Mesothelioma Pages

A recent demonstration of IBM’s artificial intelligence (AI) personality, Watson, on television’s ‘Jeopardy!’ caught the attention of attorney Joseph Belluck, a partner in the law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP, in New York, representing mesothelioma victims.

In the demonstration Watson played three rounds of ‘Jeopardy!’ against highest earnings winner Brad Rutter and 74-game winner Ken Jennings. Although a few mishaps were reported, Watson beat both men hands down making him the first machine contestant to win ‘Jeopardy!’ Watson donated his winnings to organizations Word Vision and World Community Grid.

Belluck said of the demonstration, “IBM’s Watson was able to weigh numerous options in response to ‘Jeopardy!’ questions – or answers, actually – and respond more quickly and more accurately than humans, and that also means that computers are one step closer to assisting physicians as diagnostic tools.”

IBM has announced partnership with Columbia University, University of Maryland and Nuance Communications Inc, who collectively plan to develop a cybernetic physician’s assistant (PA) with voice recognition capabilities. AI could be on its way to the doctor’s office in as few as 18 months.

With the ability to hold, sort, search and manipulate medical information, patient histories doctor’s notes and more, an AI PA could greatly raise the chances for precise and proper diagnoses of such rare diseases as mesothelioma.

“Having this volume of information instantly available will be an incredibly valuable advance. Mesothelioma victims need as many options as possible to fight this terrible disease,” Belluck said. “Computers that can help with a complex medical diagnosis will be especially helpful for mesothelioma victims, since their symptoms are often confused with other conditions, and the earlier the disease is accurately diagnosed, the better the survival odds are.”

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. If inhaled these toxic fibers can begin a mutative process developing into malignant tumors through the lining of abdominal cavities. Most often affecting the lungs, mesothelioma takes twenty to fifty years to demonstrate symptoms, making it incredibly hard to diagnose early. When symptoms do show they mimic those of pneumonia and bronchitis, further postponing proper diagnosis.

Mesothelioma has no known cure. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Palliative care is also an option for patients who want to manage pain and focus on quality of life. Life expectancy following a mesothelioma diagnosis averages eighteen months.

A recent study by University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago showed that 62 – 88% of physicians miss key patient information that could aid in proper diagnosis and treatments. AI may be the next best phase in patient care.

Following an intense review process, seven research projects have been awarded a collective $700,000 by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation). This amount brings Meso Foundation’s total funding to $1.7 globally, since their start in 2000.

The peer review program, managed by Meso Foundation’s Science Advisory Board, searched the applicants for the greatest potentials in line with their mission to end mesothelioma suffering through the development of new treatments and a cure.

Applicants included direct mesothelioma researchers as well as researchers whose total works had a great impact on cancer treatment in general.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos fibers, which, if inhaled, can begin development of tumors in abdominal cavity lining. Typically affecting lung lining, mesothelioma takes decades to demonstrate symptoms and is characterized by a short life expectancy following diagnosis. There are many mesothelioma treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but no known cure.

Former Chair of the Foundation’s Science Advisory Board, Dr. Raffit Hassan, is the current Senior Investigator at National Cancer Institute. Hassan led Meso Foundation’s selection process. He said “The Foundation has selected proposals that will lead to new treatment options for patients with mesothelioma. Clearly, the Meso Foundation Grants Program continues to have a significant impact on mesothelioma research conducted world-wide.”

The seven funded research projects are:

• Dr. Chuong Hoang, Stanford University: Mesothelioma Biomarker Development Drive by microRNA-mRNA Regulatory Module Network Analysis
• Dr. Fengzhi Li, Roswell Park Cancer Institute: Validation of a novel antiapoptotic protein inhibitor for mesothelioma treatment
• Dr. Bin Liu – Lance S. Ruble & Ferraro Law Firm Grant, University of California at San Francisco: Internalizing scFv-targeted intracellular delivery of small RNA therapeutics to all subtypes of mesothelioma
• Dr. Jill Ohar – Franz Losch Memorial Grant, Wake Forest University School of Medicine: Consortium for the sharing of germ line DNA and tissue from subjects with mesothelioma
• Dr. Manish R. Patel, University of Minnesota: Evaluation of predictive biomarkers and the host immune response to intrapleural administration of oncolytic Measles virus in a phase I clinical trial specifically for patients with mesothelioma
• Dr. Morgan Schulz, Brigham and Women’s Hospital: Tumor-Localizing Polymeric Nanoparticle Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Malignant Mesothelioma
• Dr. Sheelu Varghese, University of Maryland School of Medicine: Pre-Clinical Development of a Novel Therapy for Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The new Chair of Meso Foundation’s Science Advisory Board, Dr. Lee Krug, Director of Mesothelioma Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, said, “We selected seven exceptional grants for funding, but certainly wish we could have funded more.”

Queensland, Australia has suffered great damage from a recent twin cyclone and flooding. With much of the area destroyed, communities have pulled together to help one another pick up and rebuild after the devastation. For president of Asbestos Disease Foundation, Barry Robson, the communal support is a nightmare. “It strikes terror into my heart, it really does,” said Robson in response to the well-meaning Queensland locals.

Robson is acutely aware of the safety issues related to this type of clean up. Aside from the more obvious dangers of loose debris and unstable structures, Robson recognizes the almost invisible threat of asbestos fibers. “You can just about say any house built before 1984 has it,” he says of the presence of asbestos amongst the wreckage.

Asbestos fibers cause severe respiratory damage. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer most commonly associated with asbestos exposure. If inhaled, asbestos fibers can begin a cancerous development of malignant tumors through the lining of abdominal cavities such as the lungs or heart, which take decades to recognize. Once a diagnosis is made, life expectancy is grim; patients typically survive between six months and two years. Although mesothelioma treatments exist, there is no known cure.

Robson fears for the Queensland community. “People are trying to do the right thing, that’s the problem,” he said. “It’s just a natural reaction — everyone wants to get in and clean up, but they just forget about the dangers. Then 20 to 30 years from now we might have people coming down with deadly diseases.”

Warnings have been broadcast and guidelines advertised for clean up. Power tools and pressure hoses that would spread toxic fibers in the air are not allowed. People are urged to use protective masks, keep the debris damp and not to attempt moving larger pieces of wreckage. Contractors and soldiers have flocked the area to aid in the work.

Operation Yasi Assist’s commander Brigadier Stuart Smith has brought 1000 troops to north Queensland, helping to rebuild homes and necessary structures. Volunteers and members of the community are going from house to house covering damaged roofs, moving trees and closing up windows.

Philip Bird, of Tasmanian State Emergency Service (SES), joins Robson in his caution of further heath damage. Bird and his crew are trained to recognized asbestos materials and respond accordingly.  “If it’s broken or smashed and dry, we leave it alone, we don’t have the equipment to deal with it. If it’s wet, we can work in the vicinity.”

Asbestos use continues to grow worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The costs and characteristics of asbestos have made it a popular choice for building and manufacturing materials. While the US, UK and Australia move forward with initiatives to clean up after decades of using the toxic chemical, nations around the world are just beginning their years of exposure.

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers asbestos a Type 1 carcinogen, most commonly associated with fatal respiratory conditions. Rare cancer mesothelioma is caused solely by asbestos and is currently responsible for an estimated fifteen to twenty thousand mesothelioma deaths annually around the world. WHO expects this number to quickly triple if the mass asbestos use is not curbed.

Many organizations continue to fight for the global discontinuation of asbestos use. One of these is a group of Italian scientists in Modena, Italy associated with Collegium Ramazzini. The International Journal of Environment and Health published an article in which, according to the Collegium, fifty-two countries have banned all asbestos use. There are close to two hundred countries globally, which leaves many still using the dangerous materials.

Sadly, diseases caused by inhaled asbestos fibers are slow to develop, so proper safety and protection measures are often postponed until symptoms demonstrate and diagnoses are made. Even then, in developing countries testing and treatment centers are hard to come by and commonly unable to handle such specific conditions.

Mesothelioma develops after asbestos fibers start a mutation in the mesothelium, lining of the lungs and other abdominal cavities. This mutation grows into irregularly patterned tumors which spread through the lining over a course of decades. Mesothelioma is characterized by a long latency period, typically between twenty and fifty years. Once symptoms to show they resemble those of bronchitis or pneumonia, making the caner difficult to diagnose.

In countries where mesothelioma treatments exist, they consist of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. There is no known cure for mesothelioma. Many patients are choosing palliative which focuses on pain management and quality of life, rather than cancer direct treatments.