The biotechnology company MolMed, based in Italy, has announced positive results for their Phase II trial of NGR-hTNF for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. The trial consisted of 57 malignant pleural mesothelioma patients that were previously treated with chemotherapy.

According to MolMed’s Web site, NGR-hTNF is a compound based on the combination of a tumor homing peptide (NGR), peptides that hone in on tumors, with the human Tumor Necrosis Factor (hTNF). The resulting molecule increases vascular permeability and has a direct biological antitumor activity, making NGR-hTNF useful as both a therapeutic option and as a part of a combination therapy with most chemotherapy methods.

In 2008, NGR-hTNF was granted Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma in Europe and in the United States.

During the trial, one group of patients received the drug every three weeks and the other received it each week. Both groups received low doses of the drug intravenously, meaning the medication was injected directly into a vein.

The results of the trial demonstrated a median overall survival rate of one year. The disease control rate during the trial was 46 percent, which was maintained for a median total duration of 4.7 months.

MolMed also found there was a significant difference in the progression-free survival rate at six months between the patients who received NGR-hTNF each week and those who received the drug every three weeks. The group of patients that received the drug each week showed a median progression-free survival rate of 36 percent while the group that received the drug every three weeks showed a median progression-free survival rate of 13 percent.

With the conclusion of the trial, MolMed plans to start another Phase II trial of NGR-hTNF in combination with cisplatin for lung cancer. Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug that is often combined with newer medications to increase the effectiveness of treatment. For pleural mesothelioma, one of the most effective treatment options available involves cisplatin and another chemotherapy drug called Alimta.

In addition to malignant mesothelioma, NGR-hTNF is undergoing trials for colorectal cancer, heptocellular carcinoma, small-cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer.

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Research conducted by F. Vandermeers and co-authors has provided insight into a new treatment combination for malignant mesothelioma patients.

According to research published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, the addition of valproate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, with the traditional combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin may improve the effectiveness of this more common form of treatment for mesothelioma tumors.

The research was performed because current chemotherapeutic regimens are often ineffective, as mesothelioma tumor cells are typically resistant to treatment. The researchers initially hypothesized that the unresponsiveness of mesothelioma tumors to conventional therapeutic agents might be due to inappropriate gene expression resulting from epigenetic modifications (which are changes in physical gene expression caused by mechanisms other than alterations in DNA sequence).

While evaluating the effect of valproate, the researchers learned that valproate increases apoptosis (natural cell death) induced by pemetrexed and cisplatin in mesothelioma cells. They also realized that valproate efficiently stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species, which are small molecules that include oxygen ions, free radicals and peroxides.

The presence of valproate, either alone or combined with pemetrexed and cisplatin, is enhanced with the processing of a certain protein know as truncated Bid and also when cytochrome c (another protein) is released from mitochondria. This result improves the proapoptotic effectiveness of pemetrexed and cisplatin.

According to F. Vandermeers and other colleagues, the combination of valproate with pemetrexed and cisplatin prevents tumor growth in mouse models of epithelioid mesothelioma.

The researchers also stated that the “observations support the potential additional efficacy of valproate in combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin for treatment of malignant mesothelioma.”

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

A man diagnosed with mesothelioma is singing the praises of hospice care, stating his time at St. Helena Hospice in Essex, England has given him a new lease on life.

David Shirra was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer, in late 2007. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and Shirra worked with asbestos frequently as a docker.

Following his mesothelioma diagnosis, 71-year-old Shirra and his wife, Doreen, were shocked, stating the news hit them like “a bolt out of the blue.” His family, especially his teenage granddaughter, took the news very hard.

Shirra’s time at St. Helena’s not only helped enjoy his life again, but it helped his granddaughter accept his diagnosis after she enrolled in an art therapy course offered by St. Helena Hospice.

“I am sure that a lot of people out there think of hospice as a place to go to die, but it is not. They have been a lifesaver to me,” Shirra stated.

Though a mesothelioma cure does not exist and prognosis for patients is typically poor, Shirra stated that the support of hospice has inspired him to keep living.

“I might break world records and live for another 20-odd years! At least we can try,” he said. “When the time comes to go, I shall kick and scream, but at least I shall be happy that I had 70-odd years.”

Mesothelioma patients often experience difficult breathing, and Shirra says when he would go to bed at night “it would be like drowning.” He experienced relief through hospice stating, “Since they showed me how to breathe, I have had no trouble.”

Shirra also praises the staff at St. Helena Hospice noting they “are really interested in you as well. It is not just a check-list. It is like a second family here. Nothing is too much trouble. They are like guardian angles.”

Socializing with other hospice patients is also enjoyable for Shirra. Like Shirra, any patients are facing incurable diseases, and Shirra says the hospice environment allows him to feel at ease discussing serious issues.

“I talk to people outside and they say, ‘How are you?’,  but you can’t go too deep into your problems. Here most of us have the same sort of problems so we just relax and talk to each other.”

Shirra adds, “If I hadn’t come to the hospice, I don’t think I would be so happy and relaxed. I think I would’ve given up the ghost.”

Additional information about mesothelioma treatment and mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Results from a recent study suggest that radiation treatment used for patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma may actually increase the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.

Past studies have revealed a relationship between radiation and an increased risk for developing mesothelioma, a rare, but highly aggressive cancer that typically affects the lining of the lungs. In a recent study, 2,567 patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma were examined by researchers for an increased mesothelioma risk.

Patients were at least five-year survivors of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and were previously treated with chemotherapy or radiation or a combination of both. Follow up after 18 years revealed that 13 patients developed mesothelioma at least five years after they were treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The 232 patients treated with chemotherapy alone showed no signs of mesothelioma development.

While exposure to asbestos is widely regarded as the most common cause of mesothelioma, some patients who develop this cancer have no known history of asbestos exposure. Radiation treatment, simian virus exposure, organic chemicals and chronic inflammation have also been suggested as risk factors for mesothelioma development in humans.

Though the link between radiation and the development of mesothelioma exists, the cause of the cancer is most commonly attributed to asbestos exposure. Once asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested into the body, they can become lodged in organs or body cavities, causing inflammation or infection. Overtime, this can lead to the development of mesothelioma.

A mesothelioma diagnosis often occurs 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos, often making diagnosis difficult. Though a cure does not exist, treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery may be available to mesothelioma patients.

Additional information about mesothelioma and mesothelioma treatment may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

The 2009 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma will be held Thursday, June 25 through Saturday, June 27 in Washington, D.C. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The event is organized by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and will feature international mesothelioma experts, patients, advocates and caregivers.

The specialists participating in the three-day symposium will update attendees on the latest developments in treatment, research and clinical trials and each day covers a different topic.

Day one focuses on advocacy, noting the importance of communicating with federal leaders about the need for funding for mesothelioma research and the banning of asbestos use. The topic for day two is “Renewing the Spirit,” and will address support issues. The day also includes a series of roundtable discussions about a variety of topics ranging from nutrition to pain management. Day three will cover treatment.

The Celebration of Hope gala dinner will be held Friday evening to honor patients living with mesothelioma. Three annual awards will be given acknowledging a political leader, contributions made by a research company toward new mesothelioma treatment options and volunteer efforts by mesothelioma community members.

A tribute ceremony will be held the morning of the dinner to remember those who have passed away from mesothelioma. Attendees may submit a photograph and the name of a lost loved one for use on a tribute wall and in a picture collage during the ceremony.

“This conference is for everyone – patients, caregivers and family members, those who have lost a loved one, volunteers, advocates, and medical and scientific experts. Everyone struggling with this disease and everyone who cares about the mission to cure it will gain valuable medical information, coping skills, support, new friendships, and opportunities to make a real impact in the mission,” said the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s welcome letter for the symposium.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for mesothelioma through funding research, providing patient support services and participating in federal mesothelioma advocacy. Registration for the symposium may be completed at www.curemeso.org.

For additional information about mesothelioma please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

W.R. Grace & Company has recently announced their renewal of a $250,000 donation to the St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby, Montana. Grace, who operated an asbestos-contaminated vermiculite mine in the area, is contributing the donation for the tenth consecutive year.

St. John’s is a charitable medical facility that provides healthcare to all the residents of South Lincoln County. Over the past 10 years, the donations have accumulated to more than $2 million and have been used to establish a clinic for those affected by asbestos-related diseases.

One such illness is malignant mesothelioma, which is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. This particular cancer usually affects the lining of the lungs, but it can also occur in the lining of the heart and abdomen.

In addition to establishing a clinic, the donations have been used to train medical staff, purchase equipment and treat those with medical conditions. New devices for a state-of-the-art laboratory have been purchased as well.

St. John’s CEO Bill Patten recently said, “As the sole hospital in the area, we have had to continually increase our services to meet the needs of the community. We are thankful to Grace for its financial support over the past 10 years.”

Grace also funds another medical program for current and former residents of Libby suffering from asbestos-related conditions. Grace has contributed more than $17 million to the Libby Medical Program, which has over 1,000 patients enrolled.

According to the Libby Medical Program’s Web site, “Libby Medical Program became effective on April 3, 2000 and was created to provide former employees of the Grace Libby Mine and Mill, their dependents and others who live (or lived) in the Libby area, who suffer from asbestos-related conditions and illnesses, with medical care coverage for medical treatment necessary to treat those conditions and illnesses.”

In a recent trial, a jury acquitted Grace and three of its former executives of knowingly exposing mine workers and Libby residents to asbestos. With annual sales of more than $3 billion, Grace employs about 6,200 workers and operates in more than 40 different countries.

Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

A specific type of surgery performed as a component of a treatment plan designed for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma was deemed effective prior to chemotherapy treatment by a study presented at the 2009 European Multidisciplinary Conference in Thoracic Oncology.

The surgical procedure known as a pleurectomy/decortication (a type of surgery involving the removal of the outermost lining surrounding the lungs) was evaluated in the study. The study examined the procedure in conjunction with chemotherapy and radiation in a trimodal treatment approach.

A team of professionals including Dr. Servet Bölükbas and Dr. Horst Schmidt Kliniken designed the study to test the effectiveness of pleurectomy/decortication as the surgical component in malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment rather than pneumonectomy (removal of a lung).

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Patients with the disease typically demonstrate symptoms several decades after initial exposure occurred, allowing the cancer to progress to later developmental stages. A multimodal therapy approach using two or more methods of treatment is often recommended for mesothelioma patients.

Thirty-five patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were enrolled in the study over a five-year period from November 2002 through October 2007. Patients underwent the pleurectomy/decortications procedure prior to four chemotherapy sessions (using cisplatin and pemetrexed) and radiation to the chest wall and mediastinum (a group of structures in the thorax) approximately four to six weeks following the surgery. Approximately 94 percent of the patients completed the treatment regimen.

The results from the study were reported May 3, 2009. The one-year survival rate was 75 percent with a median survival rate of 33.2 months. The two-year survival rate was 61 percent with the three-year survival rate reported at 43 percent.

The researchers concluded that the use of pleurectomy/decortication as the surgical component in a multimodal treatment plan using chemotherapy and radiation demonstrated positive survival results and morbidity and warrants additional testing.

Additional information about mesothelioma and treatment options may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

A mesothelioma patient bet bookmakers $145 that he would live longer than doctor’s predicted.

Buckinghamshire, England resident Jon Mathews could collect nearly $51,000 if he continues to win his battle with mesothelioma through next summer.  Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.

After undergoing mesothelioma treatment, including lung surgery in 2006, doctors told Mathews there was nothing more they could do and encouraged him not to make any plans for Christmas that year.

Mathews placed a 50-1 accumulator bet with bookmakers William Hill, betting he would live longer than the doctor’s prognosis.

“I asked for the doctor’s prognosis in writing and she explained they had never heard of anyone surviving mesothelioma beyond two years after diagnosis,” said Mathews. Mathews has already collected nearly $7,300 in June 2008, could pocket an additional $14,500 this summer and stands to collect the final $29,000 in the summer of 2010.

“In a way it’s a shame the bet is only valid for three years - because the way I feel right now I’m indestructible,” Mathews stated. “These wins are a huge incentive to stay alive.”

Mathews plans to donate some of his winnings to Macmillan Cancer Support, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with cancer.

As for the rest of the money? Mathews plans to use the excess winnings for cigarettes, beer and the occasional bet.

“I smoke 30 cigarettes a day, enjoy a pint and like the occasional flutter (small bet), especially when I’m winning,” he said.

Mathews says his survival is due to an Indian doctor of homeopathy, stating, “All the main stream doctors could prescribe for me was morphine but this healer put me on a course of herbal medicines that have not only changed, but prolonged my life.”

Graham Sharp, spokesman for William Hill said Mathew’s bet request was very unusual, but the bookmakers accepted since Mathews was “adamant that it would give him an additional incentive to battle his illness.”

“Never in 30 years in this business have I been so pleased to pay a winning client,” said Sharp.

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Rosetta Genomics, a molecular diagnostics company announced a license and collaboration agreement April 16, 2009 with Prometheus Laboratories Inc., granting the pharmaceutical and diagnostic company rights to three microRNA-based cancer diagnostic tests in the United States.

The agreement between the two companies includes payments to Rosetta Genomics through milestones, research funding and royalty payments on net sales in the Unites States. Additionally, Prometheus will make an $8 million equity investment in Rosetta Genomics at $4 per ordinary share (a 41 percent premium over the closing price of the company’s stock over three days).

The companies have also agreed to work together to develop two additional microRNA tests, with funding provided by Prometheus.

The three tests Prometheus has rights to in the current agreement include miRview™ meso, miRview™ mets and miRview™ squamous. Rosetta Genomics developed the tests by studying microRNAs, non-coding genes sensitive to biomarkers.

“We believe these three molecular diagnostic tests can help oncologists personalize therapy and are ideally suited to lead our entry into the oncology market, while complementing our emerging internal oncology diagnostics program,” said Joseph M. Limber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Prometheus.

The three tests aid in disease diagnosis. miRview™ meso utilizes biomarkers in microRNAs to distinguish the presence of mesothelioma from other cancers of the lung and pleura (the lining of the lungs).  Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. A mesothelioma diagnosis cannot currently be obtained through one specific test, but the miRview™ meso test may make it easier for mesothelioma doctors to provide a patient with an accurate diagnosis.

“We are delighted to enter into this comprehensive partnership with Prometheus,” stated Amir Avniel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rosetta Genomics. “With Prometheus these tests now will be available across the U.S., and will be supported by an organization with a proven ability in diagnostic testing services and in launching new products.”

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

A recent announcement at Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s annual conference provided insight into a new method for diagnosing asbestos-related diseases. Michael Harbut, co-director of the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers (NCVAC) at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan, believes the new approach could make a significant impact on public health.

The NCVAC was established through the joint effort of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM). Its main focus is to address the need for early diagnosis and aggressive treatment options for asbestos-related disease.

While COEM has expressed an interest in asbestos-related diseases for quite some time, the Karmanos Cancer Institute has been heavily involved in the basic research of various types of asbestos-related cancer.

According to Harbut, “Radiographic approaches developed by Carmen Endress, Associate Professor of Radiology at Wayne State University School of Medicine, allow us to visualize lesions caused by asbestos exposure in three dimensional detail and often at a much earlier stage than that of the current standard radiographic techniques.”

The new approach enhances images obtained from a 64-slice high resolution CT scan by using the Vitrea(R) imaging software program developed by Vital Images, Inc.

Benefits of the new approach include earlier detection, better differentiation between patients with scarring on the lungs and other illnesses, and increased success in the overall diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related disease, including mesothelioma.

Currently, a mesothelioma diagnosis typically occurs after the disease has already reached the advanced stages of development. Following diagnosis, patients usually have limited treatment options and a poor prognosis.

Harbut said the identification of an asbestos-related disease at an early stage could play a significant role in reducing the death rate among those affected by asbestos exposure.

Dr. Endress added, “It’s my sincere hope that with this new approach and enhanced technology we will help reduce the death rate caused by asbestos-related diseases, reduce the suffering by patients and their loved ones, and make a significant contribution to medicine.”

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.