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Mesothelioma history shows the earliest record of tumors on the lining of the lungs occurred in 1767. It wasn’t until 1909 that J.G. Adami coined the term “mesothelioma” to classify this rare cancer. Mesothelioma was linked to asbestos exposure in the 1930s.
Written by Michelle Whitmer | Scientifically Reviewed By Yvonne Waterman | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: November 12, 2024
The primary cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Most cases trace back to occupational exposure in the workplace.
Mesothelioma carries a long latency period. It can take anywhere from 15 to 70 years for the cancer to develop after a person’s first exposure to asbestos.
Secondary asbestos exposure also causes mesothelioma. Workers can unknowingly take asbestos fibers home on their clothes or equipment. This, in turn, exposes their families to danger. Mainly, it’s the spouses and children of these workers who are affected.
Tumors in the mesothelium were first identified in the mid-1700s. The term “mesothelioma” was first used in the early 1900s. It forms in the mesothelium, a protective layer that surrounds internal organs.
Research established a link between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. In the 1920s, workers began to file lawsuits. By the end of the 1970s, mesothelioma lawsuits had become widespread.
For decades, research has shown mesothelioma is unique and linked to asbestos. Studies since the 1940s have tied asbestos to this rare cancer.
Research on Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Early research linked asbestos to mesothelioma. Studies showed that exposure, whether at work or in the environment, increases the risk of mesothelioma and other cancers.
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Surgeries were the first treatments for mesothelioma. Then, in the 1950s, radiation therapy emerged. Chemotherapy followed in the 1970s.
After years of research, no cure for the four mesothelioma types is found. Yet treatments have improved, allowing for longer, better lives. Surgery can even extend life beyond the usual one-year estimate for some.
Innovative clinical trials are seeking a cure for mesothelioma. At the same time, researchers aim to improve its diagnosis. This progress could lead to earlier detection and better prognosis.
Surgery for mesothelioma began in the 1940s using pneumonectomy and pleurectomy. Pneumonectomy is also used to treat lung cancer.
The pleurectomy and decortication procedure is mesothelioma surgery. It was created in the 1960s and is still used today. Initially, it helped patients with trapped lungs due to tuberculous empyema. Now, it also aids those with mesothelioma.
27% and 50%
Percentage of pleural patients and peritoneal patients, respectively, who qualify for surgery.
In the 1970s, doctors tried a surgery called an extrapleural pneumonectomy. The mortality rate for this surgery back then was as high as 31%. Today, it’s around 4% in leading cancer centers.
Heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, or HIPEC, was developed in the 1990s. The late Dr. Paul Sugarbaker was one of the first to use it for peritoneal mesothelioma patients. Now, HIPEC surgery allows half of these patients to survive beyond five years.
From the 1970s to the 1990s, various chemotherapy drugs treated mesothelioma. Their response rates, between 20% and 40%, led doctors to seek better options than 5 years.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has included cisplatin and pemetrexed in the standard treatment for mesothelioma. This combination is now the most common therapy for the disease.
In the 1990s, heated chemotherapy was tested as a treatment. Usually, it followed surgery, but some patients got it without surgery.
In the 1950s, doctors started using radiation therapy for mesothelioma. They injected radioactive colloidal gold into the pleura. However, for decades, they thought it was too risky to target the lung lining. The concern was potential damage to vital organs like the heart.
A 2001 phase II clinical trial changed that perspective. It reported a low 13% local recurrence with radiation therapy. Application after extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery was key. Advanced techniques used today reduce radiation exposure to vital organs.
A newer type of radiation called proton therapy uses a beam of protons instead of photons. It better targets mesothelioma tumors. Proton therapy is only available at specific cancer centers in the U.S.
“The advantages of radiation therapy for mesothelioma are getting better and better every day. New advanced types of radiation therapy are coming out, including proton therapy, which reduces the risk of healthy tissue damage by using particles that don’t escape the cancer and only stay within the cancer abnormal cells, not affecting healthy tissue.”
In 2019 and 2020, the U.S. FDA approved two new mesothelioma therapies. One is the first immunotherapy combination of drugs like Opdivo, Keytruda and Yervoy for this cancer. The other, Tumor Treating Fields, uses electrical fields to curb growth.
Recently Approved Mesothelioma Treatments
It can take decades for a therapy to receive approval because the FDA must ensure it is safe and effective for the public.
Emerging treatments for mesothelioma are under development in clinical trials throughout the world. Therapies under investigation for mesothelioma treatment include new immunotherapy drugs, vaccine therapy, gene therapy, epigenetic therapy, virotherapy and anti-angiogenic drugs.
Photodynamic therapy, which uses light and drugs, is being tested for mesothelioma. It kills cancer cells. Cryotherapy, on the other hand, uses extreme cold to treat cancer. A study in 2020 showed it could relieve chest pain. Many of these treatments are available in U.S. clinical trials.
Certain U.S. cancer centers focus on mesothelioma treatments and trials. For example, Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital is noted for its surgical skill and leadership in trials. Similarly, the Pacific Mesothelioma Center in Los Angeles has been investigating immunotherapy and gene therapy since 2002.
The mesothelioma program at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center helped develop the only FDA-approved chemotherapy regimen for mesothelioma. The Mesothelioma International Treatment Program at AdventHealth Cancer Institute in Orlando, Florida, is known for robotic surgery and clinical research.
Since 1991, the mesothelioma community has met every two years for the International Mesothelioma Interest Group Meeting. Researchers and experts worldwide gather to share treatment progress and discuss future research for a cure.
In 2009, Sydney, Australia, opened the first facility solely for mesothelioma research. The Asbestos Diseases Research Institute focuses on treating mesothelioma. It also looks into how mesothelioma is diagnosed and its psychological effects on patients and families.
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Whitmer, M. (2024, November 12). The History of Mesothelioma. Asbestos.com. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/history/
Whitmer, Michelle. "The History of Mesothelioma." Asbestos.com, 12 Nov 2024, https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/history/.
Whitmer, Michelle. "The History of Mesothelioma." Asbestos.com. Last modified November 12, 2024. https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/history/.
An occupational scientist or another expert who specializes in occupational hazards reviewed the content on this page to ensure it meets current scientific standards and accuracy.
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Yvonne Waterman, Ph.D., is the founder of the European Asbestos Forum and a specialist in asbestos litigation. Waterman has worked to build a global network of professionals fighting for a future without asbestos exposure and disease.
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