Friday, February 18, 2011

Targeted Immune Cells Shrink Tumors in Mice

A scanning electron microscope image of normal...Image via Wikipedia

Researchers have generated altered immune cells that are able to shrink, and in some cases eradicate, large tumors in mice. The immune cells target mesothelin, a protein that is highly expressed, or translated in large amounts from the mesothelin gene, on the surface of several types of cancer cells. The approach, developed by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, shows promise in the development of immunotherapies for certain tumors. The study appeared online the week of Feb. 9, 2009, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Expression of mesothelin is normally limited to the cells that make up the protective lining (mesothelium) of the body’s cavities and internal organs. However, the protein is abundantly expressed by nearly all
pancreatic cancers and mesotheliomas and by many ovarian and non-small-cell lung cancers. Although the biological function of mesothelin is not known for certain, it is thought to play a role in the growth and metastatic spread of the cancers that express it.

"Since tumor cells are derived from the body’s normal cells, the immune system often does not recognize
tumor molecules as dangerous or foreign and does not mount a strong attack against them," said Ira Pastan, M.D., chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in NCI’s Center for Cancer Research, a study collaborator. Moreover, even though it is possible to genetically engineer immune system cells to recognize molecules on tumor cells, most of the molecules found on tumor cells are also found on normal cells. But, Pastan notes, “Mesothelin is a promising candidate for generating tumor-targeting T cells, given its limited expression in normal tissues and high expression in several cancers."

Previous laboratory research has shown that certain immune system cells, called T cells, can kill tumor cells that express mesothelin. In addition, studies in both animals and humans have shown that antibodies directed against mesothelin protein can shrink tumors.

In the new study, the research team genetically engineered human T cells to target human mesothelin. To
produce them, a modified virus was used as a delivery vehicle, or vector, to transfer synthetic genes to cells. These genes directed the production of hybrid, or chimeric, proteins that can recognize and bind to
mesothelin and consequently stimulate the proliferation and cell-killing activity of the T cells.

In laboratory studies, the team found that the engineered T cells proliferated and secreted multiple cytokines when exposed to mesothelin. Cytokines are proteins that help control immune functions. The cells also expressed proteins that made them resistant to the toxic effects of tumors and their surrounding tissues.

To study the effects of the engineered T cells on tumor tissue, the researchers implanted human
mesothelioma cells underneath the skin of mice. About six weeks later, when tumors had formed and
progressed to an advanced stage, the engineered T cells were administered to the mice. Direct injection of the T cells into tumors or into veins of the mice resulted in disappearance or shrinkage of the tumor.

"Based on the size of the tumors and the number of cells administered, we estimate that one mesothelintargeted T cell was able to kill about 40 tumor cells," said study leader Carl H. June, M.D., professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and director of Translational Research at Penn's Abramson Cancer Center. "This finding indicates that small doses of these cells may have potential in treating patients with large tumors. Clinical trials are being developed to investigate this approach in patients with mesothelioma and ovarian cancer."

For more information on Dr. Pastan’s research, please go to http://ccr.cancer.gov/staff /staff.asp?profileid=5782.

For more information on Dr. June’s research, please go to http://www.med.upenn.edu/camb/faculty
/gt/june.html.

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Vermont Residents and the Asbestos Mine

AsbestosImage via Wikipedia
The Vermont Asbestos Group Mine closed in 1993, but it is still stirring controversy in the thirteen towns near the Belvidere Mountain area where it was located. Fourteen hospitalizations and five deaths are thought to have been due to the adverse health effects of asbestos. A report from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and the Vermont Department of Health show that there may be a reason to study further the health risks brought about by past mining activities.


This conclusion was drawn from analyzing data gathered from towns that are within a ten-mile radius of the mine, and while the study may have had its limits, there is a noticeable statistical link between the occurrence of asbestos-related disease in communities within the mine’s vicinity. It was determined that risk of contracting asbestos-related diseases triples with geographic exposure to asbestos mines.
Asbestos used to be a staple material in American homes until the 1970s for insulation, floor and roofing tiles and tile glues. When the adverse health effects of the material were discovered, agencies such as the
Environmental Protection Agency, the OSHA and the CDC have attempted to ban the mineral from
commercial use.

Until now, though, asbestos still finds its way into the market, but the attempts to ban it had significantly
limited the quantities to which the American public may be exposed to.

Proximity to an area that has been mined for asbestos, though, is a different story. The removal of
asbestos-based products will do nothing to exposure. Asbestos fibers enter the body through inhalation, and may lead to a number of diseases.

The most notable among these diseases is mesothelioma, an incurable form of cancer that is usually not
detected until it is already in its advanced stage, sometimes up to three decades after exposure. This means that the 14 hospitalizations and 5 deaths in the area at this time is just the tip of the iceberg. Diseases may not manifest themselves until the 2020s.

The most the authorities can do as of now is to warn people about staying away from the property. The mine is closed, but outdoor enthusiasts such as all-terrain vehicle drivers use the property for their activities.

source: mirg.org


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Monday, February 14, 2011

Mesothelioma Victims Center Launches Its First campaign in 2011

Malignant Mesothelioma, CT axialImage via Wikipedia
The Mesothelioma Victims Center gets rave reviews from individuals, or family members dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis for good reason. They say, "Mot one organization, or law firm in the United States comes close to us, in providing a just diagnosed victim of mesothelioma, or their loved ones with the number, or quality of free services, or resources, for an individual now living with this rare form of cancer." The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, "Our 2011 goal is to offer just diagnosed mesothelioma victims with the most comprehensive free service on earth, with an emphasis on, call us first, and you get everything you need, on the spot. We lived with mesothelioma ourselves, we are passionate about helping every victim, and their family members, and our motto is nothing but the best, for a individual, or family dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis." For more information mesothelioma victims or their family members can call the Mesothelioma Victims Center anytime at 866-714-6466, or they can contact the group via its web site at http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com


source: prweb.com/
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Saturday, February 12, 2011

Coping Up With Mesothelioma

Put on a happy faceImage by Litandmore via FlickrPeople with a mesothelioma diagnosis are "truly scared," says Alan D. Valentine, MD, associate psychiatrist and associate professor of medicine (psychiatry) at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

There are several reasons for this. The late diagnosis and often poor prognosis are certainly factors, says Dr. Valentine. He also notes that the many advertisements that you see on television — from law firms promoting lawsuits and settlements — also give a certain graveness to the disease.

In addition, mesothelioma doesn't get the publicity — or public support — that more common cancers like breast cancer do.

Therapy and antidepressants are an option for helping to manage emotions like fear, anxiety, and depression that are common after a cancer diagnosis, says Valentine. While he says that patients should be screened to see if those therapies would offer benefit, they shouldn't automatically be prescribed.
Be honest and realistic about what you're faced with, recommends Valentine. Accept your fear, anger, and other feelings — don't feel like you have to be strong, stoic, and always positive. "Sometimes, that's asking a lot," he says.

Instead, concentrate on what needs to happen, says Valentine, rather than what could happen. Focus on business obligations, taking medications, and moving forward with treatment, instead of wondering if the worst will happen.
Valentine also recommends these mechanisms to cope with fear from a cancer diagnosis and to stay calm:
  • Practicing guided imagery, in which you lead your thoughts to soothing images
  • Trying self-hypnosis
  • Joining a support group
  • Getting regular, light exercise — even walking or exercising in a chair
Anything you can do to distract yourself and allow yourself to refocus on the task at hand rather than getting caught up in fear, anxiety, and "what ifs," Valentine says, will help you manage your fear.  
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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Several Surgical Treatments That Can Relieve Mesothelioma Symptoms

SEROSAL MEMBRANES: DIFFUSE PLEURAL MESOTHELIOM...Image via Wikipedia
In many cases, surgery to remove cancerous cells, such as in early stage colon cancer, can greatly improve one's odds of survival. In the case of mesothelioma, a rare cancer that develops in the lining of various organs, surgery is usually used to minimize symptoms rather than cure the disease. 

“For most people with mesothelioma, the care is predominantly palliative,” explains Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of respiratory care and a professor of pulmonary medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. There is no known cure for mesothelioma, so palliative care — care that focuses on alleviating symptoms instead of curing the disease — is the mainstay of treatment.

Understanding Mesothelioma 
According to Dr. Schachter, mesothelioma is particularly difficult to treat because it differs from other, more common cancers in a number of ways. “The problem with mesothelioma is it’s not one of these cancers that goes all over your body,” he says. “It tends to be localized and grows [only in certain] areas," Schachter adds. As a result, mesothelioma often leads to vague symptoms that can mimic other conditions, making it tougher to diagnose. By the time mesothelioma is actually diagnosed, it becomes that much more challenging to treat.

Surgical Options for Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma typically affects the pleura, the lining of the lungs. When the pleura become irritated, excess fluid can build up in the lungs making it very difficult to breathe. Many palliative procedures for mesothelioma therefore involve surgical procedures to drain and prevent this type of fluid accumulation.

Surgical palliative care options for treating mesothelioma include:
  • Chest tube drainage. When excessive fluid builds up around the lungs, a thick catheter or chest tube may be temporarily placed to allow the fluid to drain outside of the body.
  • Pleurodesis. After the fluid is successfully drained, surgeons may place special chemicals into the pleural space in a procedure known as pleurodesis. These chemicals usually cause the pleural tissue to become so scarred that no new fluid can accumulate.
  • Pleuroperitoneal shunt. Another option for addressing recurrent fluid buildup is to place a permanent catheter that diverts pleural fluid away from the lungs into the peritoneal, or abdominal, cavity.
  • Pleurectomy and decortication. These surgeries are more drastic than pleurodesis, Schachter says, but they can be helpful for relieving symptoms if pleurodesis is ineffective. In a pleurectomy, the pleural tissue is separated from the lungs and chest wall and removed. In a decortication, both the pleural tissue and associated scar tissue are removed. “You are basically peeling out all the scar tissue that surrounds the lung,” Schachter explains. This enables patients to breathe more easily.
  • Palliative tumor resection. This involves “cutting out as much tumor as you can, but this is the kind of tumor that you can’t just take all out; it will [eventually] grow back,” Schachter says. Even so, removing the tumor and any damaged lung tissue can temporarily alleviate shortness of breath and chest discomfort.
In some cases, an operation called extrapleural pneumonectomy can also be performed. This is considered a very extensive surgery. In addition to removing the pleura and some of the lung, surgeons “also sometimes take part of the diaphragm," explains Schachter. "If you happen to be young and relatively functional, and they find no lymph node involvement, then your prognosis for five-year survival is almost reasonable. But that represents a small percentage of patients. There’s also hope that treating some patients with chemotherapy may shrink some tumors."

Other Palliative Treatments 
Bartolome R. Celli, MD, chief of pulmonary care at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, also says that experimental chemotherapy regimens can relieve discomfort for mesothelioma patients. “In addition, oxygen if necessary, analgesics [pain killers], and opiates [narcotic pain killers] will improve symptoms and quality of life,” Dr. Celli adds. Palliative radiation therapy can be used to control pain as well.

Though there is currently no cure for mesothelioma, researchers are studying novel ways to control the progression of this disease. In the mean time, palliative care therapies aimed at reducing pain and other symptoms are essential for people with mesothelioma.
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Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Hunt for a Mesothelioma Cure

Micrograph of malignant mesothelioma, also mes...Image via Wikipedia“Is there a cure? No,” says Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of respiratory care and a professor of pulmonary medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “There are some promising avenues of research going on now, but mesothelioma is a terrible disease with a poor prognosis, though there are some brighter areas in the field.”

Bartolome R. Celli, MD, chief of pulmonary care at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, adds that early detection coupled with surgical intervention can extend patients’ lives. “Unfortunately, there is no real cure,” says Dr. Celli. “Some mesothelioma cases caught early can have extensive resection [surgical removal] of pleura [lung and chest lining] and lung with some survival benefit.”

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma. People with this disease generally do not survive a long time; five years after diagnosis, only about 10 percent are still alive.

But there are some options that may bring a ray of hope:
  • Direct chemotherapy delivery. Researchers are investigating chemotherapy treatments that are delivered right into the malignant site. Normally, chemotherapy is delivered intravenously.
  • New uses for older drugs. Newer mesothelioma treatments also include combinations of older drugs. “People are working on available treatments to see if they can be refined,” says Dr. Schachter.
  • Neoadjuvant therapy. With this therapy, chemotherapy, used to shrink a tumor, is given before surgical treatment instead of afterward, which has been the norm.
  • Anti-growth factors. These treatments are also designed to cause tumors to shrink, says Schachter. These are being tested in animal models and preliminarily in people to see how toxic they are, “but I don’t think we’re anywhere near being able to use [this treatment method] therapeutically.”
  • Biologic therapy or immunotherapy. Another type of therapy being tested is biologic therapy, which can refer to the introduction of a bacterial, viral, or blood product for the treatment of a disease. In mesothelioma, biologics are being used to stimulate a patient’s own immune system to fight the cancer. Other types of biologic treatment attempt to decrease blood flow to the tumor, starving the tumor of what it needs to grow larger and spread. 
But at the moment, Schachter says, the only treatment plan that increases life expectancy is surgery first, with chemotherapy and radiation. However, this only applies to a small proportion of the patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, Schachter says. “You have to be strong to undergo that, and then you’re left with only one lung.” 

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Sunday, February 6, 2011

Gastric Cancer Drug - Potential for Treating Pleural Mesothelioma

An x-ray image of a chest. Both sides of the l...Image via Wikipedia


Malignant pleural mesothelioma patients may soon have another treatment option if the makers of Teysuno, a gastric cancer drug, can prove the effectiveness of the drug in fighting the deadly form of lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive respiratory cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments.

Diagnosed in nearly 3,000 Americans each year, mesothelioma is most common in trade workers and military veterans. The latency or incubation period can be up to 50 years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), asbestos causes approximately half of all deaths from occupational cancer. In addition, they estimate 90,000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

An Anti-Tumor Drug From JapanOne standard treatment for mesothelioma is a combination of chemotherapydrugs. Most often pemetrexed and cisplatin are combined after surgery to halt the growth of the cancer and to alleviate symptoms. However, the overall prognosis for mesothelioma patients remains poor, with the average survival time varying from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis.

In a recent article in the medical journal Cancer, Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, Japanese researchers explore the effectiveness of the new anti-tumor drug, also known as S-1, for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma. The chemotherapy drug that is taken orally was developed by the Japanese drug manufacturer Taiho Pharmaceutical Co.

The drug is approved in Japan for the treatment of gastric, colorectal, head and neck, non-small cell lung, metastatic breast, pancreatic and biliary tract cancers. It is also available in Korea, China and other Asian countries. It was recently recommended for approval as a first line treatment for gastric cancer in Europe, but is not yet available in the U.S.

Proves to Improve SurvivalTo test the drug’s effectiveness on mesothelioma, researchers at the University of Tokushima implanted malignant mesothelioma cells into the chest cavities of mice. Their intent was to see whether S-1 would reduce the growth of cancerous tumors and the occurrence of bloody pleural fluid caused by mesothelioma.

The researchers reported that treatment with S-1 significantly reduced tumor growth in mice with certain lines of mesothelioma cells and prolonged their survival. One of the key compounds in S-1 is CDPH, which enhances the antitumor activity of 5-FU as well. 5-FU is another anti-cancer medication used in conjunction with S-1.

Most often diagnoses of mesothelioma are not made until symptoms appear and the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. To make the study realistic, the researchers then delayed treating the mice until their tumors were also at an advanced stage. The same results were achieved with late stage mesothelioma, suggesting that S-1 may be applicable for treatment of human mesothelioma patients in a clinical setting.

The research suggests that S-1 may be an effective therapy for controlling malignant pleural mesothelioma, but further study is needed.
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Friday, February 4, 2011

Mesothelioma Patient Runs for Mesothelioma Cure Research

Steve Lee he has been living with mesothelioma for over 5 years, he is turning his running efforts into fundraising for mesothelioma. Lee, 65-years-old, was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2007 when his doctors told him he had just 6 months to live. Lee and his running buddies of the Reading Roadrunners of England have raised more than $62,000 to fund research at Queen Mary, University of London.

Pleural mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused byasbestos exposure and is most commonly found in the outer lining of the lungs called the mesothelium. Lee, whose father died of mesothelioma in 2002, is not certain but believes he contracted mesothelioma when working with his father on building sites. He also said that his family lived in an asbestos-built house in Canvey Island, Essex.

According to Professor Julian Peto, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Institute of Cancer Research, the UK now has the highest death rate in the world from mesothelioma, with over 2,000 deaths a year. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Currently there is no known cure for mesothelioma.

The university has matched the sum raised by Lee and the club and have made use of the funds towards research to synthesize a naturally-occurring compound, which is believed to kill mesothelioma cells. Their goal is to produce the compound in sufficient quantities to determine whether it can be used to treat sufferers.

Dr Adrian Dobbs, the organic chemist who is supervising the mesothelioma research project, said “…if their data are correct then [the research] could certainly have a very powerful effect on giving longevity and a massively improved quality of life” to victims of mesothelioma.

Lee says he will keep running for as long as he can, and now raising money for others has become his therapy. He added after a recent trip to the Queen Mary laboratory, “It’s great to be able to meet those involved and ask them things about the research.”

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Global Burden of Mesothelioma Uncovered

Micrographs showing mesothelioma in a core biopsy.Image via Wikipedia
In an article made available January 6th online inEnvironmental Health Perspectives researchers reported their findings that globally “one mesothelioma case has been overlooked for every four to five reported cases.” The study’s goal was to estimate the global magnitude ofmalignant mesothelioma since some countries that are known to have extensive historical use of asbestos do not report mesothelioma cases.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused specifically byexposure to asbestos. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure, and are often not diagnosed until the disease is at an advanced stage. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments with the average survival time varying from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 43,000 mesothelioma deaths worldwide each year.

Data EvaluationResearchers from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, National Taiwan University, and University of Birmingham, England set out to validate and reassess the 2005 estimate that WHO endorses and to compile a set of data correlating asbestos use and mesothelioma.

Using data for country-level asbestos use from 1920 through 1970 and the number of mesothelioma deaths reported between 1994 and 2008 the authors estimated the global burden of mesothelioma mortality at 213,200 over the fifteen years. The researchers determined the cumulative mesothelioma frequency is predictable from cumulative asbestos use based on the total of the 174,300 reported cases. Thus, in the 33 countries that do not report, mesothelioma is predicted at 38,900 cases – or one for every 4-5 cases reported.

This averages to 14,200 cases per year “assuming a flat change rate or approximately 25,000 (38,000) cases in the year 2008 assuming a 10% (20%) annual increase rate.” This is higher than the previously reported value of 10,000 for only the developed regions in the world, but less than the 43,000 mesothelioma deaths estimated for the world in an earlier study from which WHO got their data.

Numbers Could Still be UnderestimatedThe authors said that this study is the first to provide a global estimate of unreported mesothelioma cases by using the “collective experience of countries with data.” Using asbestos-related facts such as length of exposure, the authors made the assumption that cumulative asbestos use subsequently takes a toll reflected in the cumulative mesothelioma count in populations. Some studies indicate that even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

The authors identified the following potential areas that could result in an underestimation of their numbers:
  • Lack of data on the trade of asbestos-containing products (ACP) which would impose additional risk;
  • Estimates cannot account for the national experiences of the majority of countries in the world with “no information” on asbestos use (it is possible that USGS information on asbestos use is less complete for the less-developed countries, especially for the earlier years); and
  • Underdiagnosis and underreporting of mesothelioma is also a major problem in developed countries.
The researchers caution that the unreporting countries may have economic reasons for not reporting the data and will continue to maintain their production and trade of asbestos while continuing to contribute to the growing global mesothelioma burden. They also state that it is plausible that “the hidden [mesothelioma] burden is substantial in countries with high cumulative use of asbestos, including the asbestos-producing countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, China and India.”

Prevention of Mesothelioma Through the Ban of AsbestosThe tragedy of mesothelioma is that the disease is completely preventable through the ban of asbestos. While use of asbestos has been curbed in the United States since the late 1970s, the incidence of mesothelioma has been increasing in the United States. Current estimates indicate that close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year.

According to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, the study authors urge every country to ban the mining, use, and export of asbestos because mesothelioma can be prevented by eliminating exposure to asbestos.


source: by nancy meredith of mesotheliomahelp.net
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