What's new in mesothelioma research?

There is always research going on in the area of mesothelioma. Scientists are looking for the causes of the disease and ways to prevent it. Doctors are working to find better ways to diagnose and treat the disease. Despite recent progress, there is still a lot to be learned about the best way to treat these cancers.

Causes and prevention

A lot of research has focused on learning exactly how asbestos changes normal cells and their DNA to cause cancer. Understanding how these fibers produce cancer might help us find ways to prevent those changes.

Now that we know about the dangers of asbestos, we can limit or stop its use in homes, public buildings, and the workplace. But rules to protect people from asbestos are much less strict (or they do not exist at all) in some other countries.

Research is also going on to learn about the role (if any) of a virus (SV40) that has been linked to mesothelioma in some studies.

Treatment

Because chemotherapy drugs have not worked very well against advanced mesothelioma, new ideas are now being studied. These include drugs which kill cancers by stopping their blood supply and drugs which alter the ability of some cancer cells to grow quickly.

Doctors are always learning more about the best way to treat people with mesothelioma. Treatments that combine surgery, radiation, and chemo are now being studied and may provide the most promising option for some patients. New drugs, along with other types of treatments, are now being tested in clinical trials.

Another new approach is a type of gene therapy. This treatment uses special viruses that have been changed in the lab. The virus is put into the space around the lungs where it infects the cancer cells. When this happens, the virus in turn injects a gene into the cancer that may help immune system cells to attack the cancer.(cancer.org)

Main Types of Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is cancer that starts in the cells that line certain parts of the body, especially the chest and belly (abdomen). The lining formed by these cells is called mesothelium. These cells protect organs by making a special fluid that allows the organs to move. For instance, this fluid makes it easier for the lungs to move during breathing.

Tumors of the mesothelium can be benign or they can be cancer. A cancer tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma, but this is often shortened to just mesothelioma.

There are 4 main types of mesotheliomas based on how the cells look under a microscope.

1. Epithelioid: This is the most common type. It tends to have a better outlook (prognosis) than the other types.
2. Sarcomatoid (fibrous): About 1 to 2 out of 10 mesotheliomas are of this type.
3. Mixed (biphasic): This type has features of the 2 types above. About 3 to 4 out of 10 mesotheliomas are the mixed type.
4. Desmoplastic: These are rare.

About 3 out of 4 mesotheliomas start in the chest cavity. These are called pleural mesotheliomas. Another 10%-20% begin in the abdomen (belly). These are called peritoneal mesotheliomas. Those starting around the heart are very rare. This cancer can also start in the tissue around the testicles, but this is also very rare. (cancer.org)

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can arise in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. Some cases have even been reported to develop in the lining of the testicles as well. The three major types of mesothelioma are called pleural mesothelioma (lung), pericardial mesothelioma (heart) and peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen).

Combined, these cancers affect 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States each year. Receiving a diagnosis can be difficult due to the similarity of symptoms to other, more common conditions and doctors may overlook mesothelioma as a diagnosis. Another contributing factor that makes these cancers difficult to diagnose is the severe latency period of symptoms. From the time of someone's initial exposure to asbestos, the primary cause of mesothelioma, signs of development may take as long as 20 to 50 years to arise.

In an effort to help patients understand mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a complimentary packet that contains treatment options and other helpful resources tailored to your specific diagnosis. The packet also covers the nation's top mesothelioma doctors and cancer centers, as well as financial assistance options to help cover medical costs. To receive your packet in the mail, please enter your information below.

Asbestos and the Development of Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was incorporated into thousands of products throughout the majority of the 20th century. Common items that contained the hazardous substance included insulation, roofing materials, drywall, ceiling and flooring tiles, cements, valves, seals and other construction products. Asbestos was primarily used because it was cheap, fire-resistant and had insulating capabilities.

Mesothelioma may develop after someone has either inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers. This most often occurs when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed and those in the area fail to wear protective equipment. Once the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos have entered the body, they typically attach to the lining of the lungs and become lodged. Overtime, these fibers create enough irritation and inflammation to cause tumors to develop. Unfortunately, these tumors do not cause symptoms until they have reached an advanced stage of development, leaving a person with limited treatment options and a poor mesothelioma prognosis.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Unfortunately, there are no early symptoms of mesothelioma. A patient's best chance of detecting mesothelioma at an early stage of development is through receiving regular checkups for signs of asbestos exposure with a qualified physician. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include shortness of breath, difficulty while swallowing, or having a persistent raspy cough. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms may include chest pain, coughing, fatigue or having an irregular heartbeat. Peritoneal mesothelioma may carry symptoms involving fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain or swelling and the development of lumps under the skin on the abdomen. Due to the rarity of the cancer, very little information has been reported concerning symptoms of testicular mesothelioma.

Treatment Options

Although a cure for mesothelioma does not exist, many patients elect to undergo alternative therapies or clinical trials that test experimental treatments. Some of the more common methods of mesothelioma treatment options for patients include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, which are designed to relieve symptoms and improve their overall quality of life. In some cases, such treatments may cause the cancer to go into remission and will prolong a patient's life. (asbestos.com)

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