Mesothelioma Pages

Former Major League Baseball player Charlie Metro has just died after battling with rare cancer mesothelioma. Metro was 91 years old. Although asbestos is known to be the cause of mesothelioma, as well as lung cancers and asbestosis, not much is known about how or when Metro was exposed to the toxic chemical.

In an interview in 2007 Metro reminisced of working summers in the Western Pennsylvania coalmines along side his father, a full time miner. Metro survived a blast that killed seven other workers, to which he said, “And I said ‘To heck with it’ after that.” Perhaps it was these times in the coalmines that provided Metro with eventually fatal asbestos exposure.

The mining industry is well known for asbestos exposures. Workers are often exposed to raw asbestos in situations of limited air supply and ventilation, raising the chance for inhalation of asbestos fibers. Asbestos dust and fibers can also be trapped on clothing, shoes and in hair, and brought home to family members and loved ones.

Having given up on a career in mining, Metro began his baseball career in 1940. He played for the Detroit Tigers before moving into management. Metro worked as a manager, and scout for decades. Always connected with the baseball world, Metro continued to work as a consultant after his retirement.

Mesothelioma affects about three thousand Americans each year. It is grimly characterized by a short life expectancy following diagnosis. Proper diagnosis is difficult to reach for several reasons. Mesothelioma develops over decades, often taking twenty to fifty years to show symptoms. Many mesothelioma patients have no idea they were ever exposed to asbestos so they are unaware that they could possibly be developing mesothelioma. Also, mesothelioma symptoms mimic those of bronchitis and pneumonia, creating opportunities for false diagnoses and further postponing appropriate treatments.

There are two types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs, and peritoneal mesothelioma which affects lining of other abdominal cavities such as the heart. Pleural mesothelioma is the more common of the two. Both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma are characterized by a system of irregularly patterned malignant tumors.

Mesothelioma treatments are available. Today, health care providers are using a combination of surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy to treat mesothelioma. However, there is no known mesothelioma cure. Many patients are choosing a regime of palliative care that focuses on better breathing, pain management and quality of life without fighting the cancer directly.

Italian researchers have set a new record for most in-depth study of mesothelioma. Using synchrotron soft x-ray imaging and florescence microscopy scientists were able to take a closer look at the cause, formation and development of mesothelioma tumors.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer affecting about three thousand Americans each year and an estimated twenty thousand worldwide. Mesothelioma rates are expected to rise as its main cause, toxic chemical asbestos, continues to be used worldwide. At the current rate of unprotected asbestos use, a peak in mesothelioma and related respiratory illnesses is inevitable. In spite if being considered an ‘orphan disease’ because it affects less than two hundred thousand people at a time, mesothelioma receives much attention from researchers and scientists who are working to find a cure for this aggressive cancer.

Asbestos is the known cause of mesothelioma. Once inhaled asbestos dust and fibers begin a mutative process in lung lining and lining in of other abdominal cavities. This begins growth of irregularly patterned tumors, which characterize malignant mesothelioma. Most commonly undetected for twenty to fifty years, mesothelioma has a long latency period. When symptoms do demonstrate they mimic those of pneumonia and bronchitis, making this disease very difficult to diagnose.

Mesothelioma patients may not know they were ever exposed to asbestos, giving them no cause for concern. Once proper diagnosis is made, life expectancy ranges between six months and five years. There are mesothelioma treatments available; surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are all used to fight mesothelioma. Palliative treatments are also available for patients who choose to focus on pain management and quality of life.

Italian researchers found that the iron content in asbestos fibers may be the body to react by trying to isolate the foreign matter. Tissues surrounding asbestos fibers build a ‘pod’ around the area called an ‘asbestos body.’ These bodies are characteristic of mesothelioma and similar cancers.

The researchers report having “revealed the location, distribution and elemental composition of asbestos bodies and associated nanometric structures.” Magnesium may be a part of the ‘asbestos body’ building process as affected areas tested high for the substance. Silicon was also found in high counts close to the fibers.

In an article in Particle and Fibre Toxicity journal, the researchers report, “The new results obtained by simultaneous structural and chemical analysis of tissue specimens have provided clear evidence that magnesium, in addition to iron, is also involved in the formation mechanisms of asbestos bodies.”

A study by the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada has tested the effects of fish oil on cancer patients. Specifically, the fish oil was used to maintain healthy body weight during preparation, treatment and recovery from cancer treatments.

Cancer patients consistently struggle to keep up healthy body mass. Not only does the disease fight against patients’ natural support systems, but the strong chemotherapy drugs used against the cancer also tax the patients’ resources. Surgery and other procedures weaken the patient even further, minimizing the natural abilities to fight the disease and handle the treatments. Healing and recovery happens faster in healthy patients, and cancerous tissues respond better to chemotherapy in a healthy body.

Mesothelioma patients are one group that would greatly benefit from healthier body weight during treatment. Mesothelioma is a rare respiratory cancer that takes years to develop. By the time it has been diagnosed patients immune systems and regular functions have been greatly taxed. Loss of body mass furthers the weakness and can hinder potentially good responses to treatment.

Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos fibers which can be inhaled or ingested after becoming airborne. These fibers are found in countless materials and components used across the world in industries such as construction, fuel refining, shipbuilding and munitions manufacturing. Although asbestos is relatively safe when it is contained, if it becomes disturbed and dust and fibers escape, there is a great potential health threat.

The University of Alberta study based its approach on the fact that a healthy diet and overall good patient health was a heavy indicator of treatment response and disease control. Keeping up patients body weight could potentially help save lives.

The study included forty patients diagnosed with non small-cell lung cancer. Sixteen of these were given fish oil while twenty-four comprised the control group. A daily does of 2.2 grams of fish oil was given to those sixteen patients to aid in maintaining “weight and muscle mass during chemotherapy.”

Results showed that sixty-nine percent of patients receiving daily fish oil gained or maintained muscle mass, while only twenty-nine percent of those not receiving fish oil did the same.

Patient health is vital for all cancer patients before, during and after treatments. Mesothelioma patients are often diagnosed later in life as the disease is characterized by a latency period of twenty to fifty years. Mesothelioma treatments usually include several rounds of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy—a lot for a patient to endure. The fish oil study may be the beginning of new treatment preparation for the thousands of Americans fighting mesothelioma each year.

Sigma Life Sciences is a biotechnology company specializing in research products development and supply. From cell lines to patient models, Sigma provides custom and ready-to-use products for all lines of scientific testing and research. Hoping to “offer researchers cellular models of cancer that are expected to enhance development of drugs for personalized medicine,” Sigma Life Sciences is now providing a line of genetically modified cancer cells.

This addition to available products is great news for mesothelioma researchers as the new cell line will be invaluable in the continued search for a mesothelioma cure. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer affecting about three thousand Americans each year and some ninety thousand people globally. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos fibers that can begin a cancerous development once inhaled or ingested. Although asbestos risks are known, the toxic material continues to be used in countless industries and building initiatives for its fire resistant qualities and durability.

Mesothelioma affects lining of abdominal cavities, typically that of the lungs. Irregularly patterned tumors grow for decades without demonstrating any signs or symptoms. This latency period is characteristic of mesothelioma and usually lasts for twenty to fifty years, making mesothelioma difficult to diagnose. Patient life expectancy ranges between six months and five years following proper diagnosis of the disease. Mesothelioma treatments are available, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Many of these treatments are used in a palliative approach, aiming to manage pain and enhance breathing. There is no known cure for mesothelioma.

Sigma uses its proprietary tool CompoZrZFN to aid in development of personalized treatments through “target validation, identification of mechanistic actions of drugs and investigation of disease development, progression and remission.” CompoZr allows for development of “knockout” models for treatment research. “Knockout” is a term referring to a genetic process in which a gene of a test specimen is decommissioned and removed or “knocked out.” It is then used for comparison to cells of normal or unaffected test specimens.

Sigma Life Sciences has received the silver star medal for “Top Ten Innovations of 2010,” given by The Scientist magazine in recognition of CompprZr’s development of knockout lab rats.

Edward Weinstein, director or SAGE Labs, Sigma Life Sciences’ genetic engineering facilities, says knockout technologies will “provide scientists with powerful new tools to study human diseases.” The new line of genetically modified cells will begin with models of colorectal and lung cancer.

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.

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADOA) will host a conference in Atlanta, Georgia to inform and educate the public on the growing threats of asbestos exposure. The ADOA and groups like it are closely following the recent asbestos exposure crisis in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Flamingo Hotel.

During renovations at Flamingo Hotel asbestos was allegedly exposed in large amounts and was referred to as a threat to public health. With an abundance of national regulations covering the use and abatement of asbestos the federal government became involved to investigate the happenings at the Flamingo. The renovations were being done to keep the property up to US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) codes.

This would not be the first time repairs attempting to keep facilities on par with national health standards have been the cause of violations against those very regulations. Particularly difficult are the cases of asbestos abatement; tampering and removing damaged or worn materials can potentially cause greater exposure risks than leaving the containing materials untouched.

Asbestos was used heavily in the US before the 1980s. Now, as materials used in original construction are wearing out, asbestos, which was once safely contained in building components, is becoming free and airborne.  This is a greater problem in schools and municipal buildings with longer times of use and higher traffic patterns within the same structure.

Airborne asbestos fibers can cause fatal respiratory conditions. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the mesothelium, lung lining, which is caused almost solely be asbestos fibers. If inhaled, asbestos fibers can begin a mutation process in the mesothelium and lining of other abdominal cavities, which grows into irregularly patterned tumors.

Mesothelioma claims about three thousand American lives annually. It takes decades to develop making it extremely difficult to diagnose. Patients who do not know they were exposed to asbestos may have mesothelioma for much of their lives with no idea they are ill at all. Symptoms begin to show twenty to fifty years after development begins. They include wheezing and coughing which further postpones proper diagnoses being taken for pneumonia or other respiratory illnesses. Although mesothelioma treatments exist, there is no known cure.

Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes asbestos regulations in their Clean Air Act, many individuals and companies choose to violate these laws rather than follow them. Public health and safety is put at risk when illegal, profit-saving methods are used to cut corners in proper removal, disposal and clean up of asbestos.