Researchers Making Strides in Mesothelioma Treatment

One of the most devastating types of asbestos-related disease is mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. This disease is particularly harmful due to the extreme latency period that is associated with it.

Most cases of mesothelioma take anywhere from 20 to 50 years to develop, which typically results in a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma that has already reached the advanced stages.

The most commonly used treatments for malignant mesothelioma are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, not all patients respond the same way to these therapies, which is why scientists from universities and pharmaceutical companies are routinely conducting research on asbestos with the hope of improving treatment options for asbestos-related disease.

One such company is Alfacell, who is currently testing a product called Onconase that works in a similar fashion to RNA interference (RNAi).

Onconase offers a therapeutic medication based on Alfacell’s proprietary ribonuclease (RNase) technology. Interesting enough, it is a natural protein taken from the leopard frog. Several studies have shown it can be used to kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells throughout the body.

Researchers from the National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital have also made an astounding discovery concerning a cure for mesothelioma cancer. The positive results became official when a commercial skin cancer cream was able to cure mice with advanced mesothelioma tumors.

The test requires doctors to inject the skin cancer cream Aldara into the mesothelioma tumors of patients. Aldara is a product typically applied to skin to treat basal cell carcinomas. In addition to the skin cancer cream, a stimulant drug known as anti-CD40 is injected into the tumors as well.

Experimental treatments and clinical trials are also being carried out around the world in an attempt to find a solidified cure for mesothelioma. Today, progress with mesothelioma treatment is being made at a record pace thanks to the increased amount of funds and awareness towards the disease.

Continued research on asbestos and related cancers will hopefully provide new insights on curable treatment options for mesothelioma patients.

For more information on mesothelioma treatment, visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 29th, 2008 at 2:45 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.