New Asbestos Cancer Research from Ohio State University

Ohio State University scientists are hoping to discover how asbestos fibers form cancer in human cells. Although clinical applications for the research are years away, researchers hope their work will aid in new treatments and drug developments that ultimately increase the number of mesothelioma survivors.

The OSU research involves the use of atomic force microscopy, which will allow researchers to observe what happens after asbestos exposure on a molecular level. In particular, researchers hope to be able to see how a single asbestos fiber binds with a receptor protein on a cell’s surface. Eric Taylor, a doctoral candidate in earth science at Ohio State, explains that they are “looking at what molecules are involved in a chain of events when the fiber touches the cell. Does the binding occur over minutes or hours and what processes are triggered?”

The study will begin with a focus on blue asbestos, a once-common form of asbestos used in ceiling tiles and insulation that was banned from most of the US in 1980, but is still a risk to many people today. Scientists hope to then continue their studies on all six forms of asbestos fibers. The first protein to be studied will be the epidermal growth factor receptor. This receptor is present on the surface of every human cell.

Understanding the intricacies of the binding process between asbestos minerals and proteins might help researchers figure out how to prevent or even undo the interaction which currently causes serious asbestos-related illnesses. The conditions commonly associated with asbestos exposure include lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, a largely terminal cancer that forms in the membrane lining of the lungs or stomach.

Although the motivation for this project is to find a way to intervene and prevent asbestos-related disease after asbestos exposure, we are hopeful that this research will open the door for new treatment options and possibly a cure or key to remission for mesothelioma patients.

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Pleural Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Looks Promising

A clinical trial recently conducted in Japan and supervised by the Japanese Ministry of Health and cancer researchers Eli Lilly and Company had very promising results. They recently announced that a combination of Pemetrexed and Cisplatin, two chemotherapy drugs, safely and effectively treated patients suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma and effectively prevented the spread of the asbestos cancer in trial participants.

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the pleura, or lining of the lung cavity, and is caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. This study involved 20 participants who were between the ages of 20 and 75 and were given a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis and had visible and measurable cancerous tumors. Those who participated in this clinical trial were not eligible for any curative surgery and had not received chemotherapy treatment before the trial. 

Participants were monitored throughout the study as they received two Pemetrexed plus Cisplatin chemotherapy treatments. Pemetrexed is a chemotherapy drug known as Alimta and is engineered to interfere with the reproduction and spread of cancer cells in the body by preventing the production of key enzymes needed for cell growth. Cisplatin is also a chemotherapy drug that is known to cause apoptosis or the death of cancerous cells. When accompanying Pemetrexed, these two drugs were very effective in preventing the spread of cancer to other parts of the body.

The findings of this clinical trial are extremely encouraging to oncologists and cancer researchers, not to mention the thousands of people suffering from pleural mesothelioma cancer or other malignant mesothelioma cancers and those suffering from other non-small-cell lung cancers. The combination of Pemetrexed and Cisplatin has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration and is a valid initial method of treatment for patients.

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New Treatment Offers New Hope For Mesothelioma Patients

There is new hope for patients suffering from the asbestos-related cancer of mesothelioma. A drug commonly used to treat skin cancer has been paired with another leading anti-cancer drug by University of WA researchers and cancer specialists at Australia's Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. This combination has successfully terminated advanced mesothelioma tumors in half of their test animals.

Imiquimod, a cream usually applied to treat skin cancer, when combined with antiCD40 triggered an immune response in the test mice that attacked their cancer. Researchers stated that half of the treated mice were cured even when their tumors were quite advanced. The supervisor of the research, immunologist Dr. Andrew Currie, believes this discovery is a major breakthrough in the treatment of one of the most deadly forms of cancer. 

Thousands of people die from mesothelioma each year. This incurable disease is almost always caused by exposure to thin fibres of airborne asbestos which become lodged in the protective mesothelium sac that covers the lungs and other internal organs. These fibers then cause abnormal cell growth. In most cases, the symptoms of mesothelioma do not appear for over 20 years after exposure.

One of the greatest advantages of this research is that both of the drugs have been investigated for safety. With Imiquimod already available commercially and antiCD40, a anti-cancer drug noted for decreasing the size of cancerous tumors, being tested currently in clinical trials, the movement for this new treatment should proceed quicker than previous treatment options. Although Imiquimod does have some known side effects when being used to treat skin cancer, such as blistering and blackened skin, most of these symptoms disappear when treatment is complete.

University Professor Steve Broomfield believes the new mesothelioma treatment is should be highly regarded, as it causes a rampage by dormant killer lymphocytes which attack the cancer and at least double survival times. We join the officials at the National Center for Asbestos Related Disease (NCARD) in Australia, as we too are hopeful that this new treatment combination will “revolutionize” mesothelioma treatment within the next few years.

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Mesothelioma Treatment in Germany Gives Years to Patient

BBC News has reported the story of Debbie Brewer, a 49-year-old mother of three from Plymouth in Devon, UK. In November of 2006, Brewer was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. She was given six-to-nine months to live, but two years later, Debbie Brewer will be spending another holiday with her children, and her cancer is in remission after a pioneering mesothelioma treatment she received in Germany.

Brewer was awarded a six-figure compensation after her diagnosis, as her asbestos exposure was attributed to hugging her father after he had worked with asbestos. This non-occupational exposure to asbestos has been well-documented as a cause of mesothelioma in women and children who have not worked with asbestos directly themselves, but were exposed in the home when a spouse returned home with asbestos fibers on their clothes.

On a tip from a doctor and after learning of the 60% success rate for mesothelioma in Germany, Brewer took her compensation and headed to the University Clinic in Frankfurt. The clinic uses a treatment called chemoembolisation. This is a treatment often used to fight liver cancer, as it introduces chemotherapy drugs directly to the tumor area. In Brewer’s case, this was a catheter introduced directly to the affected lung.

According to the BBC, mesothelioma specialists have informed Brewer that her tumor has shrunk by more than half and is in remission. Brewer’s elation over having more years to spend with her children cannot easily be described in words. Brewer has launched a campaign to have the treatment brought to the UK for trials and spread her renewed hope.

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Asbestos Awareness Day Conference Registration Open

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, an independent organization funded through voluntary contributions and staffed completely by volunteers, has opened registration for its 5th Annual Asbestos Awareness Day Conference for March 27 through March 29, 2009. This year’s event will be held at the Manhattan Beach Marriott in Manhattan Beach, CA.

In 2004, asbestos victims and their families founded the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). The mission of ADAO is to provide the most advanced medical, occupational and environmental information available about asbestos-related diseases to individuals throughout the world. The global asbestos crisis will be an integral part of the 2009 ADAO conference, and there will be a particular focus on India, the world's largest importer of asbestos.

This year the organization plans to bring together a powerful combination of asbestos victims, their families, employers, employees, researchers and medical experts from around the globe to offer medical, occupational and environmental information about asbestos-related disease. There will be expert speakers discussing exposure prevention and identifying occupational and non-occupational exposure, public health, and the early warning symptoms of asbestos-related disease. Musician Jordon Zevon, son of Warren Zevon (who lost his life to asbestos disease) and prominent advocate for the rights of asbestos victims and their families, will be the event’s keynote speaker.

The conference is made possible with the support and collaborative efforts of two key organizations. The first is the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, which is one of the 41 National Cancer Institutes and is considered one of the nation’s best facilities, as they have conducted over 700 cancer-specific scientific investigations and clinical trials. The International Ban Asbestos Secretariat also plays a key role in the conference. The IBAS works as an instrument for the exchange of information between groups and individuals working to achieve a global asbestos ban.

For more information or to register, go to: www.AsbestosDiseaseAwareness.org.

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Should I Get a Second Opinion for My Mesothelioma Diagnosis?

I consider it always in one’s best interests to explore all viable mesothelioma treatment options. In preparation you should work closely with your diagnosing physician or primary care physician as he or she will likely be actively involved in your follow-up care should you seek treatment from a mesothelioma specialist or expert in the remedy of mesothelioma.

Many times family members, those close and not-so-close, will try to sway or encourage the mesothelioma patient to seek consultations for treatment that he or she has no desire to undergo. Nevertheless, obtaining a second opinion is a highly personal choice.

Before you meet with the specialist you should not only gather all your medical records but also take into consideration the following when you meet:

• Do you believe that the doctor is honest with you?
• Do you feel comfortable talking with the doctor?
• Are you able to understand what type of treatment is proposed?
• What is required of you during recovery?

I have observed that when a mesothelioma patient chooses the surgeon or mesothelioma specialist with whom he or she feels the most comfortable, the patient seems to have a brighter prospect and attitude toward recovery.

If it takes a consultation from more than one mesothelioma specialist, then do it; but do it quickly. A wait-and-see approach to your mesothelioma diagnosis will only lessen your chances for a viable treatment option.

In this exclusive series we examine the book 100 Questions and Answers About Mesothelioma by Harvey I. Pass, MD,; Laura Roy, RN,; and Susan Vento.

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Evaluating Mesothelioma Specialists and Treatment Facilities

I have been given a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Since this is a rare disease, how do I know that my physicians have enough experience with the disease to treat me?

Ask! Don’t hesitate for one second to ask your doctor about his experience treating mesothelioma! He or she will not be offended. Keep in mind that if your physician had been given the same diagnosis, the physician would also be asking where to find the best treatment.

According to Dr. Pass, if your physician or medical treatment facility has not treated more than 50 cases of mesothelioma per year or does not specialize in the disease, your doctor will most likely refer you to a cancer treatment center.

Enlist your doctor’s aide in coordinating your initial consultation with a mesothelioma specialist or other treating facility. Many people I have spoken with claim that their personal physician is their strongest advocate. Use your trusted physician to perform the preliminary medical testing and provide your medical history to your new doctor. Once you have undergone surgery or chemotherapy, your primary care physician will be instrumental in your recovery.

In this exclusive series we examine the book 100 Questions and Answers About Mesothelioma by Harvey I. Pass, MD,; Laura Roy, RN,; and Susan Vento.

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