Researchers Eliminate Mesothelioma in Mice:
Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart caused by exposure to asbestos. The cancer usually takes decades to diagnose after exposure and is tricky to treat, making mesothelioma one of the deadliest cancers. But now, new research is leading to promising potential future treatments.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a lightweight, fire-retardant fiber once commonly found in building materials, fire-retardant clothing, brake pads, and many other materials.Some common professions with asbestos exposure include but are not limited to:
- Blacksmiths
- Boilermakers
- Brick and stone masons
- Construction workers
- Electricians
- Engineers
- Factory workers
- Firefighters
- Home inspectors
- Household appliance installers
- Industrial workers
- Insulators
- Machinists
- Military veterans
- Power plant workers
- Sheet metal workers
- Shipyard workers
- Smelter operators
- Telephone repair technicians
- Textile operators
Potential New Drug Implant
In a study published in Clinical Cancer Research and supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine eliminated advanced-stage mesothelioma tumors in mice. They used a treatment involving Rice’s cytokine “drug factory” implants and a checkpoint inhibitor. The researchers inserted drug-producing beads no larger than the head of a pin next to mesothelioma tumors. Once placed, the beads produced “continuous, high doses of interleukin-2, IL-2, a natural compound that activates white blood cells to fight cancer.” The drug-producing beads are just 1.5 millimeters wide and can be implanted with minimally invasive surgery.In the published mesothelioma mice study, the researchers eliminated all the tumors in the seven mice participating. “I take care of patients who have malignant pleural mesothelioma,” said Bryan Burt of Baylor College of Medicine. “This is a very aggressive malignancy of the lining of the lungs. And it’s very hard to treat completely by surgical resection. In other words, there is often residual disease that is left behind. The treatment of this residual disease with local immunotherapy — the local delivery of relatively high doses of immunotherapy to that pleural space — is a very attractive way to treat this disease.”
You Need an Experienced Mesothelioma Attorney
While researchers are hopeful that future treatments can help those with mesothelioma, this could be years away, and you may need help now. If you or a loved one are facing a mesothelioma diagnosis after asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation. At the Madeksho Law Firm, we’ve helped victims of asbestos exposure since 1972. Call us at 888-910-MESO (6376) or contact us online to schedule a consultation. There's never a charge unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
