Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

For some patients, participation in a mesothelioma clinical trial may offer new hope in the face of a poor prognosis. Mesothelioma is an aggressive disease, and treatment options for advanced cases are limited.

Mesothelioma clinical trials allow researchers to learn whether a new medication or procedure is effective and safe for use in humans. Studies of human subjects are a front-line weapon in the quest to find treatments and cures for mesothelioma and other cancers.

No one knows in advance how a mesothelioma clinical trial will turn out - that is what makes a trial necessary. And that is what makes choosing whether or not to participate in a clinical trial one of the toughest and most personal decisions facing a person with mesothelioma. There is no right or wrong choice; no single solution for all patients.

Benefits and Risks of Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

As in any decision-making process, there are steps mesothelioma patients can take to help them decide whether or not to participate in a clinical trial. The first step is to take an honest, critical look at the general benefits and risks of being a test subject.

Potential Benefits of Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

• Mesothelioma clinical trial participants may receive health care provided by leading physicians in the treatment of asbestos-related diseases.
• Subjects may have access to new drugs and treatments before they become widely available, and may be among the first to benefit if they prove effective.
• Participants' health will be closely monitored during a study.
• Choosing participation in a mesothelioma clinical trial allows mesothelioma patients to take an active role in treatment, which may help them feel more in control.
• Subjects make a personal, valuable contribution to mesothelioma research.
  

Potential Risks of Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

• Trial medications and treatments may cause side effects or risks not known to researchers.
• Mesothelioma clinical trial drugs and procedures may be ineffective or deliver less benefit than current approaches.
• Trial approaches that prove beneficial for some may not work for all.

Is There a Mesothelioma Clinical Trial for You?


If you have mesothelioma and are wondering whether you might benefit from participating in a mesothelioma clinical trial, you may wish to talk to your doctor. He or she can tell you whether a clinical trial is a viable option for you and help you identify trials for which you may be qualified.

You can also explore the option of mesothelioma clinical trials on the Internet. ClinicalTrials.gov is a website provided by the National Institutes of Health that offers a searchable database where patients can find information on current trials. The National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov) and the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) offer similar services.

New Mesothelioma Treatments

New Treatments for Mesothelioma

Current research focuses on causes, prevention, and improving accuracy of diagnosis and effectiveness of mesothelioma treatments. In spite of advances in research, there is still a great deal to be learned. Mesothelioma treatments that combine surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, called multimodality therapy, are now being studied. These may provide the most promising option for some patients. New chemotherapy drugs and other types of mesothelioma treatments are the subjects of current clinical trials.


Gene Therapy

A new approach to mesothelioma treatment is gene therapy, using special viruses that have been modified in the laboratory. In gene therapy, the modified virus is injected into the pleural (chest) space and infects the mesothelioma cells. The virus injects a gene into the tumor that heightens the effects of a mesothelioma-fighting drug.


Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy - treatment methods that fight mesothelioma through the body's immune system - is being evaluated in clinical trials. With immunotherapy, substances called biological response modifiers (BRMs) may be made by the body or in a laboratory. BRMs are used to boost, direct, or restore the body's natural ability to defend itself against cancer. This type of mesothelioma treatment is also called biologic therapy or biotherapy.


Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

IMRT is a new radiotherapy technique that has proven to be effective in controlling localized malignant mesothelioma. IMRT mesothelioma treatment delivers high doses of radiation to mesothelioma tumors, regardless of their size or shape. Precise targeting of radiation makes IMRT a preferred mesothelioma treatment over standard radiotherapy, in which the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor may also be exposed to high levels of radiation. Tumors that would once have been considered untreatable because of their proximity to vital organs can now be treated using IMRT.


Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of cancer-fighting drugs in the treatment of mesothelioma. Although chemotherapy has long been used in the treatment of mesothelioma, the search for safer and more effective chemotherapy drugs is ongoing.

Alimta is the brand name for one such drug, chemically similar to folic acid, which is being tested for the treatment of mesothelioma. Alimta is used alone for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic lung cancers whose growth has not been slowed by traditional chemotherapy treatments. When used in conjunction with cisplatin, Alimta is the only agent approved by the Food and Drug Administration for specific use in combating malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Anti-angiogenesis drugs are relatively new mesothelioma treatments that have been successful in shrinking and killing cancerous cells in animals. Although the success of anti-angiogenesis drugs in humans has not been proven, they are expected to yield similar results. Veglin is an anti-angiogenesis drug designed to target a wide range of cancers, including malignant mesothelioma.

Asbestos Side Effects

Side Effects of Asbestos Exposure

The side effects resulting from asbestos exposure have been a topic of great concern in recent years. Asbestos has been identified as a carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. No level of exposure to asbestos is known to be safe, and in fact, inhaled asbestos fibers can have serious side effects on human health. Smoking or exposure to cigarette smoke, combined with exposure to asbestos, greatly increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer.

The greater the amount and time of exposure to asbestos, the greater the risk of developing serious side effects, such as malignant mesothelioma. The length of time between exposure to asbestos and the first signs of disease can be as much as 50 years.


Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is one of the more serious side effect of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a very serious form of cancer affecting the smooth lining of the chest, lungs, heart and abdomen. Between 2,000 and 3,000 new cases of malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year - and this number continues to rise.

Mesothelioma often goes undetected until symptoms appear - typically decades after the initial asbestos exposure. While advances are being made almost daily in mesothelioma research and treatments, at this time malignant mesothelioma is considered to be a terminal disease. As in all cancers, early diagnosis and treatment offer the best hope for a favorable outcome in a patient with malignant mesothelioma.


Other Side Effects of Asbestos Exposure

Besides causing cancer, breathing asbestos can also cause a side effect called asbestosis, a slow accumulation of scar-like tissue in the lungs. Because the scar-like tissue does not expand and contract like normal lung tissue, breathing becomes difficult and blood flow to the lung may be decreased, causing the heart to enlarge. Changes in the lining of the lungs-such as thickening and fluid around the lungs-may be early signs of asbestos-related side effects.

The side effects from swallowing asbestos are less clear. Some people who have been exposed to asbestos fibers in their drinking water have higher-than-average death rates from cancer of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines; however, a definite link to asbestos exposure has not been determined in these cases.

When asbestos fibers penetrate the skin, non-malignant warts may emerge as another unpleasant side effect of asbestos exposure.

How To Apply For A Mesothelioma Scholarship

Awareness about mesothelioma is increasing tremendously across the globe. Almost each and every city in USA consists of various groups specializing in mesothelioma awareness. Mesothelioma research is an extensive topic which includes various aspects like discussion forums, mesothelioma legal cells, etc.

Recently, in 2003, the Mesothelioma Memorial Scholarship was introduced to offer tribute and honor the people affected by mesothelioma. It is one such financial need for these affected patients or their dependants. Mesothelioma Memorial Scholarship is a $500 scholarship given four times per year.

Scholarships and grants need not be paid back to the institute after being used.

Statistics indicate nearly 80% of people affected with mesothelioma were working in a workplace with asbestos content in the environment. For all kinds of mesothelioma, the common factor in developing the disease is asbestos.

As mesothelioma is a cancerous disease, it leads to huge expenditure for its patients to get effective treatment. Many patients are still ignorant about the various financial aids offered to bear the treatment, legality and other expenses.

This scholarship is offered to students who have completed their high school education and is open to those attending traditional colleges as well as those going through vocational/technical programs, continuing education, ministry training and job skills training programs.


Applying for a mesothelioma scholarship:

If you are a student and are interested in applying for mesothelioma scholarship, you should undergo the following steps:

• Find out institutions offering this kind of scholarship programs and opt for the best choice

• You need to get the necessary papers ready including doctor certificates and referrals

• Then you need to apply for a suitable mesothelioma scholarship

Harmful Exposure Of Asbestos

If you think you have had any asbestos exposure, you should contact a doctor immediately. Inhaling the small, sliver-like shards of this mineral, used in insulation in older homes and businesses can be extremely hazardous to your health, especially after prolonged exposure.

If you have only had one or two short exposures to this mineral, you should be able to breath easy, however, if you work in an office or have lived in a home that has been ridden with asbestos for decades, you may have already done some serious harm to yourself. Asbestos easily becomes airborne, especially friable asbestos. When inhaled, these small shards attach themselves onto the lining of your lungs and into your lung tissue as well as in your airways. Over time, with continuous asbestos exposure, these imbedded shards can become inflamed and turn into cancerous tumors called Mesothelioma or lung cancer. Both cancers are very difficult cancer to treat.

Clean up can occur to cease any more asbestos exposure. Companies are available that specialize solely in the removal of asbestos. This is a pricey conquest and certainly not an easy task, but it will prove to be invaluable when you are no longer subjecting yourself or others to this dangerous chemical. When a company comes in to remove the asbestos, it generally requires the removal of the insulation itself, which means tearing down the drywall.

The proper protective gear is worn during this time as well as well ventilated breathing masks. Most people employed by asbestos removal companies are asked to not have facial hair to lessen the risk of any asbestos "clinging" onto the hair and risking the chance of inhalation. It is imperative that the material remains wet at all times as friable asbestos, when dry, is the worst asbestos exposure. Once the asbestos is removed, it is placed inside a protective container and taken to a landfill that accepts asbestos disposal. Many landfills do not accept this chemical, so make sure to call ahead. It is possible to take on the task of removing the asbestos yourself, but trusting a reliable company to do the work for you will ensure that it is done correctly and will lessen your risk of asbestos exposure if you do not do it right the first time. Your health is not anything to play around with and it is important not to take any risks, especially when hazardous chemicals are involved.

Mesothelioma Victims - Support & Advice

Most people that develop mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos in the past. Mesothelioma, a cancer of the mesothelium grows mainly in the lining of the lungs and abdomen and it takes decades for the symptoms of the cancer to surface. The main symptoms are chest pain and difficulty in breathing.

If you have worked with asbestos or materials containing asbestos, for example shipyard workers, insulation engineers, maintenance workers, building workers, you can develop mesothelioma. People working in other industries could also be exposed to asbestos without remembering the exposure. Also some people who were exposed to asbestos through washing and handling of clothes contaminated with asbestos and some people living close to asbestos industries may also develop mesothelioma.

Presently there is no known cure for mesothelioma, the treatments available only help to control the symptoms and improve quality of life of the victim. The type of treatment will be individualized and it depends on the stage of the cancer.

Help and Support
Every mesothelioma case will need support and help, many find it hard difficult to accept the diagnosis, others feel bitter and angry. Every mesothelioma victim must have access both to information about the disease and to emotional support, including someone to talk to when they feel like. There are several specialist organizations that provide such help.

Your Benefits and Compensations
All mesothelioma victims may be entitled to social security benefits and compensations from employers or both. These are some of the benefits you might be entitled to:
a}Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit-You can get this quickly paid so you should make your claim as soon as possible so as to be able to get your benefits.
b}War disablement pension-If you were exposed to asbestos while serving in the armed forces, you can make this claim from the Veterans Agency.
c}Constant Attendance Allowance-This allowance may be paid to you once you receive any of the benefits mentioned above.
d}You may also be entitled to a lump sum payment from the Government under the Pneumoconiosis e.t.c{Workers Compensation}Act 1979,or in Northern Ireland,the Pneumoconiosis e.t.c{Workers Compensation}{Northern Ireland}Order 1979.

Whoever you choose to consult about benefits, you should always ask about a payment under the 1979 Act or Order and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

These and some other benefits and compensations are what you are entitled to if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma - Chemotherapy Treatment

Mesothelioma is a malignant type of cancer that is caused by being exposed to asbestos. The cancerous cells are developed in a protective lining that covers internal organs in the body called mesothelium. The most common site of mesothelioma is in the outer lining of the chest wall and lungs called the pleura. It can also occur in the lining of abdominal, peritoneum cavity, or the sac that is around the heart, pericardium.
It is found that most people that develop mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos particles at some time in their life.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer and Doctors want to treat it as soon as possible and with aggressive treatment. One of the treatments includes Chemotherapy and its strong drugs that can destroy the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is an option for those patients that are not able to go through a surgical procedure. The Doctor determines if the patient is a surgical candidate or not. Chemotherapy has been used since around the 1940's.
Using Chemotherapy for treatment of mesothelioma can be taken in pill form, intravenously, or if the cancer is in the pleural; it is injected directly into the lungs.

Chemotherapy treats the disease by using chemicals that kill the bad cancerous cells and also damages the good cells around the cancer area. There are a few types of chemotherapy treatments for mesothelioma besides the curative intent.
They are:

- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
- Adjuvant chemotherapy- which means chemotherapy is used after a surgical technique and if the doctor feels there is a risk for recurrence of the cancer.
- Combined modality chemotherapy- this means chemotherapy is used in combination with radiation therapy or surgery.
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy- referrs to being done prior to surgery to reduce the size of the tumor mass.
- Palliative chemotherapy- is used as a treatment to the symptoms of mesothelioma

There are side effects that come from chemotherapy treatment. Most Doctors tell the patients about these side effects that can come from this treatment. Most of the side effects will go away when the treatment has ended. These include:

- Weakening of the immune system
- Hair loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Decrease in number of red blood cells
- Ototoxicity
- Nephrotoxicity
- Higher risk of cardiovascular disease
- Cardiotoxicity
- Hepatoxicity

The results of treating Mesothelioma with Chemotherapy can be good to stop the growth of the cancer and help shrink it, but unfortunately there is no cure for mesothelioma.