Mesothelioma Treatments Making Significant Progress

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is most notably caused by exposure to asbestos. Such industries that have been known for exposing people to the toxic substance include the shipyard, automotive, mining and construction industries.
In the majority of cases, exposure occurs when someone has disturbed asbestos-containing materials and have either inhaled or ingested the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos. Once in the body, these fibers typically attach themselves to the lining of the lungs and remain there since the body has difficulty in expelling them.

In years past, the majority of treatment options for malignant mesothelioma have unfortunately been more palliative than curative. This is largely attributable to the severe latency period associated with the disease. The development of mesothelioma can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years, and patients are usually diagnosed when the disease has already reached the advanced stages.

Common treatments for mesothelioma have included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Lately though, hospitals, universities, and pharmaceutical companies have pushed for increased research on asbestos and asbestos-related diseases to enhance treatments options.

Alfacell is one company that has recently made significant strides in developing a new treatment. Their product is called Oncanase, which works in a similar way to RNA interference (RNAi). Oncanase is a therapeutic medication that is derived from the leopard frog. It has been proven to kill cancerous cells while sparing normal cells at the same time.

Another discovery concerning a potential mesothelioma cure has come from researchers at the National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Their findings involve a skin cancer cream called Aldara, which was first proven to be successful in mice.

The method of treatment requires the skin cancer cream to be injected into the patient’s mesothelioma tumor. In addition to the cream, a stimulant drug called anti-CD40 is also directly injected into the tumor.

Experimental treatments and clinical trials such as these are being carried out on a regular basis around the world. Today, progress with mesothelioma treatment is being made with the help of increased funds and awareness towards the disease. Continued research on asbestos and related cancers will hopefully bring curable treatment options for mesothelioma patients in the future.