Researchers at the Boston Children’s Hospital have identified a protein produced by certain tumors that inhibits the spread of cancer, and has the potential to be developed into a cancer treatment.
Currently there is no therapy that has been approved to inhibit the migration of cancer cells from the original site of the cancer.
Researchers have found that metastic tumors prepare landing places for additional cancerous cells in other organs by secreting proteins that encourage tumor growth. This new study now shows non-metastic tumors secrete protein called prosaposin that inhibits metastasis by blocking the growth of blood vessels.
When the protein was tested on mice that had cancerous tumors metastisis was reduced significantly and survival time in the mice increased by 30%.
With no cure having been found for mesothelioma, and most treatments being focused on extending time of survival, one would assume that treating mesothelioma might be a great usage for this protein. To this point ridding someone of mesothelioma isn’t a reality but until that day comes containing the disease caused by asbestos exposure is incredibly important in increasing time of survival. Hopefully this newly found protein will help in containing mesothelioma until we find a cure.
A meeting in Eveleth, Minnesota will be held to figure out what is causing the high rate of mesothelioma, the cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
Hopes are that a survey conducted by the University of Minnesota will study 1200 taconite workers and 800 of their spouses. Dr. Jeff Mandel of U of M will be mailing letters to invite people from the area to participate in the study. Letters will be sent to people regardless of whether they are suspected to have contracted mesothelioma or not. This will provide a random sample of the workers.
Participants in the study will get an x-ray, blood test, and breathing test to screen for mesothelioma.
Last week a Rio Vista, CA man was awarded .4 million dollars in a lawsuit against Hamilton Materials Inc., a company who manufactures and distributes an asbestos containing joint compound.
Last year Jack Reynolds, a veteran of the Navy and former drywaller, was diagnosed with mesothelioma that was caused by asbestos exposure. Reynolds sued Hamilton Materials Inc., back in May for producing the “Red Dot” brand joint compound that contained asbestos that led to his diagnosis of mesothelioma.
Research is now showing that employees in hair salons could be at a higher risk to develop mesothelioma.
Traditionally asbestos exposure victims have often been associated with occupations such as factory, mine, and construction workers but hair dressers may be just as susceptible to mesothelioma.
The research suggests that asbestos fibers become lose in these salons then travel through hair dryer vents and make their way into the air in the salon. The research also states that there have been several cases of salon employees dying of mesothelioma before the age of 60 over the last 30 years.
To read more about the research please click here
19 Jun
Posted by Julia as Blogs
Earlier this month the Ohio Legislature introduced a new bill suggesting that September be declared Mesothelioma Month.
The bill is being pushed by the State Representative Kenny Yuko. The hope is that designating September as Mesothelioma Month will raise awareness of mesothelioma allowing earlier detection in diagnosing the disease as well as motivating the medical community to work towards a cure and more effective treatments.
In Libby, Montana asbestos has killed more than 200 people and the Environmental Protection Agency has now declared a health emergency. The declaration is the first of its kind in the United States.
The declaration will bring over 0 million to Libby, Montana in aid for asbestos cleanup and medical assistance. Roughly million of the aid will go towards local health care, to screen, diagnose, and treat illnesses like mesothelioma in and around Libby, Montana.
For years the disease and death rate from asbestosis and mesothelioma have been considerably higher than the national average in the Libby area. Dust and particles coming from the asbestos mine have contaminated the air but beyond that tailings from the facility have been used to fill driveways, gardens and even playgrounds.
“Literally no matter where these residents turned, they were being exposed yet again,” EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said. She said the declaration “should be a reminder of the serious consequences of mismanaging hazardous material.”
In May, W.R. Grace, the company responsible for the operation of the mine that has contaminated the area, and three of their executives were acquitted of criminal charges that stemmed from the mismanagement of the mine.
The family of a former Navy worker who died from mesothelioma has been awarded .2 million against John Crane Inc. After a six month struggle with mesothelioma, Gerald Gray of Suffolk, Virginia died just five weeks prior to his trial.
Gerald Gray worked on several ships over the course of a 20-year Navy career beginning in 1951. During his time with the Navy he breathed in asbestos fibers during repair jobs, as parts were changed out. Gray rose to become the command master chief for the Atlantic fleet, the Navy’s second-highest enlisted rank. He retired from the Navy in 1971 and became a local schoolteacher. One of his last wishes was for hospice workers to bring in a U.S. flag so that he could hold it as he died.
The lawsuit alleged that the negligence of five manufacturers led to Gray’s death. Moreover, the lawsuit contends the companies knew about problems with asbestos before the workers were exposed, but took no action. The lawsuit against the five manufacturers totaled million, but four of the five defendant companies settled out of court for an undisclosed amount before the case went to trial. However, John Crane fought the case and was ordered to pay 30 percent of the blame for the damages, or .2 million.
15 Jun
Posted by Julia as Blogs
Earlier this month at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), researchers presented findings from a phase three clinical trial that the drug ranpirnase added to the drug doxorubicin improves survival in pretreated patients with malignant mesothelioma.
Dr. Martin Reck, MD, Hospital Grosshansdorf, Hamburg, Germany, and colleagues compared the efficacy and safety of doxorubicin with or without ranpirnase. They studied 413 patients that had unresectable malignant mesothelioma. The patients were allowed to have up to 1 previous line of treatment and the mean age was approximately 62 years. The study found no real difference in survival rates among patients who received both drugs and patients who received one drug and a placebo. However, in a preplanned analysis of 130 patients who had been pretreated with chemotherapy, a significant advantage in survival in favor of doxorubicin plus ranpirnase was noted, with a median survival of 10.5 months for ranpirnase versus 9 months for placebo.
No adverse safety issues were observed with the addition of ranpirnase and researchers concluded that the treatment is safe and feasible and may result in a significant impact on survival compared with doxorubicin alone for pretreated patients.
Yesterday, The Union Tribune in San Diego published an article addressing the use of alternative medicine for cancer patients. At this point herbal and dietary supplements haven’t been tested enough to say whether they can help or harm an individual working to prevent or treat cancer. Below you will see a number of different forms of alternative medicine. First, techniques that are believed by scientists to ease the symptoms one would face while battling cancer; second, techniques that are not considered to be helpful and possibly even harmful; and finally, forms of treatment that offer a risk of hormone or drug interaction.
Alternative Medicine That Can Ease Symptoms
Alternative Options That Do Not Help And Could Cause Harm
Alternative Options That Offer a Risk of Drug or Hormone Interaction
All of the above information came from SignOnSanDiego.Com, Society for Integrative Oncology, American Dietetic Association, various federal agency Web sites, and AP interviews.
Mesothelioma survivor, Paul Kraus and his wife Sue spoke to another inspiring teleconference on June 06. They addressed over 30 newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients and their relatives. During the session, they talked about Paul’s diagnosis and prognosis, the physical treatments he pursued, the mental and spiritual approaches he used, working with doctors, and [...]