Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer that is caused by previous exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring insulation compound that was used for decades in thousands of different industrial products.
Until recently there were very little effective treatment options for those diagnosed with mesothelioma aside from chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments, which in most cases were only able to extend comfort and extend survival rates minimally. However, in recent years, exciting news has begun to shake the foundations of the mesothelioma treatment establishment. Not only are tri-modal and surgical treatments beginning to advance far beyond previously-established boundaries, but preventative measures against mesothelioma are now being explored and tested.
In March of 2010, a group of Dutch researchers concluded that a new mesothelioma vaccine, based within immunotherapy, is now safe for further trial. The vaccine itself infuses the dendritic T-cells of the body’s immune system to produce anti-mesothelioma antigens and fight off the disease themselves, as opposed to foreign cyto-toxic agents used in traditional chemotherapy.
The study, based in the Netherlands, found that among the 10 patients tested with the vaccine, most produced a T-cell response against mesothelioma tumors, confirming what could be groundbreaking progress in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. While the patients tested with the vaccine all had existing mesothelioma tumors and responded well to the therapy, the hope is that the vaccine will act as a preventative measure against the formation of mesothelioma tumors in those knowingly exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is known only to be caused by asbestos. Since the late 1970s, it became apparent that asbestos manufacturers were fully aware of the hazards asbestos posed but continued to use it in their products. Many of those who were exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma have been able to successfully collect compensation for their injuries from asbestos manufacturers.
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- American Cancer Society. Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_malignant_mesothelioma_diagnosed_29.asp?sitearea=
- The Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/mesothelioma/diagnosis.html
- U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Medline Plus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000116.htm
Last modified: March 05, 2010.