Mesothelioma Research

Mesothelioma is a disease that is still very hard to recognise, difficult to diagnose and virtually impossible to treat effectively. It is known that the disease is asbestos related and that there is a long latency period before symptoms become apparent. But with more and more cases coming to light each year, it is vital that further research is carried out in order to make this fatal disease more manageable for both patients and doctors.

Many organizations are involved in research in to mesothelioma. This includes the companies that are responsible for the use of asbestos. Many people that have been diagnosed with mesothelioma have now discovered that they can claim compensation for being exposed to hazardous asbestos by companies, which means that these companies have a responsibility to help with this research.

The National Institute of Cancer is also working hard to research mesothelioma, its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. The rising number of mesothelioma cases means that it is essential to learn more about this disease in order to look into developing treatments.

With many mesothelioma patients now seeking legal advice, it has become essential for law firms to learn about and research the disease. It is the lawyer’s job to assist the mesothelioma patient and provide advice and resources from which the patient can get help and assistance. Therefore, law firms dealing with these types of cases also have a responsibility to learn about the disease and what can be done to help patients.

A great deal of research into mesothelioma goes into learning about the effects of asbestos upon cells, and how the cells are changed by exposure to this material. By learning how healthy cells and corrupted by asbestos, we hope to learn more about how this cell corruption can be prevented or minimised.

The National Institute of Cancer has also carried out clinical trials into the treatment of mesothelioma. The trials, which are performed with real patients who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, should help to determine how effective the various treatments are, and hopefully will go some way to helping experts find more effective treatments for the disease.

Mesothelioma trials are based upon treatments that are thought to have some value to patients. But the trials are just that – trials. This means that there are no guarantees and that a great deal more work and research will be required before a conclusive and effective treatment is found. On the upside, many new trials are being carried out on a regular basis, and with the information and technology available to scientists today, the discovery of an effective treatment for mesothelioma patients is just a matter of time.

Medical professionals worldwide are currently involved in clinical trials, and each trial depends upon the extent of spread of the disease. Some trials are performed on those who have been diagnosed reasonably early, others on patients who were not diagnosed until the latter stages of the disease. It is important for scientists to find a treatment that is effective not only on those who are diagnosed early, but on all patients that suffer from this killer disease.

The research carried out into mesothelioma will hopefully mean that future generations of suffers can be saved, even if they are diagnosed with the disease. The research carried out is extremely costly, and is often sponsored by associated companies such as drug companies and research groups as well as by the government. Research into the contraction of the disease, and its subsequent development will ultimately enable professionals to devise the most effective treatment.

Several new methods of treatment have been used following research into mesothelioma. These include:
• Photodynamic therapy, which uses fixed frequency light to target abnormal cells and kill them off by the activation of photosensitizing drugs.
• Immunotherapy, which fights the abnormal cells through the use of the body’s own defence system through enhancement and development of the immune system.
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, which is a radiation treatment that targets just the affected area/tumour, thus avoiding contact with healthy cells and tissue.
Although there is no quick-fix answer to the treatment of mesothelioma, ongoing research and dedication from the medical profession means that the chances of finding an effective treatment are continually increasing.

Research offers hope of cure for mesothelioma. A laboratory mouse fully recovered from mesothelioma and built up immunity to further tumors during trials of a new mesothelioma research & treatment regime being tested by West Australian researchers.

Mesothelioma cells were transplanted into Mouse 5 before it was given a chemotherapy drug called coramsine, which is still in development, in combination with drugs to stimulate the immune system.

University of Western Australian researcher Richard Lake said Mouse 5 not only recovered from mesothelioma, which is presently regarded as incurable in humans, but rejected subsequent attempts to grow another tumor. Dr Lake said the principle of combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy was a relatively new one that was providing "extremely promising" results that could be applied to other human cancers.

"Combining the right sort of chemotherapy with the right sort of immunotherapy - this has been our strategy to try and understand how we might best develop useful combinations and therapies," Dr Lake said. In the trial, which is in its "very preliminary" stages, Mouse 5 was the only survivor, with two others dying of a coramsine overdose and another two put down after their tumors returned.

Mesothelioma Research & Foundations

See the list below for mesothelioma researches and foundations. Don't forget to do your homework for more information on each mesothelioma research and foundation and consult your doctor for more information.

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Provides detail information on mesothelioma and all type of cancers. Visit NCI website for more information on mesothelioma research by NCI.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
To Protect America's Health from Toxic Exposures. The ATSDR provides information about asbestos and where to find occupational and environmental health clinics. Visit ATSDR website for more information on mesothelioma research by ATSDR.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA regulates the general public's exposure to asbestos in buildings, drinking water, and the environment. Visit EPA website for more information on mesothelioma research by EPA.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
CPSC responsibilities for the regulation of asbestos in consumer products. You can either call their toll-free number or visit CPSC website for more information on mesothelioma research by CPSC.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is concerned with asbestos contamination of foods, drugs, and cosmetics and will answer questions on these topics. For more information, visit mesothelioma research by FDA.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Also provides information on asbestos mesothelioma which available here: HHS.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

A national nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma as a life-ending disease. For more information, visit the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation for mesothelioma research by MARF.org.

Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America (MESORFA)
The Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America has a mission: fund research that will lead to the quickest cure for mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure, has very few treatment options at this time. Since the year 2001, the foundation has funded the opening of the Mesothelioma Laboratory under the supervision of Dr. Gill at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles.

Nonetheless, because there's been a rise in the disease and more doctors and research scientists are stepping up and taking notice of this dreaded illness, more research pioneers have jumped on the bandwagon in the search for better treatment and ultimately a cure for the disease.

Finding New Treatments
As more and more money begins to be spent on this disease which affects individuals from many countries throughout the world, new treatments are emerging all the time. Research allows doctors and scientists to better understand the design of the disease and researchers are eager to develop both new forms of common treatments as well as totally new treatment procedures. Good research and proper funding allows the opportunity to do both.

As these drugs or procedures are developed, they are tested in clinical trials by people who already have the disease. The success or non-success of the clinical trial will dictate whether or not the drug or procedure will be approved in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Once the FDA issues an approval, the new treatment will be available to the general public, not just a hand-selected group of trial patients.

What's New in Research?
Chemotherapy - Chemo has always been the treatment of choice for mesothelioma patients, usually as a palliative measure to relieve symptoms and make the patient more comfortable. Strides in the field of chemotherapy vs. mesothelioma are promising. Another drug currently on the FDA's Fast Track system and awaiting imminent approval is Onconase©. Onconase is a first-in-class drug that has been shown to target cancer cells while sparing normal cells.

Anti-Angiogenesis drugs - As the name indicates, these drugs are designed to prevent angiogenesis, the process by which new blood vessels are formed from pre-existing vessels. Angiogenesis plays a key role in the spreading of tumors, so researchers are searching for ways to halt the process in cancer patients. One anti-angiogenesis drug for the treatment of mesothelioma is currently being offered. It's called Avastin and it lowers the levels of a protein that prompts angiogenesis, therefore inhibiting cell growth.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy - Unlike standard radiation therapy, this new form of radiation is done in the interest of limiting the amount of radiation hitting the healthy tissue surrounded the area where the tumor is located.

Gene Therapy - Many researchers are taking a close look at gene therapy in regards to its success in treating a number of diseases, including mesothelioma. According to the American Cancer Society, this approach to treating mesothelioma uses special viruses that have been modified in the laboratory. The modified virus is injected into the pleural space and infects the mesothelioma cells. When this infection occurs, the virus injects a gene into the mesothelioma for interferon-beta, an immune system hormone (cytokine) that may help activate immune system cells to attack the cancer.