New Therapies for Malignant
Pleural Mesothelioma:
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial cells, which are a layer of specialized cells that line the organs of the body. Mesothelioma is most common in the lining of the lungs, also called the pleural lining. This is malignant pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of mesothelioma.
What Causes Pleural Mesothelioma?
Pleural mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral that is strong and heat resistant. Asbestos was once commonly used in clothing, auto parts, ship building, and many construction materials such as insulation, flooring, and concrete. Asbestos is still used in some auto parts and fire-resistant equipment for fire fighters. When asbestos is disturbed, through mining or renovation of buildings constructed with asbestos materials, particles are released into the air or water where they can be inhaled or ingested.Once in the body, asbestos particles can lodge in the lungs or digestive system and even pass to other organs. These particles can cause inflammation and scarring, causing permanent damage and genetic mutations in the cells of the lungs or other organs. There is no way to remove asbestos from the body, and over time the damage can lead to cancer.
Treatment for Pleural Mesothelioma
The prognosis for patients with pleural mesothelioma is not good. Mesothelioma is generally not diagnosed until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. At that point, few treatments are effective and the average survival time after diagnosis is only six to 12 months.The current standard front line treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma is chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed, two chemotherapy drugs that are normally injected into a vein. The addition of bevacizumab or Avastin, an anti-angiogenic or tumor-starving medication that blocks the blood supply feeding tumors, is showing some promise. But researchers are most excited about the possibility of using immunotherapy to fight mesothelioma.Immunotherapy involves artificially stimulating the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells, improving the system’s natural ability to fight cancer. This involves treatments like:
- Cancer Vaccines:
- These vaccines can help the immune system locate and kill cancer cells. Several cancer vaccines that may be helpful for pleural mesothelioma are currently in development.
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors:
- This promising treatment helps the immune system identify and attack cancer cells. Clinical trials are combining these inhibitors with chemotherapy to prolong the lives of those with pleural mesothelioma.
- Monoclonal Antibodies:
- This therapy activates cancer-killing pathways in the immune system. Some have been tested on pleural mesothelioma. Clinical trials are combining monoclonal antibodies with other inhibitors and with chemotherapy.
While there is no cure for malignant pleural mesothelioma, there is hope that these novel therapies can help prolong the lives of cancer patients in the future.If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact us for a free consultation. We’ve been helping victims of asbestos exposure for decades. Call 888-910-MESO (6376) or contact us via our website.
