friends and family – have given the most. MARF has received almost 2,000 donations from relatives and loved ones of mesothelioma patients. These include a substantial number of large, memorial contributions which directly increase MARF’s ability to fund research. Barbara Hoffacker has donated $150,000 in memory of her husband, Hans. She was also instrumental in the formation of MARF’s Family Advocacy Board, a patient network support group.

Recently, Jim Seiler, a management consultant in San Juan Capistrano, California, donated $100,000 to MARF. Jim lost his wife Linda, an actress and singer, to mesothelioma in October, 2001. “Linda loved giving more than receiving,” recalls Jim, who learned of MARF through their surgeon at UCLA, Dr. Robert Cameron. “Even in her final days, her chief concern was the welfare of her family and friends. She counted among her dearest friends all mesothelioma patients, especially those newly diagnosed. We discussed this donation before she died so in some small way she might be able to help others avoid the suffering she courageously endured.”

Another eyewitness to the mesothelioma tragedy, oncologist and MARF Science Advisory Board member Dr. Claire Verschraegen, recently donated her entire fee to MARF for testifying in a deposition for one of her mesothelioma patients. This is but one example of the generosity of Dr. Verschraegen and the other physicians on MARF, who have together invested countless hours in helping educate patients, reviewing research grants and contributing novel ideas to MARF’s “think tank.”

The hard part? The hart part has been getting those with the greatest means (namely, the corporate asbestos defendants and the lawyers for mesothelioma patients ) to give.

A relative handful of lawyers have stepped up to the plate.

The Law Offices of Roger G. Worthington, P.C. has given $372,000 to MARF, in addition to Worthington’s volunteer work as a director. He has also helped persuade a number of his colleagues and clients to contribute. Law firms make a cash donation to MARF in memory of their clients taken by this asbestos cancer.

This past week alone, the Kaeske Law Firm generously donated $40,000 to MARF, and Waters & Kraus added a $50,000 donation to the $50,000 it gave in 2000. Said Peter Kraus of the firm’s commitment to funding research through MARF:

After years of little or no progress on mesothelioma treatment, we are finally seeing signs of progress in the struggle for an effective regimen to combat this killer disease. We believe that MARF deserves the support of mesothelioma victims, their families, their lawyers, and the responsible companies. With support, MARF can and will make a difference in the fight to cure mesothelioma. We are pleased to be able to support their efforts.

What of the corporate defendants? In 2000, Owens-Corning pledged $1million to MARF for mesothelioma research over 5 years. According to MARF Executive Director Christopher Hahn:

Of all the companies named as defendants in asbestos litigation, the first such company in history to contribute to mesothelioma research was Owens-Corning. We believe this represented the beginning of a much-needed paradigm shift. We saw an effort on both sides of the often stormy litigation to stop aiming their guns at each other and for a moment point them at the common enemy, the disease itself.

Unfortunately, after making an initial installment payment to MARF of $100,000 in the year 2000, OCF declared bankruptcy later that year, leaving the $900,000 balance unpaid. W.R. Grace & Co, which served on MARF’s original board of directors, also intended to make a handsome donation before it sought Chapter 11 protection.

Undeterred by these setbacks, MARF and its friends have kept pushing corporations on the defendants’ side of the litigation to give. Having achieved a “first” with Owens-Corning, MARF today announces a “second”: Last week Owens-Illinois, another corporation on the defendants’ side, contributed $33,000 to MARF, in memory of Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Jr. Admiral Zumwalt served the nation heroically as the Naval Commander in Vietnam and then the Chief Naval Officer before succumbing to mesothelioma in 2000.

The failure to cure mesothelioma has not been for a lack of ideas or strategies. The impediment has always been lack of funding. MARF each year solicits research proposals from the top mesothelioma experts throughout the world, reviews the proposals rigorously for scientific merit, and then selects the highest-ranking projects for grant funding.

To date MARF has awarded $400,000 in research grants to four promising projects, and is currently receiving applications for its third round of grants. MARF has also launched the operation of the first-ever national mesothelioma database. Under the supervision of Dr. Cameron at UCLA, the database will collect clinical data from the medical records of mesothelioma patients. The database will help doctors learn more about the relationship between therapies and survival outcomes. Since its inception in late 1999, MARF has raised over $1.8 million dollars.

For more information, please contact MARF Executive Director Chris Hahn at 805-560-8942, c-hahn@marf.org, or visit the MARF website, www.marf.org.

Mesothelioma Statistics - General Mesothelioma Statistics

2009-02-07T12:13:00.001-08:00

Mesothelioma is diagnosed in 2,000 to 3,000 new patients each year. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of all cases of mesothelioma are found to be the direct result of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma has a long latency period, usually lasting from 10 to 50 years. During this time, sufferers may have no symptoms. As a result, mesothelioma statistics may not accurately reflect the number of people who develop the disease.

If you or someone you love developed mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your losses and suffering. Please contact us today to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Age, Sex and Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma statistics show that the disease affects men more commonly than women, probably because men are more likely to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Mesothelioma is also more common among people between the ages of 50 and 70, which is likely due to the disease’s long latency period. However, an increase in the number of cases reported in people between the ages of 30 and 40 seems to indicate a rise in secondary exposure.

Mesothelioma Statistics by Industry and Occupation

Many industries put their workers at a high risk for exposure to asbestos and consequently for the development of mesothelioma. Over 1.3 million people in the construction industry are exposed to asbestos annually. People in the following industries also face an increased risk of asbestos exposure:

· Railroad
· Manufacturing
· Automobile-related
· Shipyard

Teaching and farming – seemingly innocuous occupations – tend to have high mesothelioma rates as well.

Mesothelioma Statistics: Prognosis and Life Expectancy

The average life expectancy of a person with mesothelioma at the time of diagnosis is one year. If cancer is found early and aggressively treated, a patient may be able to live between two and five years from the time of diagnosis. According to mesothelioma statistics, between 43,000 and 230,000 people nationwide have died from asbestos-related cancer.

There is no cure for mesothelioma. A person with mesothelioma can expect to pay between $400,000 and $800,000 for oxygen, medication, and other treatment.

source : www.asbestosnews.com

All About Mesothelioma Treatment

2009-02-03T07:03:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.[2] Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.[3] Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:
chest wall pain
pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
shortness of breath
fatigue or anemia
wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:
abdominal pain
ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
a mass in the abdomen
problems with bowel function
weight loss

In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:
blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
low blood sugar level
pleural effusion
pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
severe ascites

A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

mesothelioma Diagnosis
CT scan of a patient with mesothelioma, coronal section (the section follows the plane the divides the body in a front and a back half). The mesothelioma is indicated by yellow arrows, the central pleural effusion (fluid collection) is marked with a yellow star. Red numbers: (1) right lung, (2) spine, (3) left lung, (4) ribs, (5) descending part of the aorta, (6) spleen, (7) left kidney, (8) right kidney, (9) liver.

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure).

If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
Screening

There is no universally agreed protocol for screening people who have been exposed to asbestos. Screening tests might diagnose mesothelioma earlier than conventional methods thus improving the survival prospects for patients. The serum osteopontin level might be useful in screening asbestos-exposed people for mesothelioma. The level of soluble mesothelin-related protein is elevated in the serum of about 75% of patients at diagnosis and it has been suggested that it may be useful for screening.[4] Doctors have begun testing the Mesomark assay which measures levels of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRPs) released by diseased mesothelioma cells.[5]

Pathophysiology of mesothelioma

The mesothelium consists of a single layer of flattened to cuboidal cells forming the epithelial lining of the serous cavities of the body including the peritoneal, pericardial and pleural cavities. Deposition of asbestos fibres in the parenchyma of the lung may result in the penetration of the visceral pleura from where the fibre can then be carried to the pleural surface, thus leading to the development of malignant mesothelial plaques. The processes leading to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma remain unresolved, although it has been proposed that asbestos fibres from the lung are transported to the abdomen and associated organs via the lymphatic system. Additionally, asbestos fibres may be deposited in the gut after ingestion of sputum contaminated with asbestos fibres.

Pleural contamination with asbestos or other mineral fibres has been shown to cause cancer. Long thin asbestos fibers (blue asbestos, amphibole fibers) are more potent carcinogens than "feathery fibers" (chrysotile or white asbestos fibers).[6] However, there is now evidence that smaller particles may be more dangerous than the larger fibers.[1][2] They remain suspended in the air where they can be inhaled, and may penetrate more easily and deeper into the lungs. "We probably will find out a lot more about the health aspects of asbestos from [the World Trade Center attack], unfortunately," said Dr. Alan Fein, chief of pulmonary and critical-care medicine at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Dr. Fein has treated several patients for "World Trade Center syndrome" or respiratory ailments from brief exposures of only a day or two near the collapsed buildings.[3]

Mesothelioma development in rats has been demonstrated following intra-pleural inoculation of phosphorylated chrysotile fibres. It has been suggested that in humans, transport of fibres to the pleura is critical to the pathogenesis of mesothelioma. This is supported by the observed recruitment of significant numbers of macrophages and other cells of the immune system to localised lesions of accumulated asbestos fibres in the pleural and peritoneal cavities of rats. These lesions continued to attract and accumulate macrophages as the disease progressed, and cellular changes within the lesion culminated in a morphologically malignant tumour.

Experimental evidence suggests that asbestos acts as a complete carcinogen with the development of mesothelioma occurring in sequential stages of initiation and promotion. The molecular mechanisms underlying the malignant transformation of normal mesothelial cells by asbestos fibres remain unclear despite the demonstration of its oncogenic capabilities. However, complete in vitro transformation of normal human mesothelial cells to malignant phenotype following exposure to asbestos fibres has not yet been achieved. In general, asbestos fibres are thought to act through direct physical interactions with the cells of the mesothelium in conjunction with indirect effects following interaction with inflammatory cells such as macrophages.

Analysis of the interactions between asbestos fibres and DNA has shown that phagocytosed fibres are able to make contact with chromosomes, often adhering to the chromatin fibres or becoming entangled within the chromosome. This contact between the asbestos fibre and the chromosomes or structural proteins of the spindle apparatus can induce complex abnormalities. The most common abnormality is monosomy of chromosome 22. Other frequent abnormalities include structural rearrangement of 1p, 3p, 9p and 6q chromosome arms.

Common gene abnormalities in mesothelioma cell lines include deletion of the tumor suppressor genes:
Neurofibromatosis type 2 at 22q12
P16INK4A
P14ARF

Asbestos has also been shown to mediate the entry of foreign DNA into target cells. Incorporation of this foreign DNA may lead to mutations and oncogenesis by several possible mechanisms:
Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes
Activation of oncogenes
Activation of proto-oncogenes due to incorporation of foreign DNA containing a promoter region
Activation of DNA repair enzymes, which may be prone to error
Activation of telomerase
Prevention of apoptosis

Asbestos fibers have been shown to alter the function and secretory properties of macrophages, ultimately creating conditions which favour the development of mesothelioma. Following asbestos phagocytosis, macrophages generate increased amounts of hydroxyl radicals, which are normal by-products of cellular anaerobic metabolism. However, these free radicals are also known clastogenic and membrane-active agents thought to promote asbestos carcinogenicity. These oxidants can participate in the oncogenic process by directly and indirectly interacting with DNA, modifying membrane-associated cellular events, including oncogene activation and perturbation of cellular antioxidant defences.

Asbestos also may possess immunosuppressive properties. For example, chrysotile fibres have been shown to depress the in vitro proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes, suppress natural killer cell lysis and significantly reduce lymphokine-activated killer cell viability and recovery. Furthermore, genetic alterations in asbestos-activated macrophages may result in the release of potent mesothelial cell mitogens such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) which in turn, may induce the chronic stimulation and proliferation of mesothelial cells after injury by asbestos fibres.

Incidence of mesothelioma

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. The incidence rate is approximately one per 1,000,000. The highest incidence is found in Britain, Australia and Belgium: 30 per 1,000,000 per year.[7] For comparison, populations with high levels of smoking can have a lung cancer incidence of over 1,000 per 1,000,000. Incidence of malignant mesothelioma currently ranges from about 7 to 40 per 1,000,000 in industrialized Western nations, depending on the amount of asbestos exposure of the populations during the past several decades.[8] It has been estimated that incidence may have peaked at 15 per 1,000,000 in the United States in 2004. Incidence is expected to continue increasing in other parts of the world. 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. Approximately one fifth to one third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal.

Between 1940 and 1979, approximately 27.5 million people were occupationally exposed to asbestos in the United States [4]. Between 1973 and 1984, there has been a threefold increase in the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma in Caucasian males. From 1980 to the late 1990s, the death rate from mesothelioma in the USA increased from 2,000 per year to 3,000, with men four times more likely to acquire it than women. These rates may not be accurate, since it is possible that many cases of mesothelioma are misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the lung, which is difficult to differentiate from mesothelioma.

mesothelioma Risk factors

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma.[9] Mesothelioma is now known to occur in those who are genetically pre-disposed to it. A history of asbestos exposure exists in almost all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In rare cases, mesothelioma has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such as erionite.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the airways (lung cancer, bronchial carcinoma). The Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first few years of production in the 1950s and some cases of mesothelioma have resulted. Smoking modern cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma.

Some studies suggest that simian virus 40 (SV40) may act as a cofactor in the development of mesothelioma.[10]

mesothelioma Exposure

Asbestos was known in antiquity, but it wasn't mined and widely used commercially until the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not publicly known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace, and created guidelines for engineering controls and respirators, protective clothing, exposure monitoring, hygiene facilities and practices, warning signs, labeling, recordkeeping, and medical exams. By contrast, the British Government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states formally that any threshold for mesothelioma must be at a very low level and it is widely agreed that if any such threshold does exist at all, then it cannot currently be quantified. For practical purposes, therefore, HSE does not assume that any such threshold exists. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure. Recent findings have shown that a mineral called erionite has been known to cause genetically pre-dispositioned individuals to have malignant mesothelioma rates much higher than those not pre-dispositioned genetically. A study in Cappadocia, Turkey has shown that 3 villiages in Turkey have death rates of 51% attributed to erionite related mesothelioma.

Occupational of mesothelioma

Exposure to asbestos fibres has been recognised as an occupational health hazard since the early 1900s. Several epidemiological studies have associated exposure to asbestos with the development of lesions such as asbestos bodies in the sputum, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, asbestosis, carcinoma of the lung and larynx, gastrointestinal tumours, and diffuse mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum.

The documented presence of asbestos fibres in water supplies and food products has fostered concerns about the possible impact of long-term and, as yet, unknown exposure of the general population to these fibres. Although many authorities consider brief or transient exposure to asbestos fibres as inconsequential and an unlikely risk factor, some epidemiologists claim that there is no risk threshold. Cases of mesothelioma have been found in people whose only exposure was breathing the air through ventilation systems. Other cases had very minimal (3 months or less) direct exposure.

Commercial asbestos mining at Wittenoom, Western Australia, occurred between 1945 and 1966. A cohort study of miners employed at the mine reported that while no deaths occurred within the first 10 years after crocidolite exposure, 85 deaths attributable to mesothelioma had occurred by 1985. By 1994, 539 reported deaths due to mesothelioma had been reported in Western Australia.

Paraoccupational secondary exposure of mesothelioma

Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibres, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

Asbestos in buildings of mesothelioma
Many building materials used in both public and domestic premises prior to the banning of asbestos may contain asbestos. Those performing renovation works or DIY activities may expose themselves to asbestos dust. In the UK use of Chrysotile asbestos was banned at the end of 1999. Brown and blue asbestos was banned in the UK around 1985. Buildings built or renovated prior to these dates may contain asbestos materials.

Environmental exposures of mesothelioma

Incidence of mesothelioma had been found to be higher in populations living near naturally occurring asbestos. For example, in Cappadocia, Turkey, an unprecedented mesothelioma epidemic caused 50% of all deaths in three small villages. Initially, this was attributed to erionite, however, recently, it has been shown that erionite causes mesothelioma mostly in families with a genetic predisposition[11].

mesothelioma Treatment

Treatment of malignant mesothelioma using conventional therapies has not proved successful and patients have a median survival time of 6 - 12 months after presentation[citation needed]. The clinical behaviour of the malignancy is affected by several factors including the continuous mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which favours local metastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue and other organs within the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latency period between asbestos exposure and development of the disease.

mesothelioma Surgery

Surgery, either by itself or used in combination with pre- and post-operative adjuvant therapies, has proved disappointing. A pleurectomy/decortication is the most common surgery, in which the lining of the chest is removed. Less common is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in which the lung, lining of the inside of the chest, the hemi-diaphragm and the pericardium are removed.

removed mesothelioma
Radiation Wikibooks has a book on the topic of
Radiation Oncology/Lung/Mesothelioma

For patients with localized disease, and who can tolerate a radical surgery, radiation is often given post-operatively as a consolidative treatment. The entire hemi-thorax is treated with radiation therapy, often given simultaneously with chemotherapy. This approach of using surgery followed by radiation with chemotherapy has been pioneered by the thoracic oncology team at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston.[12] Delivering radiation and chemotherapy after a radical surgery has led to extended life expectancy in selected patient populations with some patients surviving more than 5 years. As part of a curative approach to mesothelioma, radiotherapy is also commonly applied to the sites of chest drain insertion, in order to prevent growth of the tumor along the track in the chest wall.

Although mesothelioma is generally resistant to curative treatment with radiotherapy alone, palliative treatment regimens are sometimes used to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel. Radiation therapy when given alone with curative intent has never been shown to improve survival from mesothelioma. The necessary radiation dose to treat mesothelioma that has not been surgically removed would be very toxic.

mesothelioma Chemotherapy

In February 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved pemetrexed (brand name Alimta) for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pemetrexed is given in combination with cisplatin. Folic acid is also used to reduce the side-effects of pemetrexed.

mesothelioma Immunotherapy

Treatment regimens involving immunotherapy have yielded variable results. For example, intrapleural inoculation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in an attempt to boost the immune response, was found to be of no benefit to the patient (while it may benefit patients with bladder cancer). Mesothelioma cells proved susceptible to in vitro lysis by LAK cells following activation by interleukin-2 (IL-2), but patients undergoing this particular therapy experienced major side effects. Indeed, this trial was suspended in view of the unacceptably high levels of IL-2 toxicity and the severity of side effects such as fever and cachexia. Nonetheless, other trials involving interferon alpha have proved more encouraging with 20% of patients experiencing a greater than 50% reduction in tumor mass combined with minimal side effects.

mesothelioma Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

A procedure known as heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was developed by Paul Sugarbaker at the Washington Cancer Institute.[13] The surgeon removes as much of the tumor as possible followed by the direct administration of a chemotherapy agent, heated to between 40 and 48°C, in the abdomen. The fluid is perfused for 60 to 120 minutes and then drained.

This technique permits the administration of high concentrations of selected drugs into the abdominal and pelvic surfaces. Heating the chemotherapy treatment increases the penetration of the drugs into tissues. Also, heating itself damages the malignant cells more than the normal cells.

Notable people who died from mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, though rare, has had a number of notable patients. Hamilton Jordan, Chief of Staff for President Jimmy Carter and life long cancer activist, died in 2008. Australian anti-racism activist Bob Bellear died in 2005. British science fiction writer Michael G. Coney, responsible for nearly 100 works also died in 2005. American film and television actor Paul Gleason, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Principal Richard Vernon in the 1985 film The Breakfast Club, died in 2006. Mickie Most, an English record producer, died of mesothelioma in 2003. Paul Rudolph, an American architect known for his cubist building designs, died in 1997.

Bernie Banton was an Australian workers' rights activist, who fought a long battle for compensation from James Hardie after he contracted mesothelioma after working for that company. He claimed James Hardie knew of the dangers of asbestos before he began work with the substance making insulation for power stations. Mesothelioma eventually took his life along with his brothers and hundreds of James Hardie workers. James Hardie made an undisclosed settlement with Banton only when his mesothelioma had reached its final stages and he was expected to have no more than 48hrs to live. Australian Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd mentioned Banton's extended struggle in his acceptance speech after winning the 2007 Australian Federal Election.

Steve McQueen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma on December 22, 1979. He was not offered surgery or chemotherapy because doctors felt the cancer was too advanced. McQueen sought alternative treatments from clinics in Mexico. He died of a heart attack on November 7, 1980, in Juárez, Mexico, following cancer surgery. He may have been exposed to asbestos while serving with the U.S. Marines as a young adult—asbestos was then commonly used to insulate ships' piping—or from its use as an insulating material in car racing suits.[14] (It is also reported that he worked in a shipyard during World War II, where he might have been exposed to asbestos.[citation needed]

United States Congressman Bruce Vento died of mesothelioma in 2000. The Bruce Vento Hopebuilder is awarded yearly by his wife at the MARF Symposium to persons or organizations who have done the most to support mesothelioma research and advocacy.

After a long period of untreated illness and pain, rock and roll musician and songwriter Warren Zevon was diagnosed with inoperable mesothelioma in the fall of 2002. Refusing treatments he believed might incapacitate him, Zevon focused his energies on recording his final album The Wind including the song "Keep Me in Your Heart," which speaks of his failing breath. Zevon died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 7, 2003.

Christie Hennessy, the influential Irish singer-songwriter, died of mesothelioma in 2007, and had stridently refused to accept the prognosis in the weeks before his death.[15] His mesothelioma has been attributed to his younger years spent working on building sites in London.[16][17]

Bob Miner, one of the founders of Software Development Labs, the forerunner of Oracle Corporation died of mesothelioma in 1994.

Scottish Labour MP John William MacDougall died of mesothelioma on August 13th, 2008, after fighting the disease for two years.[18].

Canberra journalist and news presenter, Peter Leonard also succumbed to the condition on 23 September 2008.

Terrence McCann Olympic gold medalist and longtime Executive Director of Toastmasters, died of mesothelioma on June 7, 2006 at his home in Dana Point, California.

Notable people who have lived for some time with mesothelioma

Although life expectancy with this disease is typically limited, there are notable survivors. In July 1982, Stephen Jay Gould was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. After his diagnosis, Gould wrote the "The Median Isn't the Message"[19] for Discover magazine, in which he argued that statistics such as median survival are just useful abstractions, not destiny. Gould lived for another twenty years eventually succumbing to metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, not mesothelioma.

Author Paul Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 1997 following an umbilical hernia operation. His prognosis was "a few months." He continues to survive using a variety of integrative and complementary modalities and has written a book about his experience.

mesothelioma Legal issues
Main article: asbestos and the law

The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898). Today, you may see a commercial stating something like, "Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer caused by asbestos particles. Asbestos particles can be found in lumberyards, shipyards or any of the heating or automotive industries." The liability resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached billions of dollars. [20] The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been the source of many court cases, reaching up to the United States Supreme Court, and government attempts at resolution of existing and future cases. However, to date, Congress has failed to enact significant asbestos reforms. [21]

mesothelioma Legal History

The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers was brought in 1929. The parties settled that lawsuit, and as part of the agreement, the attorneys agreed not to pursue further cases. It was not until 1960 that an article published by Wagner et al first officially established mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to crocidolite asbestos.[22] The article referred to over 30 case studies of people who had suffered from mesothelioma in South Africa. Some exposures were transient and some were mine workers. In 1962 McNulty reported the first diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma in an Australian asbestos worker.[23] The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in Wittenoom from 1948 to 1950.

In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. In 1965 an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighbourhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.

Despite proof that the dust associated with asbestos mining and milling causes asbestos related disease, mining began at Wittenoom in 1943 and continued until 1966. In 1974 the first public warnings of the dangers of blue asbestos were published in a cover story called "Is this Killer in Your Home?" in Australia's Bulletin magazine. In 1978 the Western Australian Government decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom, following the publication of a Health Dept. booklet, "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom", containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of worldwide medical information.

By 1979 the first writs for negligence related to Wittenoom were issued against CSR and its subsidiary ABA, and the Asbestos Diseases Society was formed to represent the Wittenoom victims.
source : wikipedia.org

PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

2009-01-31T12:14:00.000-08:00

PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

Peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity, is less common than the pleural form, comprising approximately one-fifth to one-third of the total number of mesothelioma cases diagnosed. According to the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database, these diagnoses are approximately 54.7 per cent male versus 45.3 per cent female, with the median age being 65-69. The latency period appears to be shorter for asbestos-exposed individuals with symptoms appearing 20-30 years after exposure rather than the 30-40 year latency more commonly associated with pleural mesothelioma.
Symptoms

Clinical symptoms at the time of presentation may include abdominal pain, abdominal mass, increased abdominal girth, distention of the abdomen, ascites (fluid in the abdomen), fever, weight loss, fatigue, anemia and digestive disturbances. Some patients complain of more non-specific symptoms for a number of months prior to a confirmed diagnosis. In a percentage of cases, peritoneal mesothelioma is found incidentally when the patient has sought help for another health problem such as gallbladder, hernia or pelvic mass.
Diagnosis

As with all mesotheliomas, the diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma can be challenging. CT findings may help differentiate between the two clinical types of peritoneal mesothelioma, termed “dry” or “wet”, since their appearances are very different upon imaging. In the “dry” type, CT may reveal multiple small masses or a single dominant localized mass. There is normally little or no ascites. In the “wet” type, CT may reveal widespread small nodules, but no dominant mass. Ascites is usually present.

If fluid is present, it may be removed in a procedure called paracentesis. Unfortunately, as is the case with pleural mesothelioma, fluid analysis offers limited diagnostic value. It is normally a tissue biopsy obtained in a laproscopic exploratory that will yield a definitive diagnosis.
Staging

There is currently no established staging system for peritoneal mesothelioma, and if the disease is staged, it is normally done in accordance with the TNM system, the most common general cancer staging system. This system refers to the status of the tumor (T), lymph nodes (N) and metastases (M). There are general categories which may also be somewhat helpful in determining stage.

The first category shows a localized lesion able to be completely resected (entirely removed). In the second category, the disease is contained within the abdominal cavity on peritoneal and organ surfaces where debulking (the removal of as much, but not all of the tumor) is possible. Category three shows disease contained within the abdominal cavity with invasion of organs such as the colon or liver. Category four shows disease extending outside the abdominal cavity.
Treatment

In recent years, multimodality treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma has become more common for a select patient population, since surgery alone and/or intraperitoneal chemotherapy alone have proven to be similarly ineffective. Cytoreductive (debulking) surgery involves the removal of all or nearly all visible tumor, and, depending on the physician’s choice, may be combined with Intra-Peritoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC), intraperitoneal chemotherapy and/or radiation. Dr. Paul Sugarbaker has written "intraperitoneal chemotherapy gives high response rates within the abdomen because the peritoneal space to plasma barrier provides dose intensive therapy." Since it is not always possible to remove all tumors, the prognosis for long-term survival may be based on the completeness of cytoreduction as established by the following criteria:
Complete cytoreduction:

CC-0 No peritoneal seeding is visualized within the operative fields.

CC-1 Nodules of less than 2.5 cm persist after cytoreduction. Nodules of this size are thought to be penetrable by intracavitary chemotherapy, therefore cytoreduction is termed complete.
Imcomplete cytoreduction:

CC-2 Nodules of between 2.5 and 5 cm persist after cytoreduction.

CC-3 Nodules of greater than 5 cm or a merging of unresectable tumor nodules at any site within the abdomen or pelvis.

For patients found to have widespread disease, where surgery is not looked at as “potentially curative”, palliation of symptoms may be accomplished by debulking. Since peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare malignancy, specialized treatments should be conducted by doctors familiar with the disease.

Mesothelioma Lawyers and Defendants

2009-01-31T12:12:00.001-08:00

With dedicated attorneys and staff, lawyers have worked hard to ensure that clients receive high quality representation. The following are profiles of some well known mesothelioma lawyers that were instrumental in shaping mesothelioma litigation.

Fred Baron
Fred Baron, represented his first toxic tort client in the early 1970s. Then, he has built one of the largest toxic tort firms in the United States. Widely recognized as a trailblazer in the area of toxic tort law, one reporter noted,"[i]f the field of toxic torts were the frontier of the American West, Baron would have been driving the first wagon onto the plains." G. Taylor, "Outspoken Texan, Baron Establishes Toxic Tort Domain," Legal Times, Vol. VI, No. 25, at p. 10 (Nov. 21, 1983).

As a result of his work to protect the rights of victims of toxic substances, The National Law Journal has listed Fred as one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in the U.S." (The National Law Journal, June 8, 2000). He has been honored as a lawyer who helped shape Texas law during the 20th century in "Legal Legends: A Century of Texas Law and Lawyering" (Texas Lawyer commemorative publication, June 2000) and has been named one of Dallas' top lawyers by D Magazine (May 2001 and May 2005). The University of Texas School of Law has honored him by establishing the Frederick M. Baron Chair in Law, which is held by a senior professor of the law school engaged in original research on lawyering and the civil justice system.

A life-long advocate of the environment, the consumer, and working people, Fred Baron has served as lead attorney in complex tort cases involving MTBE and TCE water contamination, radiation contamination, community lead contamination, toxic waste, and pesticide exposure.

Fred Baron has also been credited for his efforts in defeating class action settlements whereby defendant corporations attempted to settle mass tort claims for a fraction of what individuals would otherwise be entitled to recover through the legal system. Fred has twice led successful battles to convince the United States Supreme Court to de-certify nationwide class action settlements involving the "future claims" of asbestos-related injuries, or claims that might someday be brought by people who develop asbestos-related illnesses in the future. As a result of the United States Supreme Court's opinions in Amchem Products v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591 (1997) and Ortiz v. Fibreboard Corp., 527 U.S. 815, 119 S.Ct. 2295, 144 L.Ed.2d 715 (1999), future victims of toxic injuries can no longer have their rights compromised by class action settlements in which they have no voice.

Lisa Blue, Ph.D.

Lisa Blue, a trial attorney and psychologist, has represented hundreds of victims of asbestos and other toxic substances since 1985. Her accomplishments in trial courts around the country earned her the honor of being named one of the top 50 women litigators in the U.S. by The National Law Journal (2002), and the honor of Trial Lawyer of the Year (1999) by the Texas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and recognition as one of Dallas' best lawyers by D Magazine (May 2001, May 2003, and May 2005.) Dallas Business Journal likewise named her one of hte top ten litigators in Dallas. She has also been named by Law & Politics Media as one of the top 100 lawyers in Texas, top 50 women lawyers, and top 100 lawyers in Dallas.

A licensed psychologist, Lisa is certified by the American Board of Forensic Psychology and the American Board of Professional Psychology. Well-known for her work in the area of jury selection, Ms. Blue has published a book and a number of articles on the issue as well as provided over 200 lectures on the topics of jury selection, trial psychology, and witness preparation through organizations such as the State Bar of Texas, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Trial Lawyers Associations of various states, and Harvard University.

Lisa Blue is a past president of the Dallas and Texas chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has served on the Board of Directors of Trial Lawyers for Public Justice and Public Citizen. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Dallas Bar Association. She has also served on the Executive Committee and as head of the Amicus Committee for the Texas Trial Lawyers Association; the Judiciary Task Force for the American Bar Association; the Texas Supreme Court Task Force on Judicial Reform; and as the Chair of the Dallas Bar Association CLE Committee. Lisa is a member of numerous other professional organizations, including American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists; American Psychological Association; Dallas Psychological Association; American Bar Association; Texas Psychological Association; and the American Thoracic Association. In addition, Lisa is very involved in supporting the work of Exodus Ministries, a non-profit organization which provides transitional housing and support services to ex-convicts and their families.

Prior to private practice in 1985, Lisa was an Assistant District Attorney in Dallas and prosecuted over 125 criminal cases to verdict. Lisa also maintains a small practice as a counseling and forensic psychologist and assists in selecting juries and preparing witnesses as part of her psychology practice. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys the study of French and Spanish.

Ronald L. Motley

Ronald L. Motley is a lawyer and founding member of Motley Rice, LLC, a Mount Pleasant, South Carolina law firm focusing on plaintiff's litigation involving asbestos, mesothelioma law, plane crashes, securities and consumer fraud.

Ronald Motley graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law, has over his three-decade career recovered significant compensation for his asbestos and mesothelioma clients. Mr. Motley was also involved in the tobacco litigation and was portrayed in the Insider by Bruce McGill in director Michael Mann's 1999 film which starred Russell Crowe.

Mr. Motley now represents over 6,500 survivors and their family members who where survivors of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Mr. Motley is pursuing claims against the financier of the 9/11 terrorists.

Mr. Motley has received the Harry M. Philo Trial Lawyer of the Year by the 50,000-member of the American Association for Justice and received the President’s Award of the National Association of Attorneys General. In 1999, he received the Youth Advocates of the Year awared for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

In addition to trying some of the first asbestos and mesothelioma cases, Mr. Motley has published extensively on asbestos litigation. These include:

How to Handle an Asbestos Case," Chapter 21, A Guide to Toxic Torts, Matthew Bender Publication;

"Medicolegal Aspects of Asbestos-Related Diseases: A Plaintiff's Attorney's Perspective," Chapter 12, Pathology of Asbestos-Associated Diseases, Roggli, et al., eds., Little, Brown and Co., 1992

"Decades of Deception: Secrets of Lead, Asbestos and Tobacco," TRIAL Magazine, October 1999.

He has been dubbed the man who took on Manville. The National Law Journal has ranked Mr. Motley as one of the most influential lawyers in America.

Richard Scruggs

Richard "Dick" Scruggs is a well known lawyer in Mississippi. He has represented individuals diagnosed with asbestos related cancers and mesothelioma since 1980. Due to the Firm's success in representing those with asbestos related injuries, the Attorneys General of the State of Mississippi and Louisiana retained the Firm in connection with cost recovery litigation against the asbestos industry.

Scruggs attended law school at the University of Mississippi with Mike Moore. He practiced law in Jackson, Mississippi and New York before opening his own private practice in Pascagoula, Mississippi..

Scruggs' brother-in-law is Senator Trent Lott, former Majority Leader of the US Senate. Scruggs is currently representing Lott through the Scruggs Katrina Group in a lawsuit against insurance company State Farm because of damage stemming from Hurricane Katrina

Scruggs was also involved in the tobacco industry litigation. The law firm filed the first suit resulted in the first settlement of its kind with the tobacco industry. The Firm's successes and position made it instrumental in negotiating the $248 billion Master Settlement Agreement in 1998.

• A.P. Greene
• A.W. Chesterton
• Anchor Packing
• Armstrong Cork
• Asbestos Claims Management
• Babcock & Wilcox
• Bendix Corporation
• Blackman Supply
• Borg Warner
• Brown & Root
• Byron Church
• Certainteed Corporation
• C.J. McBride
• Cleaver Brooks
• Combustion Engineering
• Con Edison
• Crown Cork & Seal
• Davis & Warshow
• Duro Dyne
• F.M. Charlton
• Fibreboard Corporation
• Flexitallic Gasket
• Flintkote
• Foster Wheeler Energy
• Fuller Austin Insulation
• GAF Corporation
• Garlock
• Gasket Holding
• General Electric
• General Refractories
• George A. Fuller
• Georgia Pacific
• Glen Alden
• Grant Wilson
• H.B. Fuller
• H.K. Porter
• Harbison-Walker Refractories
• Henry Quentzel
• Indresco
• John Sore
• Joseph A. Hendel
• JT Thorpe
• Kasier Aluminum
• Kelly-Moore Paint
• Lykes Bros. Steamship
• Manville Corp.
• Metropolitan Life Insurance
• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing
• National Gypsum Company
• North American Refractories
• Owens Corning
• Parker Abex
• Pittsburgh Corning
• Plibrico Company
• Plymouth Products
• PPG Industries
• Pneumo Abex
• Proko Industries
• Rapid American
• Riley Stoker
• Robert A. Keasbey
• Ruberoid Corporation
• Sherwood Davis & Geck
• Smith-Sharpe
• Swan Transpiration
• Synkoloid
• Turner Newall
• U.S. Gypsum
• Unarco Industries
• Uniroyal Holding
• W.R. Grace
• W.S. Tyler
• Weil McLain
• Win Way
• Zurn Industries

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* Costa Mesa
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* East Los Angeles
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* Garden Grove
* Glendale
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* Huntington Beach
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* San Diego
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Columbia
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County
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* New Jersey
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* Philadelphia
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* Arlington
* Hampton
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Comprehensive management of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

2009-01-31T12:03:00.000-08:00

AIMS: In the past, diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) has been regarded as a terminal condition. The length of the survival was dependent upon the aggressive versus indolent biology of the neoplasm, nevertheless cure was not considered as a reasonable expectation and the overall median survival was approximately one year. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review and a collection of pertinent data published on DMPM from the Washington Cancer Institute were used to construct this report. RESULTS: Recent publications from Bethesda MD, New York, Milan Italy, Lyon France and Washington DC have shown a remarkable prolongation in the median survival of this group of patients with approximately half the patients alive at 5 years. These prolonged survivors were treated with an intensive local-regional treatment strategy that included cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with peritonectomy and hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIIC) and some patients with early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC). As larger numbers of patients have been treated, clinical features by which to select patients most likely to benefit from this approach have been identified. Also, as the experience in the management of patients receiving these treatments has increased, the morbidity and mortality associated with their management is being reduced. CONCLUSIONS: A new standard of care involves surgical removal of large disease deposits combined with perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Knowledgeable management uses selection criteria and incurs low morbidity and mortality.

Mesothelioma - First Therapy

2009-01-31T10:44:00.000-08:00

Summary: Patients with pleural mesothelioma live longer and have less pain and shortness of breath when treated with a combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed. This drug combination caused the cancer to shrink in 41 percent of patients. This is the first therapy to show a benefit for this type of cancer.

Text: Patients with cancer of the lining of the lung, known as pleural mesothelioma, live longer and have less pain and shortness of breath when treated with a combination of cisplatin plus a newer drug called pemetrexed than if they received cisplatin alone according to a Phase III study published in the July 15, 2003, issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

This study -- presented in part at a plenary session at last year's meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) -- is the first to show a benefit for this type of cancer.

"For the first time we have a therapy for mesothelioma that makes a difference," said study director Nicholas J. Vogelzang, M.D., Fred C. Buffett Professor of medicine and director of the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center. "This is a real step forward. It should encourage patients to keep trying and inspire physicians to focus more attention on this frustrating disease."

"This trial establishes pemetrexed and cisplatin as a new standard in systemic therapy for mesothelioma," noted Valerie Rusch, M.D., of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, in an editorial in the Journal. "It is now reasonable to state that effective chemotherapy exists for MPM (malignant pleural mesothelioma), dispelling the profound sense of nihilism surrounding treatment of this disease."

Mesothelioma patients who were treated with pemetrexed (trade named Alimta(R) plus the commonly used chemotherapy drug cisplatin lived for about a year after diagnosis, nearly three months longer than did patients who received only cisplatin. In addition, one-year survival after diagnosis increased from 41.9 percent for patients receiving cisplatin to 56.5 percent for those receiving cisplatin plus pemetrexed.

The two-drug combination caused the cancer to shrink in 41 percent of patients, compared to 17 percent of patients who received only cisplatin, and was more effective at reducing pain and shortness of breath, symptoms commonly experienced by patients with pleural mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and lethal form of cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, a thin layer of specialized cells that lines the lungs. Most cases are caused by asbestos exposure. In the United States there are about 2,500 new cases a year. Because the disease is often advanced at the time of diagnosis, average survival for those with pleural mesothelioma has been significantly less than one year.

Pemetrexed is a cousin of one of the earliest chemotherapy drugs, methotrexate, used for the treatment of other types of cancer. While methotrexate blocks one enzyme necessary for cell division and tumor growth, pemetrexed blocks three such enzymes.

This Phase III randomized study was the largest mesothelioma trial ever conducted, involving 456 patients. Patients were selected at random to receive pemetrexed plus cisplatin or cisplatin alone.

In the course of the study, the researchers found that many of the patients were deficient in the vitamins folic acid and B12. The deficiencies, presumably caused by the cancer and a poor appetite, decreased the ability of normal cells to repair and produce new DNA. The vitamin-deficient patients who received pemetrexed were more likely to experience severe toxicity (such as very low white blood cell counts, severe diarrhea, and severe mouth ulcers) than patients who received only cisplatin.

Following this observation, all patients in the study received folic acid and vitamin B12 as a standard part of their treatment. This reduced the toxic side effects associated with pemetrexed, allowing more patients to benefit from the drug.

"Although the pemetrexed plus cisplatin chemotherapy regimen is a clear advance in the treatment of MPM," wrote Rusch, "it hardly represents a home run in this difficult disease." Future studies, she suggested, should focus on applying this regimen to patients with earlier stages of the disease and the addition of other anti-cancer agents or targeted therapies for patients with advanced disease.

Two such follow-up trials are already underway at the University of Chicago Hospitals. One is testing cisplatin plus pemetrexed, followed by surgery and radiation therapy, for patients whose disease has been diagnosed earlier and can potentially be cured by surgery and radiation alone. The addition of chemotherapy is designed to improve the cure rate, which currently hovers around 15 percent with surgery and radiation. A second study combines pemetrexed with the chemotherapy agent gemcitabine, which replaces cisplatin.

This combination of pemetrexed and gemcitabine "is keeping me alive," reports Richard Shanas, a 55-year-old retired police officer from Chicago, diagnosed with mesothelioma in November of 2000. Shanas has an abdominal tumor, rather than lung disease. He entered a clinical trial of an investigational angiogenesis inhibitor but had to drop out when his tumor continued to grow. Since beginning treatment with pemetrexed and gemcitabine his tumor has shrunk by about one third.

The side effects of therapy are "moderate but unpredictable," said Shanas. He had a rash at the beginning but that went away. Now he tires easily, which has forced him to cut back on his work, and requires occasional blood transfusions, but reports that "on the whole, my quality of life is not bad."

The study was supported by a grant from Eli Lilly and Company, makers of Alimta.

The research team came from the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center; Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN; US Oncology, Dallas, TX; Allgemeines Krankenhaus Harburg, Hamburg, Germany; Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Krankenhaus Grosshansdorf, Grosshansdorf, Germany; Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey; and Thoraxklinik-Rohrbach, Heidelberg, Germany.

University of Chicago
John Easton
July 15, 2003

Mesothelioma Prevention

2009-01-30T12:57:00.000-08:00

In terms of asbestos, mesothelioma prevention is extremely important to reduce the risks of this serious cancer . Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer that affects the lining of the heart, lung, or abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma has been almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure, a group of hazardous fibers that were manufactured in hundreds of industries around the world. There are many ways that people to protect themselves against workplace or non-occupational exposure to asbestos in an effort to prevent mesothelioma.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has enacted a number of workplace asbestos regulations to aid in mesothelioma prevention. Under workplace asbestos laws , the permissible level of exposure is 01. fibers per cubic centimeter for an eight-hour work day and one fiber per cubic centimeter in any thirty minute time frame.

Furthermore, workplace regulations to prevent asbestos exposure require employers to frequently monitor and regulate the work environment in addition to providing their employees with protective clothing and respiratory equipment, sufficient hygiene facilities, routine medical exams, and training .

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends a number of steps and precautions people can take to help protect themselves against non-occupational asbestos exposure that may lead to mesothelioma. These mesothelioma prevention methods include, but are not limited to:

Regular inspection and monitoring of asbestos-containing products or materials around the home since asbestos was commonly used in the production of roof shingles, insulation, flooring, and more.

Don't attempt to remove any asbestos-containing materials. It is vital that you enlist the help of an asbestos removal professional who is properly trained to handle the material and can ensure safe removal.

Avoid vacuuming, sweeping, drilling, sanding, or scraping any surfaces that may contain asbestos fibers. Once these fibers are airborne, they may be inhaled or ingested greatly increasing the risk of mesothelioma.

Quit smoking, especially if you work in an industry in which you are frequently exposed to high levels of asbestos. Studies have indicated that asbestos workers who smoke cigarettes have a 50 to 100 times greater risk of dying from mesothelioma or lung cancer.

If you or a loved one is suffering from mesothelioma side effects, it is vital that you seek immediate medical attention at the first sign of symptoms such as chest pains, shortness of breath, coughs, severe weight loss, and more . Early diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma is the best form of prevention and can produce the most favorable outcome of the disease.