MedWorm: Mesothelioma

Military Veterans Linked to Mesothelioma & Asbestosis

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:25 +0100

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs stated that out of the millions of veterans who have served the country, hundreds of thousands have been exposed to asbestos during their service. Veterans were exposed to asbestos while working on naval vessels where asbestos was used as the main form of insulation. Used by every military branch in the United States, over 300 products containing asbestos were used by the Navy and other military sectors from the 1930s through the 1970s. Products containing asbestos were utilized due to its fire and heat resistant qualities. The mineral frequently appeared as insulation for ships, aircraft, vehicles and buildings. Shipyard workers, sailors and tradesman aboard these ships were wrongfully exposed aboard navigation rooms, sleeping quarters and ...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma Researchers Find Biological Marker to Help Diagnose Malignant Mesothelioma

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:51:32 +0100

In conclusion, strong membranous D2-40 positivity is helpful in differentiation of MM [malignant mesothelioma] from pleural involvement of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, so we suggest that it should be included in the IHC [immunohistochemical] panel used for this purpose.” Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Molecular Targets in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment.

Current Drug Targets — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:38:05 +0100

Authors: Pasello G, Favaretto A Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive tumour of the serosal surfaces with poor prognosis and increasing incidence due to widespread previous asbestos exposure. Relative chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic resistance makes malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) difficult to manage, even though encouraging results were achieved with multimodality treatment. Better knowledge of angiogenesis and molecular pathways involved in MPM seems to be the right way to define new targets for systemic treatment. Neoangiogenesis may be considered as a critical step in the development of mesothelioma. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) are autocrine growth factors in MPM and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) appears...

Mesothelioma Law: Asbestos-Related Lawsuit Filed Against 38 Companies

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:42:43 +0100

A recently filed lawsuit by Cleveland J. Savoy is claiming 38 different companies are responsible for his development of an asbestos-related disease. This is the second suit he has filed. In a previous suit issued against the companies, Savoy claimed a different asbestos-related injury in contrast to his most recent complaint. Savoy believes he was exposed to asbestos-containing products while working as a carpenter. He also stated in the lawsuit that the companies negligently continued to manufacture asbestos-containing products where he worked even after knowing the hazards associated with asbestos. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to several serious illnesses, including lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. The latter can be particularly harmful because most patients u...

Asbestos-related cancers among 28,300 military servicemen in the Royal Norwegian Navy

American Journal of Industrial Medicine — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

This study focus on the incidence of asbestos-related cancers among 28,300 officers and enlisted servicemen in the Royal Norwegian Navy. Until 1987, asbestos aboard the vessels potentially caused exposure to 11,500 crew members.Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated for malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and laryngeal, pharyngeal, stomach, and colorectal cancers according to service aboard between 1950 and 1987 and in other Navy personnel.Increased risk of mesothelioma was seen among engine room crews, with SIRs of 6.23 (95% CI = 2.51-12.8) and 6.49 (95% CI = 2.11-15.1) for personnel who served less than 2 years and those with longer service, respectively. Lung cancer was nearly 20% higher than expected among both engine crews and non-engine crews. An excess of colorectal ca...

New Mesothelioma Test Effective at Predicting Which Patients Will Benefit from Surgery

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:25:30 +0100

Researchers at the Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts have developed and tested a gene ratio test that helps predict which pleural mesothelioma patients will benefit from surgical procedures and trimodality therapy (multiple modes of therapy). The test, which analyzes relative expression levels of four genes involved in malignant mesothelioma, has shown in multiple studies to be effective at foretelling postsurgical outcome in pleural mesothelioma patients. The researchers were motivated to develop a molecular test that could predict surgical outcome because current staging methods and other means of assessing prognosis are insufficient at determining which mesothelioma patients will benefit from surgery or trimodality therapy. The report states that “Trimodality treatm...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma Treatment: Higher Doses of Radiation Found to be Beneficial

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:59:10 +0100

According to Australian researchers at the Austin Health Centre in Victoria, new radiation techniques may improve the life expectancy of mesothelioma patients. Throughout the past seven years, Dr. Malcolm Feigen, a radiation oncologist, has been developing new mesothelioma treatment methods involving higher-than-normal doses of radiotherapy. A total of 13 patients were included in the pilot program used to test the treatment. Dr. Feigen credits the facility’s ability to increase the dose of radiation to new technologies and better equipment. The result of the pilot program was evaluated by using PET scans before patients underwent radiotherapy and after the treatment was finished. Dr. Feigen said, “We’ve been very impressed that in most cases there’s a considerable improvement ...

Edinburgh Council Fined Â£14,000 For Asbestos Failures That Put Workers At Risk

Health News from Medical News Today — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Edinburgh Council has been fined Â£14,000 after 14 of its employees, were potentially exposed to asbestos while carrying out refurbishment work. The workers, including joiners, had been instructed to remove laboratory doors from Castlebrae Community High School back in April 2007 and carry out alterations at the council's workshop on Murrayburn Road. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Mesothelioma Study Finds Optimal Treatment Approach for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:19:53 +0100

In this study, British researchers analyzed clinicopathological features, operative procedures, early outcomes and survival rates among 17 patients who underwent surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Upon analyzing the results, the researchers found that “Cytoreductive surgery combined with intraperitoneal chemotherapy appears to be the optimal treatment for selected patients with peritoneal mesothelioma.” The researchers also noted that “Increased familiarity with this condition’s presentation and natural history, and knowledge of available treatment options, will hopefully facilitate treatment of these patients.” Current treatment options for peritoneal mesothelioma patients include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Treatment with any ...

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Applauds APHA's Call For Ban On Asbestos, Annual Warnings For Workers In High-Risk Occupations

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +0100

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) applauds the American Public Health Association (APHA), the largest and most diverse public health organization in the world. APHA adopted a resolution calling on Congress to pass legislation banning the manufacture, sale, export, or import of asbestos containing products including products in which asbestos is a contaminant. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Mesothelioma Treatment Improved with Addition of Sirolimus

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:06:27 +0100

Researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts have found that adding sirolimus to chemotherapy with cisplatin was more effective at treating mesothelioma than with cisplatin alone. Sirolimus, which is also known as rapamycin, is an immunosuppressant drug traditionally used to prevent rejection of organ transplantations (especially used in kidney transplants). Because of its anti-proliferative effects, sirolimus is currently being investigated as a potential treatment option in a number of cancers, including malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. The disease exhibits a long latency period of 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. This long latency period can make the cancer both difficult ...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Survival and relapse pattern after trimodality therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma

General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:27:04 +0100

Conclusion Trimodality therapy showed a survival benefit in patients with stage III or lower malignant pleural mesothelioma. Most of the recurrences were local. Therefore, better local control is required to improve the prognosis of the disease. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s11748-009-0440-2Authors Kenichi Okubo, Kyoto University Hospital Department of Thoracic Surgery 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku Kyoto 606-8507 JapanMakoto Sonobe, Kyoto University Hospital Department of Thoracic Surgery 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku Kyoto 606-8507 JapanTakuji Fujinaga, Kyoto University Hospital Department of Thoracic Surgery 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku Kyoto 606-8507 JapanTsuyoshi Shoji, Kyoto University Hospital Department of Thor...

Mesothelioma Case Filed Against DuPont

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:03:07 +0100

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against DuPont and 20 other companies for the passing of Ruby Neely, who died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma. Roger Neely, Ruby Neely’s son, filed the suit in Tennessee alleging his mother’s cancer was caused by asbestos fibers carried home on his father’s work clothes while employed at a nearby DuPont plant. Roger Neely’s father, Lively Neely, worked at the DuPont plant in Old Hickory, Tennessee for 20 years. During his employment, he unknowingly exposed his wife and himself to asbestos fibers. Lively Neely actually reached a settlement with DuPont during the 1980s before passing from an asbestos-related illness. He worked with asbestos insulation and around asbestos-laden equipment while at DuPont. Asbestos was used in a wide...

Mesothelioma Treatment: Imaging Scans May Improve Radiation Therapy

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:29:59 +0100

This study demonstrated the usefulness of PET-CT-based target volume delineation in patients with MPM. Co-registration of PET and CT information reduces the likelihood of geographic misses, and additionally, significant reductions observed in target volumes may potentially allow escalation of RT dose beyond conventional limits.” The study showed that radiation therapy may be improved with the use of co-registered PET-CT scans that produce more accurate target volume depictions. Researchers discovered promising results in this study and feel future research in this treatment approach is warranted. Thankfully, mesothelioma research studies like this clinical trial are being conducted throughout the globe and these studies help improve prognosis for mesothelioma patients worldwide. Addition...

Mesothelioma Testing Provided for Libby Residents

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:17:08 +0100

After declaring a public health emergency for the town of Libby, Montana in June earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will begin using a $6 million health care grant today, November 9, for treating patients with an asbestos-related disease. On November 16, that money will also be used to start screening community residents for potential asbestos-related issues, including those related to asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. Montana Senator Max Baucus said, “Help has arrived on the ground for folks in Libby who are victims of asbestos-related disease. It’s imperative that people exposed to vermiculite asbestos get screened to identify any asbestos-related disease. If diagnosed with an asbest...

Hidden Killer Message Taken To Key Trade Show, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0100

The dangers of asbestos will be amongst the workplace hazards and health issues under the spotlight at the National Painting and Decoration Show in Coventry next week (11-12 November). (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Late cutaneous metastases to the face from malignant pleural mesothelioma: A case report and review of the literature

World Journal of Surgical Oncology — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Mesothelioma metastases should be suspected in any known Mesothelioma patient with newly developed skin lesion. (Source: World Journal of Surgical Oncology)

Mount Sinai Medical Center Assessing Mesothelioma Impact in Libby, Montana

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:34:42 +0100

Researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine have announced that thousands of residents and workers in Libby, Montana are at risk for developing mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite ore for nearly a century. Libby is the site where W.R. Grace and Company operated a toxic vermiculite mine that was highly contaminated with asbestos. Several parts of the town were also affected by asbestos exposure including playgrounds, roads and other residential areas. For decades, workers in Libby brought the toxic dust home on their clothes where they unintentionally exposed their families to asbestos. Lead by Dr. Stephen Levin, M.D., associate professor of preventative medicine at Mount Sinai, the research team will lead an investigation into various components of a...

Mesothelioma Trimodality Therapy Benefits Patients

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:53:07 +0100

In a study recently published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, mesothelioma researchers found a trimodality therapeutic approach of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation to be effective in treating malignant pleural mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. A long latency period of 20 to 50 years complicates the diagnostic process and usually leads to a diagnosis at a late stage of cancer development. Because most cases of malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed in a late stage of development, treatment options are often limited to palliative measures intended to improve quality of life. Researchers are avidly searching for a cure for this rare cancer, as current treatment therapies typically fail to fully combat the cancer. According to the study�...

Mesothelioma Compensation: $20 Million Settlement Awarded to Maryland Resident

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:26:54 +0100

A Baltimore city jury has recently awarded more than $20 million to a woman who contracted mesothelioma cancer after being exposed to asbestos during the late 1960s. Jocelyn Farrar, a 57-year-old nursing professor at the University of Maryland, believes she developed malignant mesothelioma after experiencing secondary asbestos exposure from washing her grandfather’s work clothes as a teenager. John Hentgen, Farrar’s grandfather, worked with asbestos-containing insulation on a regular basis and likely carried home asbestos on his clothes. While doing laundry, Farrar inhaled asbestos fibers which later became lodged in the lining of her lungs. Exposure to asbestos, the primary cause of mesothelioma, can occur by either inhaling or ingesting microscopic asbestos fibers. If inhaled, the li...

Surgical Treatment of Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Past, Present, and Future

Annals of Surgical Oncology — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:54:53 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Thoracic OncologyDOI 10.1245/s10434-009-0763-3Authors H. Richard Alexander, University of Maryland, School of Medicine Department of Surgery Baltimore MD USA Journal Annals of Surgical OncologyOnline ISSN 1534-4681Print ISSN 1068-9265 (Source: Annals of Surgical Oncology)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma Research: Preventing Tumor Growth at Site of Chest Instrumentation

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:42:43 +0100

Mesothelioma researchers recently published a review in the medical journal Lung Cancer on current measures for preventing tumor growth at sites of chest intervention where surgery occurred or where medical instruments such as a catheter were placed. Mesothelioma cancer is a rare disease caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. In the United States approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with the cancer each year. Diagnosis can be challenging because the disease has a latency period of 20 to 50 years following exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately, mesothelioma treatment options are also compromised by the long latency period since symptoms do not arise until the cancer has reached late stages of development. Printed in the November 2009 issue of Lung Cancer, the study asses...

Researchers Assessing Health Impacts Of One Of The Nation's Largest Environmental Disasters

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Over nearly a century, thousands of residents and workers in Libby, MT, have been exposed to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite ore, leading to markedly higher rates of lung disease and autoimmune disorders, and causing to Libby in 2002 to be added to the federal Environmental Protection Agency's "National Priorities List. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Mesothelioma Diagnostic Test Launched by Pharmaceutical Company

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:35:53 +0100

Prometheus Laboratories Inc. recently announced the nationwide commercial launch of the diagnostic test ProOnc Mesothelioma Dx, in addition to two other diagnostic products. The company originally received United States rights to the three cancer tests from Rosetta Genomics in April this year. The three tests Prometheus acquired rights to were initially labeled miRview™ meso, miRview™ mets and miRview™ squamous. Now they are called ProOnc Mesothelioma Dx, ProOnc TumorSource Dx and ProOnc Squamous Dx. Rosetta Genomics developed the tests after studying microRNA technology, which consists of non-coding genes that are sensitive to biomarkers. According to Harvey Pass, M.D., Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology at New ...

Estimation of pulmonary motion in healthy subjects and patients with intrathoracic tumors using 3D-dynamic MRI: initial results.

Korean J Radiol — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: A 3D-dynamic MRI is able to quantify intraparenchymal lung motion. Local and global parenchymal pathologies can be precisely located and might be a new tool used to quantify even slight changes in lung motion (e.g. in therapy monitoring, follow-up studies or even benign lung diseases). PMID: 19885311 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Korean J Radiol)

Cooperative group research efforts in thoracic malignancies 2009: a review from the 10th annual international lung cancer congress.

Clinical Lung Cancer — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

This article captures this exchange from the 10th Annual Lung Cancer Congress held in June 2009. Exciting efforts are ongoing for all stages of non-small-cell lung cancer, small-cell lung cancer, and mesothelioma. A major focus of the groups at this time is a push toward more personalized medicine, as reflected in the selection criteria for many of the trials, along with planned correlates to better define populations most likely to benefit. Agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, including many tyrosine kinase inhibitors against the VEGF receptor, and those targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway, are under extensive development with many combination trials ongoing. PMID: 19900856 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Lung Cancer)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Military Veterans May be at Risk for Mesothelioma & Asbestos-Related Illnesses

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:51:56 +0100

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, thousands of military veterans are now suffering from the asbestos-related illness mesothelioma. Many veterans were exposed to the fibrous mineral asbestos while working on naval vessels where it was used as the main form of insulation. More than 300 asbestos-containing products were used from the 1930’s through the 1970’s, where it appeared on most ships used by the Navy and in the shipyards where ships and vessels were built. Those who served decades ago are beginning to demonstrate symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses, which can take up to 20 to 50 years to develop. The U.S. Navy was not ignorant of the dangers of asbestos and evidence suggesting the hazardous qualities of asbestos was swiftly covered up by asbestos ma...

Companies Fined After Workers Exposed To Asbestos, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Two businesses and a company director have been fined after workers in Manchester were exposed to potentially deadly asbestos fibres. The prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) comes just days before the launch of a national Â£1.2 million campaign to increase awareness about asbestos among tradespeople. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Aeromedical Transport of a Patient with Massive Chylothorax Following Pneumonectomy for Mesothelioma

Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:19:40 +0100

(Source: Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine)

Mesothelioma Blog and Cancer Forums Offer Support to Patients

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:40:11 +0100

In an effort to find support along their cancer journey, many mesothelioma patients turn to mesothelioma blogs and online cancer forums that help them understand their disease and cope with the emotions involved in a cancer diagnosis. One such mesothelioma blog, “Mesothelioma and Me,” has offered much hope and support to mesothelioma patients. The blog was created by Debbie Brewer, a woman who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in November 2006. Brewer was exposed to asbestos through hugging her father who came home from work covered in asbestos dust. Her father’s passing from asbestos-related lung cancer in August 2006 prompted Brewer to get a chest X-ray, which revealed an abnormality and mesothelioma cancer was later confirmed. Brewer started the blog just before receiving her diagno...

United States Navy And Merchant Marine Veterans May Face Risk Of Mesothelioma Or Other Asbestos Diseases

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:07:44 +0100

The law firm of Hissey Kientz, LLP (http://www.hkllp.com/) wishes to alert veterans of the United States Navy or Merchant Marine that they may be at risk of developing mesothelioma or other diseases as a result of asbestos exposure suffered during their time in the military. Until the mid-1970s, many vessels used by the United States Navy (http://www.hkllp.com/mesothelioma-and-asbestos/us-navy-asbestos-exposure/) or Merchant Marine were outfitted with parts or equipment containing asbestos. As a result, veterans who served in the United States Navy or Merchant Marine during World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War may have been put at risk of developing asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma or other diseases linked to asbestos exposure. (PRWeb Oct 28, 2009) Read the full story a...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Current Treatment Options for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:43:50 +0100

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops in the abdominal cavity, specifically in the mesothelial cells that form the peritoneum. Doctors and researchers have found a clear relationship between this cancer and high levels of asbestos exposure, but they have yet to find a cure. Because of the low incidence of peritoneal mesothelioma, few studies have been conducted on experimental treatments for patients. Most treatment methods have followed those recommended for pleural mesothelioma. A multimodality approach to treating peritoneal mesothelioma has shown encouraging results in some patients. With this method, two or more treatment options are completed at the same time, often involving the combination of surgery, chemotherapy and sometimes radiotherapy. However, this...

Mesothelioma Grant Research Helps to Find a Cure

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:12:22 +0100

Since there is no cure for mesothelioma cancer, research grants are extremely important in the fight to discover a cure for this rare disease. A recent increase in requests for a mesothelioma grant highlights the importance of research funding and the need for more grant money. The Meso Foundation Research Grant Program, started in 2000 by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF or Meso Foundation), is the primary independent source of mesothelioma research funding in the United States. To date, the Meso Foundation has funded nearly $6 million in mesothelioma-related research projects throughout the world. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. The disease has a long latency period of 20 to 50 years. Mesothelioma statistics report that a...

Primary small cell carcinoma of the pleura: a case report with immunohistochemical and molecular genetic analyses of KIT and PDGFRA genes

Medical Oncology — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:05:58 +0100

Abstract An extremely rare case of primary small cell carcinoma of the pleura with an emphasis on KIT and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α (PDGFRA) genes is reported here. A 67-year-old man underwent left testicular orchiectomy because of a testicular tumor. The tumor was immunohistochemically shown to be diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and radiation and followed up in our hospital. Eight years after the orchiectomy, the patient (75 years old) developed left pleural tumor and pleural effusion, and a biopsy was performed. The biopsy revealed a medullary malignant tumor consisting of small round and spindle cells. The following three possibilities were considered: recurrent lymphoma, mesothelioma, and small cell carcinoma...

Mesothelioma Case: Plaintiffs File Suit against 84 Companies

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:19:01 +0100

In a recent asbestos suit filed in Jefferson County District Court in Texas, plaintiffs are seeking compensation for either developing an asbestos-related disease or having a loved one pass away from a related condition. The plaintiffs include Alice Faye Galloway, Billy Jean Jones, Floy Elvira Linder and Larry Linder, who are filing on behalf of Johnnie Melvin Linder and Michael Curtis Whisnant, two loved ones that recently passed away. The suit names 84 defendant corporations with the plaintiffs claiming they were forced to work near asbestos-containing insulation and other asbestos products. The plaintiffs in the case are former craftsmen and construction tradesmen who have worked at refineries and chemical plants throughout Texas. Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesotheliom...

Mesothelioma, lung cancer and nutrition

NaturalNews.com — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0100

(NaturalNews) Mesothelioma doesn't have to be fatal. This rare form of lung cancer has long been feared by workers exposed to asbestos in their work environments, and much of that fear is justified: This form of cancer can be deadly. But it doesn't always have to be.There are natural ways to greatly extend life, even for those suffering from mesothelioma. Most are based on nutritional therapies, as you'll see below. It may seem counterintuitive to suppose that nutrition could play a role in a disease caused by a physical substance (asbestos), but in fact, antioxidants and phytonutrients that support healthy cellular protection can play a substantial role in preventing the onset of cancer.Below, we've collected research from a number of noted natural health authors who explain more about wh...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Lymph Node Metastases in Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Annals of Surgical Oncology — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:49:45 +0100

Conclusion Pathologically negative nodes (as compared with pathological positive and not assessed), along with pathological and biological features, independently correlated with increased survival following comprehensive treatment. This suggests the need for careful node sampling when performing surgical cytoreduction for DMPM patients. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Gastrointestinal OncologyDOI 10.1245/s10434-009-0756-2Authors Dario Baratti, National Cancer Institute Department of Surgery Milan ItalyShigeki Kusamura, National Cancer Institute Department of Surgery Milan ItalyAntonello Domenico Cabras, National Cancer Institute Department of Pathology Milan ItalyBarbara Laterza, National Cancer Institute Department of Surgery Milan ItalyMaria Rosaria Balestra, ...

Mechanisms of FUS1/TUSC2 deficiency in mesothelioma and its tumorigenic transcriptional effects

Molecular Cancer — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Our data support immuno-therapeutic potential of TUSC2, define its targets, and underscore its importance as a transcriptional stimulator of anti-tumorigenic pathways. (Source: Molecular Cancer)

Courts Order $1.5 Million in Damages to Family of Mesothelioma Victim

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:18:40 +0100

An Erie County jury in Buffalo, New York has ordered a former supplier of asbestos-ridden control valves and control packing to pay $1.5 million in damages to a repair man who passed away from the asbestos-related illness mesothelioma. Ronald Drabczyk repaired control valves manufactured by Fisher controls International, a division of Emerson Electric, which contained asbestos gaskets and packing. Drabczyk was a repair man for 18 years and passed away at the age of 70 on November 29, 2005, nine years after his retirement from the Niagara Falls plant. The six-week trial culminated with the jury deciding that the St. Louis-based Corporation was negligent and accountable for the fatal consequences in distributing its products with no prior information or labeling about its asbestos-containing...

Posttranscriptional Regulation of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Expression in Human Pleural Mesothelial Cells.

Am J Respir Cell Mol... — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Shetty S, Velusamy T, Shetty RS, Marudamuthu AS, Shetty SK, Florova G, Tucker T, Koenig K, Shetty P, Bhandary YP, Idell S The plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) effectively blocks the activities of both free and receptor bound urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). Incubation of cultured human pleural mesothelial (Met5A) cells with TGF-beta increased PAI-1 protein. TGF-betabeta-globin mRNA, indicating that the binding sequence accelerates decay of endogenous PAI-1 mRNA. Competitive inhibition by overexpression of the 33 nt binding sequence in MeT5A cells reduced PAI-1 mRNA decay and increased PAI-1 protein and mRNA expression, indicating that the PAI-1 mRNABp destabilizes PAI-1 mRNA by its interaction with the endogenous 33 nt binding sequence. Incubation of Met5A ce...

Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Electron Microscopy Remains Top Method

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:38:14 +0100

Despite recent advances in mesothelioma immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy remains the best method for diagnosing mesothelioma cancer from other cancers. Many cancers are diagnosed with the use of electron microscopy, which employs a powerful electron microscope to view cancer cells up close. An electron microscope uses a beam of electrons to shine light on a specimen (such as cancer cells) and produce a highly-magnified image. Specialists then observe the illuminated specimen and look for physical characteristics that denote one type of cancer from another. Electron microscopy has been very useful in the diagnosis of mesothelioma, a cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma statistics report that an average of 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with the c...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma Death Highlights Risk for Sheet Metal Workers

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:49:59 +0100

Sheet metal workers are one occupational group that has faced a history of asbestos exposure. In a recent story from Portsmouth England, Betty Williamson’s husband, a past sheet metal worker, passed away from an asbestos-related disease. Her husband, Tom Williamson, received a mesothelioma diagnosis in October of last year and was informed that he only had a few months to live. The couple initially became concerned after Mr. Williamson developed a bad cough. Mrs. Williamson believes her husband may have been exposed to asbestos during the 20 years that he worked for a sheet metal business. She said, “I cannot believe what has happened in a year. He was always a healthy person. We had lots of plans for our retirement.” The Health and Safety Executive plans to launch a new asbestos...

A Review of the Molecular Mechanisms of Chemically Induced Neoplasia in Rat and Mouse Models in National Toxicology Program Bioassays and Their Relevance to Human Cancer.

Toxicologic Pathology — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Hoenerhoff MJ, Hong HH, Ton TV, Lahousse SA, Sills RC Tumor response in the B6C3F1 mouse, F344 rat, and other animal models following exposure to various compounds provides evidence that people exposed to these or similar compounds may be at risk for developing cancer. Although tumors in rodents and humans are often morphologically similar, underlying mechanisms of tumorigenesis are often unknown and may be different between the species. Therefore, the relevance of an animal tumor response to human health would be better determined if the molecular pathogenesis were understood. The underlying molecular mechanisms leading to carcinogenesis are complex and involve multiple genetic and epigenetic events and other factors. To address the molecular pathogenesis of environmental car...

Mesothelioma Patient Passes Away Following Asbestos Lawsuit Win

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:01:23 +0100

Mesothelioma patient Dianne Willmore was awarded more than $390,000 October 14, 2009 when Knowsley Council was found liable for exposing Willmore to asbestos, a toxic mineral known to cause her rare cancer. Willmore passed away from the cancer the following day on October 15, 2009. Willmore was exposed to asbestos in the 1970s during her time as a student at Huyton’s Bowring School in Merseyside, England. Asbestos exposure occurred in the school through ceiling tiles located in the restrooms. The tiles released asbestos fibers when they were disturbed by students who would hide items in the ceiling. Knowsley Council was found liable for her exposure because the High Court determined the Council “knew or ought to have known that any more than minimal exposure to asbestos dust was forese...

Circulating Mesothelin Protein and Cellular Antimesothelin Immunity in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

Clinical Cancer Research — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Circulating mesothelin is a useful biomarker for pancreatic disease. Furthermore, mesothelin-specific T cells can be induced in patients with pancreatic cancer. This suggests that mesothelin is a potential target for immune-based intervention strategies in pancreatic cancer. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(21):OF1-8). PMID: 19843662 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Cancer Research)

Mesothelioma and the Multiple Dangers of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:57:47 +0100

While it is common knowledge that cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, much of the public is unaware that exposure to asbestos can also cause lung cancer. It has been proven that those who have been exposed to asbestos and continue to smoke cigarettes, the risk of developing lung cancer is increased by as much as 90 times. These individuals are also at a greater risk of developing both asbestosis and mesothelioma. There is hope for smokers who have experienced asbestos exposure. Evidence has suggested that asbestos-exposed workers who quit smoking can reduce their risk of developing lung cancer by up to 50 percent within five years of quitting. According to statistics from the Environmental Working Group, about 5,000 people in the United States pass away each year from as...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma Patient’s Widow Receives $1.2 Million in Asbestos Case

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:05:20 +0100

The widow of a man who passed away from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma received $1.2 million following a Texas jury’s ruling October 5, 2009. Danny Puckett and his wife of 23 years filed a lawsuit against several defendants, stating that Mr. Puckett’s mesothelioma diagnosis was due to asbestos exposure he experienced from 1975 to 1985 when he worked for Dowell Company as a member of the cement crew. Puckett, 59, passed away from the aggressive cancer in April 2009, six months after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Prior to his passing, Puckett testified in the lawsuit, stating he was exposed to a “continuous smokestack” of dust from asbestos-containing cement additives used in a cement-mixing hopper. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to the development...

Cancer Combination Therapy and Improved Nutrition Provide Hope for Mesothelioma Patients

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:52:32 +0100

Recent cancer studies performed by various hospitals and research centers around the world have provided new hope for patients facing the asbestos-related illness mesothelioma. Developed through exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma is a rare but severe form of asbestos lung cancer which accounts for three percent of all cancer diagnoses in the United States. Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue that lines the area around the heart, chest cavity and abdominal cavity, as well as the outer surface of most organs. Due to an intense latency period associated with mesothelioma, many individuals will not experience related symptoms until 20 to 50 years after exposure, when the disease has already progressed to its later stages. Though a cure for mesothelioma does not e...

Circulating CA125 and diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

European Journal of Surgical Oncology — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:46:44 +0100

We read with great interest the paper by Yano et al. which reports the early results of treatment in 17 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) at the Peritoneal Malignancy Management Centre based in Basingstoke, New Hampshire, UK. (Source: European Journal of Surgical Oncology)

Mesothelioma a Concern for Former Automotive Industry Workers

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:01:37 +0100

The toxic mineral asbestos was widely used in various industries throughout the 20th century, including the automotive industry. Exposure to asbestos is linked to the development of serious illnesses including mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that typically affects the lining of the lungs. Mesothelioma patients may take decades to demonstrate symptoms of the cancer, allowing it to progress and spread inside the body. Those who were exposed to asbestos while working in the automotive industry prior to the 1980s may only now begin to express mesothelioma symptoms. Asbestos exposure often occurred in the automotive industry because the mineral was commonly used in many different auto parts including brake pads and linings, gaskets and hoodliners. Exposure occurs when the asb...

Up-Regulation of Bcl-xl by Hepatocyte Growth Factor in Human Mesothelioma Cells Involves ETS Transcription Factors.

The American Journal of Pathology — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Cao X, Littlejohn J, Rodarte C, Zhang L, Martino B, Rascoe P, Hamid K, Jupiter D, Smythe WR Bcl-xl and the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor c-Met are both highly expressed in mesotheliomas, where they protect cells from apoptosis and can confer resistance to conventional therapeutic agents. In our current study, we investigate a model for the transcriptional control of Bcl-xl that involves ETS transcription factors and the HGF/Met axis. In addition, the effects of activated c-Met on the phosphorylation of the ETS family transcriptional factors were examined. The transient expression of ETS-2 and PU.1 cDNAs in mesothelioma cell lines resulted in an increase in the promoter activity of Bcl-xl and consequently in its mRNA and protein expression levels, whereas the transcri...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma: Increasing Asbestos Awareness as a Preventative Measure

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:17:07 +0100

Discussions on the proper handling of asbestos materials and educating the public on how to prevent exposure can better prepare those that encounter asbestos. Even those who hire a professional asbestos abatement company to remove asbestos should be educated, as crooked abatement contractors do exist. Certified asbestos companies have been known to illegally remove and dispose asbestos-containing materials in way that causes risk for citizens. Outside of using improper abatement techniques, contractors will sometimes claim that all asbestos has been removed when a significant amount is actually left behind. Hiring an asbestos inspector from another company other than the contractor’s company is one way to maintain proper removal. However, there have been times when inspectors have secret...

Living with mesothelioma. A literature review

European Journal of Cancer Care — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that affects mainly the pleura. World-wide incidence is increasing and set to rise for some time particularly in developing countries. Mesothelioma is uniformly fatal and often associated with difficult symptoms. The purpose of this review is to identify what is known about the experience of people living with mesothelioma. A literature search identified 13 papers covering qualitative studies, patient-reported quality of life data collected as part of a clinical trial, symptoms and survey of patients and carers. The findings suggest the impact of mesothelioma is multidimensional on: physical symptoms (especially pain, breathlessness, fatigue, cough, sleep disturbance, appetite loss and sweating), emotional functioning (anxiety, depression, fear an...

Malignant mesothelioma of the greater omentum mimicking omental infarction: A case report.

World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

We report a rare case of primary malignant mesothelioma of the greater omentum, which mimicked omental infarct. A 54-year-old Korean man was admitted because of severe abdominal pain of sudden onset. A tender mass with indistinct margins was palpated in the upper abdomen. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography showed an ill-defined mass in the greater omentum and little ascites in the peri-hepatic space, and neutrophil-dominant exudates were documented on paracentesis. Intravenous antibiotics and analgesics were given for omental infarction with superimposed infection, which resulted in symptomatic improvement. The imaging studies after a week revealed a growing mass and ascites. Laparoscopic surgery was performed and an 8 cm x 3.3 cm greater omental mass was found, with multiple sma...

Mesothelioma Patient Participation Requested for North Carolina Study

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:06:11 +0100

FirstWatch of the Carolinas is partnering with Wake Forest School of Medicine to conduct a research study on the progression of asbestos-related cancers and lung diseases, including the rare cancer mesothelioma. According to FirstWatch, a non-profit health care network, the study “examines the associated environmental factors and genetic markers of people diagnosed with mesothelioma, basically identifying how frequently encountered environmental pollutants affect the body and determining the genetic factors that make some families more susceptible than others to mesothelioma and other forms of cancer.” Mesothelioma patients are encouraged to contact FirstHealth Clinical Trials to participate in the study. “The FirstHealth Clinical Trials staff is excited about this opportunity to ass...

Multimodality Management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Introduction

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer of the pleura that is associated with occupational exposure to asbestos and a lengthy latency (up to 50 years) between initial exposure and disease expression. Since recognition of the relationship between the industrial mining and use of asbestos in the 1960s, the incidence of MPM has continued to rise, reaching epidemic proportions in many nations of the world. Despite legislation introduced by numerous industrialized countries in the 1970s, a peak effect will not be observed in many of these nations for at least another decade, owing to the latency of disease expression. In Western Europe, for example, the incidence is not expected to peak until 2020, with an estimated 5,000 new cases per year and more than a quarter of a mill...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Current Status of Screening for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Malignant mesothelioma is characterized by its association with asbestos, its long latency period, and the propensity for the diagnosis to be obtained in the later stages of the disease. Because the high-risk cohorts for mesothelioma are fairly well defined by the association with asbestos, and the exposure is usually in the workplace, it is hypothesized that early detection of the disease could (1) find patients at an earlier, more treatable stage and (2) result in prolonged survival over the present median 12 months from the start of therapy. Many studies have used standard chest X-ray to characterize changes associated with asbestos-exposed individuals, but the insensitivity of X-ray in screening patients with mesothelioma has never supported the wide-scale adaptation of such an effort....

Recent Advances in Mesothelioma Staging

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Lack of a consensus staging system for malignant pleural mesothelioma has had a profound impact on clinical practice and research, which necessarily relies on comparison of outcomes across multiple institutions and studies for reliable prognostic information. Some lack of agreement arises from the difficulty of conforming this particular cancer to existing staging systems because of its unique biology. The heterogeneous prognosis of patients with differing tumor histology and constant search for new more effective therapies also play a role. Periodic data-driven refinement of staging criteria, based on careful pathologic analysis of histologically homogeneous cohorts, is mandated to provide clinicians with the optimal ability to stratify patients according to survival and select treatments...

Current Trends in Radiologic Management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive pleural tumor with a complex growth pattern. Imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis and management. Computed tomography (CT) has been the mainstay in the clinical evaluation of MPM; however it underestimates early chest wall invasion, peritoneal involvement, and has well-known limitations in nodal metastatic evaluation. Perfusion CT can evaluate the microvasculature of tumors; however its disadvantages, such as high radiation exposure and side effects from iodinated contrast, have limited its use to research settings. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to CT, both in the differentiation of malignant from benign pleural disease and in the assessment of chest wall and diaphragmatic involvement. Perfusion and diffusion MRI are...

Pathologic Evaluation of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Pathologists play an important role in the surgical management of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma, which relies heavily on accurate diagnosis and staging. The pathologist provides crucial input to the determination of many prognostic factors including histologic subtype, extent of local disease progression, resection margins, and nodal status. They consult with the clinical care team at multiple points along the treatment spectrum, preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. Finally, they are increasingly called on to guide selection of chemotherapy and measure treatment response. (Source: Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery)

Mesothelioma: Path to Multimodality Treatment

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Multimodality treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) with surgery, radiation therapy, and adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the sole path to extended survival for select patients with favorable prognostic factors. No single-modality approach has produced equivalent results. Much effort has been expended since first recognition of this insidious pleural cancer to elucidate the underlying cause and optimal treatment strategy. Despite recent breakthroughs, the principal barrier to achieving a cure rests with the propensity for disease recurrence in the ipsilateral hemithorax. Despite these limitations, however, the results hold promise for improved survival with further refinement in patient selection and targeted therapy. Other approaches to multimodality treatment have capi...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Surgical Techniques for Multimodality Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Extrapleural Pneumonectomy and Pleurectomy/Decortication

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Trimodality treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with cytoreductive surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy has resulted in long-term survival for a select group of patients. Knowledge of the similarities and differences between the two operations that have evolved—extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy/decortication—is prerequisite to understanding the complex issues associated with patient selection, diagnosis, pathologic staging, preoperative assessment, perioperative management, and adjuvant treatment. Both operations are technically complex and should only be performed at experienced high-volume centers. (Source: Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery)

Surgical Options in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Extrapleural Pneumonectomy or Pleurectomy/Decortication

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Two operations have evolved for the surgical treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM): extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and pleurectomy/decortication (P/D). The goal of surgery in the multimodality treatment approach is to achieve a macroscopic complete resection, with adjuvant therapies directed at residual microscopic disease. Overall survival reported in a recent multicenter analysis of these two operations supports the use of P/D for early stage MPM provided that a complete resection is feasible; otherwise EPP will confer a survival advantage. For stage II disease, however, EPP demonstrates a possible advantage. The focus in stage III disease should remain on the ability to achieve macroscopic complete resection, rather than N2 disease. Patients with stage IV cancers have bett...

Current Options for Systemic Therapy in Mesothelioma

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

This article surveys the current clinical landscape of systemic therapies in mesothelioma and explores the impact of both conventional and targeted agents. (Source: Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery)

Radiation Therapy Options for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

The role of radiation therapy (RT) in the curative treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma remains undefined. No data clearly support treatment of unresected mesothelioma with definitive RT. Early reports showed that RT was associated with unacceptable toxicity, but recent limited data suggest that treatment with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) may be tolerable. Adjuvant RT after pleurectomy is also challenging, and similarly, no clear efficacy has been demonstrated. Some approaches, such as IMRT to the circumferential pleural envelope, appear feasible, but the fact that this approach does not address the disease in the fissures is problematic. The best setting in which to deliver RT is after extrapleural pneumonectomy, but the large and irregular target volume and multipl...

Palliative Care for the Patient With Mesothelioma

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

The role of palliative care in the medical management of malignant mesothelioma is multifaceted, requiring proficiency in multiple disciplines. Pain management is a key aspect of this care. The most common sources of pain are postthoracotomy syndrome, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, involvement of the intercostal nerves by tumor invading the chest wall, and dyspnea. The palliative care provider also must be prepared to recognize and treat psychological disorders, to identify other social and spiritual sources of distress, including anxiety and depression, and to provide or arrange for counseling to patient and family for advance care planning, as well as grief and bereavement. (Source: Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Multimodality Strategies in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Over the last decade, several improvements have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, including better understanding of tumor biology, availability of more potent chemotherapeutic drugs, improved surgical management, and optimized multidisciplinary therapy. Radical tumor resection by means of extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) is now feasible with acceptable morbidity and mortality, even after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, if performed in specialized centers. To date, the best survival data have been reported after multimodality treatment strategies that include surgical resection. In this article, we discuss several strategies that involve EPP or pleurectomy/decortication in combination with various adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies. (Source: Seminars in T...

Photodynamic Therapy as an Innovative Treatment for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of the pleura is an experimental treatment aimed at eradicating residual microscopic disease after macroscopic complete resection of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) by means of intracavitary administration. A light-based treatment, PDT consists of 3 components: a nontoxic photosensitizing compound, oxygen, and visible light. The treatment is FDA-approved for several oncological targets, but remains experimental for MPM. PDT can be combined with lung-sparing pleurectomy and decortication and does not preclude other treatments such as adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Additionally, PDT appears to bolster an immunologic effect by rendering the cancer cells that have been destroyed by the light-activated photosensitizer more presentable to the immu...

Making the Case for Molecular Staging of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:10 +0100

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive malignancy for which surgical treatment is an option for a subset of patients. A gene ratio test based on the relative expression levels of four genes has been validated in clinical trials to predict which patients will benefit from surgical therapy. A description of the test properties and the independent predictors for outcome are provided. (Source: Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery)

Mesothelioma: Secondary Exposure to Asbestos Results in Woman’s Death

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:28:54 +0100

Some of the more common locations for asbestos exposure, especially for men, have included the construction, shipyard, power plant, chemical plant and automotive industries. However, other indirect cases of asbestos exposure, known as secondary exposure, have been noted to affect the lives of women as well. Secondary exposure to asbestos has primarily occurred within the homes of families who have either had a husband or father that worked in an industry where asbestos was prevalent. In these situations, the husband or father would come home after working and his clothes would be contaminated with asbestos fibers, potentially exposing others in the home. Linda Sinnett, who passed away from peritoneal mesothelioma in July, is believed to have experienced secondary asbestos exposure from her...

Pleural malignant mesothelioma with invasive micropapillary component and its association with pulmonary metastasis

Pathology International — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The micropapillary pattern (characterized by papillary structure with tufts lacking a central fibrovascular core) is a predictor of aggressive carcinoma. The purpose of the present study was to review 34 pleural malignant mesotheliomas (21 epithelioid, five sarcomatoid, seven biphasic and one lymphohistiocytoid), with special reference to the presence of invasive micropapillary component. Two invasive micropapillary pattern-positive tumors were identified. The invasive micropapillary pattern was seen to have a focal distribution in 15[ndash]20% of the tumor tissues. The majority of the invasive micropapillary clusters expressed MUC1 along the outer cell surface. Analysis of pleural malignant mesotheliomas with epithelioid features and with or without invasive micropapillary pattern (21 epi...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma Patients Seeking Medical Care May Now Receive Air Transportation

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:31:35 +0100

Patients with the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma will now be able to receive the best medical care through a new program that aims to provide air transportation to top cancer centers around the country. While treatment for most patients can be available at local clinics, many top hospitals with programs dedicated to mesothelioma can be hundreds or thousands of miles away. The costs of travel can severely discourage patients from making the trip and prompt the patients to seek alternatives to their treatments. Thanks to Angel Flight, Corporate Angel Network, Pilots for Patients and other organizations consisting of volunteers and pilots, patients who are in need of financial help or are too sick to travel may now be able to fly to the destination of their choice to receive the best ca...

Smoking and Mesothelioma Risks

Disabled World — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:35:20 +0100

Tobacco smoking, while it does not directly lead to mesothelioma, does make a person more susceptible to it if that person has also been exposed to asbestos. In order to understand this susceptibility, it's important to also understand asbestos and the nature of the asbestos cancer mesothelioma. (Source: Disabled World)

9/11 Ground Zero and Mesothelioma

Disabled World — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:29:57 +0100

Numerous cases of mesothelioma, a rare yet insidious cancer which is almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure, may still be in store for the first responders to those attacks and the general population of lower Manhattan and surrounding buroughs. (Source: Disabled World)

Mesothelioma Claims Life of British Space Agency Chief

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:00:39 +0100

The former chief of the British National Space Centre passed away due to mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Though Dr. Derrick Gould passed away June 22, 2009, an examination that took place several months following his death confirmed that the cause of his death was mesothelioma, which he likely developed due to exposure to asbestos that Dr. Gould experienced during his work as a longshoreman at a shipyard. Dr. Marek Witkowski, consultant pathologist at Furness General Hospital, noted that the examination revealed Dr. Gould had advanced mesothelioma that had spread throughout his body. Ian Smith, a coroner involved in the inquest, attributed Dr. Gould’s mesothelioma development to his time working as a longshoreman, stating, “Of some interest is th...

Two Enfield Firms Fined After Unlicenced Asbestos Removal, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

Two companies have been prosecuted after workers and members of the public were exposed to unacceptable levels of asbestos during a removal project. The Health and Safety Executive took the companies to court, on the 06 October 2009, after an unlicensed contractor carried out the specialist work at a warehouse in Brimsdown, Enfield. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Explaining Alberta's rising mesothelioma rates.

Chronic Diseases in Canada — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:00:03 +0100

Authors: Cree M, Lalji M, Jiang B, Carriere KC, Beach J, Kamruzzaman A Although mesothelioma rates have been rising worldwide, little is known about mesothelioma trends in Alberta. This population-based descriptive study used Alberta Cancer Board Registry data from 1980 to 2004 to develop an age-period-cohort model of male pleural mesothelioma incidence rates over time. Both age and cohort effects are associated with incidence rates. The highest-risk cohort comprised men born between 1930 and 1939, reflecting widespread asbestos use and exposure beginning in the 1940s in Canada. We predict that 1393 Albertan men 40 years and older will die of pleural mesothelioma between 1980 and 2024; 783 (56.2%) of these deaths will occur between 2010 and 2024. The total number of mesothelioma deaths...

Activated cAMP Response Element Binding Protein Is Overexpressed in Human Mesotheliomas and Inhibits Apoptosis.

The American Journal of Pathology — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Shukla A, Bosenberg MW, Macpherson MB, Butnor KJ, Heintz NH, Pass HI, Carbone M, Testa JR, Mossman BT Little is known about the cellular mechanisms contributing to the development and chemoresistance of malignant mesothelioma (MM), an aggressive asbestos-associated tumor. A human mesothelial cell line (LP9/TERT-1) and isolated human pleural mesothelial cells showed rapid and protracted asbestos-induced cAMP response element binding protein (CREB1) phosphorylation, which was inhibited in LP9/TERT-1 cells by small molecule inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor phosphorylation and protein kinase A. Asbestos increased expression of several CREB target genes (c-FOS, EGR-1, MKP1, BCL2, and MMP13) and apoptosis, which was enhanced using small interfering CREB. Human MM tissu...

Politicians Push National Mesothelioma Awareness Day into Congress

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:23:04 +0100

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects approximately 3,000 Americans each year. The primary cause of this cancer is exposure to asbestos, which occurs through inhaling airborne asbestos fibers or ingesting them. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation established Mesothelioma Awareness Day to spread light on the devastating cancer. Mesothelioma Awareness Day occurs each year on September 26 and the foundation hopes the day soon becomes recognized at the national level. Awareness about malignant mesothelioma is crucial for those who have been exposed to asbestos but have not yet been diagnosed. Most patients become diagnosed during the latest stages of development, a time when curable treatments are no longer an option. This is largely due to the severe latency period of sy...

Cytomorphologic characteristics of fine needle core biopsy of multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma: A case report and review of the literature

Diagnostic Cytopathology — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

We report a case of MPM in a middle aged female that was diagnosed by fine needle core biopsy and touch preparations, allowing for appropriate clinical management. The cytomorphologic features of needle core biopsy, immunocytochemical studies and differential diagnosis are discussed. Furthermore, despite its infrequency, the current case emphasizes the importance of the inclusion of this entity in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions of the abdomen and pelvis at the time of on-site evaluation and final diagnosis, in order to avoid misinterpretation of strips of benign mesothelial cells as inadequate for diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: Diagnostic Cytopathology)

Mesothelioma Patient Wants Indiana Asbestos Exposure Law Amended

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:04:22 +0100

An Indiana woman diagnosed with mesothelioma spoke in front of a legislative committee October 1, 2009, emphasizing the importance of amending an Indiana law that would allow additional time for workers exposed to asbestos to file a lawsuit against those who caused their exposure. Dorothy Kuykendall, 76, and others are working to change the law that currently give those exposed to asbestos 10 years to file a lawsuit after the initial exposure occurs. However, patients with certain asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis can take 10 to 50 years to demonstrate symptoms of their illnesses. Kuykendall and other supporters of a change to the current law want the law amended to allow those diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease to have two years from the time of diagno...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Funding Mesothelioma: Foundation Receives Increase in Research Applications

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:11:27 +0100

With increased awareness about the rare cancer mesothelioma, research efforts are growing each year and treatment options are improving at a very fast pace. Much of this can be attributed to increasing funds raised by local support groups and other organizations. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has experienced a rise in the number of applications submitted for funding for mesothelioma research. In the year 2000, the organization only received seven applications asking for funds. In 2009, they have already received 56 applications from a variety of researchers looking to improve treatment options. The foundation was initially established because of the lack of funding that was in place for the rare cancer. As of today, the foundation has awarded about $6 million to researchers....

Mesothelioma Patients Receive New Hope from Cancer Center in Texas

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:23:42 +0100

With more than 30 specialists dedicated to mesothelioma on staff, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is a place of hope for patients facing the asbestos-related cancer. Highly regarded for their innovative research methods and initiatives devoted to discovering advanced treatment options and a cure for mesothelioma, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is one of the few cancer centers around with the world that has a program specifically for mesothelioma patients. Patients at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center receive care in one location because of the Center’s dedication to personalized care through a team of doctors who are each assigned specific roles in various treatment methods. The cancer program not only includes clinical trials, experts in thoracic medical oncology, rad...

M. D. Anderson Patient Shares Experience and Advice

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center - News Releases — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Mark Stratmann has always enjoyed the outdoors, riding motorcycles and traveling, but as a two-year survivor of a rare cancer called mesothelioma, these hobbies are now more important than ever. They remind him to enjoy life and encourage other patients to seek treatment at a cancer center with a team of specialists dedicated to this disease. (Source: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center - News Releases)

Blockade of a Chemokine, CCL2, Reduces Chronic Colitis-Associated Carcinogenesis in Mice

Cancer Research — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:26:06 +0100

Accumulating evidence indicates the crucial contribution of chronic inflammation to various types of carcinogenesis, including colon carcinoma associated with ulcerative colitis and asbestosis-induced malignant mesothelioma. Ulcerative colitis–associated colon carcinogenesis can be recapitulated in mice by azoxymethane administration followed by repetitive dextran sulfate sodium ingestion. In the course of this carcinogenesis process, the expression of a macrophage-tropic chemokine, CCL2, was enhanced together with intracolonic massive infiltration of macrophages, which were a major source of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, a crucial mediator of colon carcinogenesis. Mice deficient in CCL2-specific receptor, CCR2, exhibited less macrophage infiltration and lower tumor numbers with attenuated...

Expression of IFN-{beta} Enhances Both Efficacy and Safety of Oncolytic Vesicular Stomatitis Virus for Therapy of Mesothelioma

Cancer Research — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:26:05 +0100

Our preclinical and clinical trials using a replication-defective adenoviral vector expressing IFN-β have shown promising results for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. Based on the hypotheses that a replication-competent vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) oncolytic vector would transduce more tumor cells in vivo, that coexpression of the immunostimulatory IFN-β gene would enhance the immune-based effector mechanisms associated both with regression of mesotheliomas and with VSV-mediated virotherapy, and that virus-derived IFN-β would add further safety to the VSV platform, we tested the use of IFN-β as a therapeutic transgene expressed from VSV as a novel treatment for mesothelioma. VSV-IFN-β showed significant therapy against AB12 murine mesotheliomas in the c...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Medication Improves Survival Rate of Lung Cancer Patients

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:02:41 +0100

The makers of the drug Alimta announced September 28, 2009 that the medication prolonged the lives of lung cancer patients by three months in a recent clinical trial. Alimta is commonly used in chemotherapy treatment for patients with mesothelioma and lung cancer. The patients receiving Alimta in the clinical trial were compared to patients receiving the best available care for their lung cancer. The study involved 663 patients and those receiving the best available care and Alimta lived an average of 13.4 months, whereas patients receiving the best available care and a placebo lived for approximately 10.6 months. Alimta is often coupled with an additional medication and utilized in chemotherapy treatment through an injection as the primary treatment for those battling advanced non-small c...

Porcelain Factory Worker With Asbestos-related Mesothelioma.

J Formos Med Assoc — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tsou MT, Luo JC Malignant mesothelioma is a rare tumor among the general population, but for people exposed to asbestos, the lifetime risk is high. A 58-year old man presented with suffering from chest pain, upper back pain, shortness of breath, and coughing that had continued for several months. A chest X-ray revealed right-side pleural effusion; however, pleural biopsy from drainage treatment confirmed a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. According to his occupational and environmental history, the patient had worked continuously in a porcelain factory for 30 years. The specific characteristics of his work, making asbestos wallboards and gaskets, entailed working in high-temperature conditions with a high fine-particle content in the atmosphere. The high working temperatur...

Impact of Tumor Angiogenesis in Peritoneal Mesothelioma After Radical Cytoreduction and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Pathology Oncology Research — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Chua TC, Yao P, Akther J, Morris DL Peritoneal mesothelioma is one of the peritoneal surface malignancies where long-term survival is a reality after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Tumor angiogenesis has been shown to be of prognostic significance on survival in mesothelioma. We investigated the impact of survival of patients with peritoneal mesothelioma following CRS and HIPEC to determine the impact of tumor angiogenesis on survival after this radical surgical treatment. Paraffin sections of 23 patients who were treated with CRS and HIPEC were retrieved for immunohistochemical analysis. The immunostaining was performed using monoclonal mouse anti-human antibodies (VEGF-C and CD31) on an autostainer (Autostainer Plus; Dako, ...

Mesothelioma and Asbestos: Risks and Prevention

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:10:19 +0100

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Exposure occurs when the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos are either inhaled or ingested into the body. This typically happens after asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed and have released asbestos fibers into the air. In the past, some of the more common locations for asbestos exposure (predominantly for men) have included the construction, shipyard, railroad, power plant, chemical plant and automotive industries. However, other indirect cases of asbestos exposure, known as secondary exposure, have been noted to affect the lives of women and children. Many of the men who worked with asbestos would often carry home asbestos fibers on their skin and clothes, and when their ...

Is malignant pleural mesothelioma a surgical disease? A review of 83 consecutive extra-pleural pneumonectomies [Original articles]

European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: These results concur with the published data of the most experienced centre with regards to the mortality and morbidity after EPP for MPM. In line with the biggest series reported in the past, the observed 5-year survival rate of almost 15% is disappointing. (Source: European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks Prompts Mother to Remove Daughter from School

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:07:52 +0100

Following an asbestos violation at her daughter’s junior high school, a Missouri mother removed her child from the school, transferring her daughter to a private school in the area. This is the second removal of a student from a public school due to asbestos-related issues in the Columbia, Missouri area this year. Christine Doerr decided to remove her daughter Maria from Jefferson Junior High School after the school violated a federal asbestos rule and asbestos was allegedly present in the plaster ceiling of a room in the school. On February 26, traces of the mineral were found in a sample from the ceiling following a renovation project, revealing between 3 and 5 percent asbestos in the ceiling sample. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) considers anything greater than...

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Disease: Widow Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Husband

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:26:58 +0100

According to a lawsuit recently filed in Jefferson County District Court, Willie Mae Denson is claiming several companies failed to test asbestos-containing products before distributing them for commerce. Ms. Denson is filing on behalf of her husband, Elijah Denson Sr., who recently passed away from an asbestos-related disease. Ms. Denson believes her husband’s illness was caused by the companies’ negligence. A total of seven companies have been listed in the lawsuit as defendants. Elijah Denson Sr. worked under many different job titles throughout his career, including laborer, furnace worker and carpenter. The suit states he was exposed to asbestos-containing products during these occupations. Ms. Denson says the defendant companies were negligent for failing to notify Mr. Denson abo...

Mesothelioma Surgery: A Closer Look

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:05:53 +0100

Learning of a mesothelioma diagnosis may result in feelings of confusion, anger and vulnerability. Once a patient understands more about the cancer, treatment options are often explored and surgery may be considered if a patient is a candidate. In terms of mesothelioma treatment, surgery is divided into three main categories depending on the purpose of the procedure. Prior to diagnosis, diagnostic surgery is completed to determine whether or not mesothelioma is present in the body. Palliative surgery is performed to provide a patient with relief from mesothelioma symptoms while curative surgery involves removing cancerous cells and tissue in hopes of curing the patient (though no known cure for mesothelioma currently exists). Following a mesothelioma diagnosis, a variety of surgical proced...

Mesothelioma a Concern for Fresno Police Employees Exposed to Asbestos

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:39:26 +0100

According to city officials in Fresno, California, 90 police department employees were exposed to asbestos when the mineral fiber was disturbed during the installation of fire-suppression equipment in the department’s communication center. The construction crews had been working at the site since September 14, 2008 and recently discovered materials that possibly contained asbestos. Officials were aware that asbestos was present in the area, but it had been sealed off due to health and safety concerns. The sealed asbestos was disturbed enough to release hazardous fibers into the air. Exposure to the toxic mineral is linked to numerous illnesses including mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Although the work has been halted, many dispatchers and other employees of the Fresn...

Cancer mortality in a surveillance cohort of German males formerly exposed to asbestos.

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental health — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The objective of this analysis was the estimation of the cancer risks of asbestos and asbestosis in a surveillance cohort of high-exposed German workers. A group of 576 asbestos workers was selected for high-resolution computer tomography of the chest in 1993-1997. A mortality follow-up was conducted through 2007. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated and Poisson regression was performed to assess mesothelioma risks. A high risk was observed for pleural mesothelioma (SMR 28.10, 95% CI 15.73-46.36) that decreased after cessation of exposure (RR 0.1; 95% CI 0.0-0.6 for >/=30 vs. <30 years after last exposure). Asbestosis was a significant risk factor for mesothelioma (RR 6.0, 95% CI 2.4-14.7). Mesothelioma mortality was still in excess in former asbestos workers although...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Safety Regulator Disappointed By 'killer' Advert Ruling, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:00:00 +0100

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) expressed its deep disappointment at a decision by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to uphold a complaint about its 'Asbestos: The hidden killer' awareness campaign. The ASA has upheld one complaint from a single source challenging HSE on the numbers of workers it quoted as dying as a result of exposure to asbestos fibres. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Ambulatory Intercostal Drainage for the Management of Malignant Pleural Effusion: A Single Center Experience

Annals of Surgical Oncology — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:35:12 +0100

Conclusion The use of ambulatory pleural catheters for managing malignant pleural effusion is a safe and effective strategy. It has only minor complications that are related to prolonged drainage. We feel that this strategy should be considered the first choice option for these patients. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Thoracic OncologyDOI 10.1245/s10434-009-0691-2Authors Samer Bazerbashi, Derriford Hospital South West Cardiothoracic Centre Plymouth UKJaime Villaquiran, Derriford Hospital South West Cardiothoracic Centre Plymouth UKMohammad Yousaf Awan, Derriford Hospital South West Cardiothoracic Centre Plymouth UKMichael Jonathan Unsworth-White, Derriford Hospital South West Cardiothoracic Centre Plymouth UKJoe Rahamim, Derriford Hospital South West Cardiothora...

Mesothelioma Case Results in $1.4 Million for Widow of Former Pipefitter

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:02:41 +0100

The widow of a man who passed away from mesothelioma was awarded $1.4 million on September 21, 2009 following seven days at trial. After deliberating for two days, a Hamilton County, Tennessee jury unanimously found North Brothers (National Services Industries) guilty of selling defective products to the company where Wayne Jackson worked, causing or contributing to Jackson’s mesothelioma diagnosis. Jackson’s wife Marian filed a lawsuit against the company after her husband died following a battle with mesothelioma, a cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. During his work as a pipefitter from 1952 through 1986 at Combustion Engineering in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mr. Jackson was exposed to asbestos-contaminated products. North Brothers sold some of the defective produc...

Mesothelioma Rate Shockingly High Among Construction Workers in Hanford, Washington

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:58:49 +0100

The September issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine published results from a study that presented information gathered in the Building Trades National Medical Screening Program for Hanford, Washington and three additional Department of Energy sites. The study examined 8,976 workers who participated in the program and completed a screening interview from 1998 through 2004. According to Knut Ringen, one of the authors of the study, “The most significant finding at Hanford was a very high rate of mesothelioma,” a rate that is 11 times more prevalent than the mesothelioma rate of the general population. Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer diagnosed in approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Americans annually. The cancer affects a membranous lining known as the mesothelium...

Mesothelioma and Asbestos: Commercial Use of the Mineral

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:15:27 +0100

The naturally occurring mineral asbestos was widely used in a variety of building components throughout much of the 20th century. Many say asbestos was fitted in nearly every home built before 1978. Even after this date, asbestos was still used in construction materials, but in smaller quantities. The general consensus is asbestos does not cause health problems unless its fibers are released into the air, so the many homes and buildings constructed before the 1980s that still contain asbestos could pose a risk of exposure. Because of this, people should still be wary of asbestos exposure and the future development of an asbestos-related disease. Aging asbestos-containing materials can easily release asbestos fibers into the air. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to several harmful illne...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma: Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Removed from Libby Golf Course

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:15:58 +0100

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun its cleanup effort in Libby, Montana after declaring a public health emergency for the area earlier this year. Construction crews are currently removing large amounts of asbestos-laced vermiculite dirt from nine holes of the Cabinet View Country Club golf course. The excavation project is being conducted on the older portion of the golf course and the newer nine holes of the course have remained open to the public. Cabinet View Country Club Board Chairman Gene Chappell said, “This project is going a lot better than we really thought, because there’s just a whole bunch of stuff when you start tearing a golf course apart, but planning ahead of time, and having the right things in place, it’s really went well and I can̵...

Mesothelioma Chemotherapy and the Use of Cisplatin and Alimta

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:02:09 +0100

When a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma thoughts about prognosis naturally surface and questions about how to prolong a patient’s life typically arise. When a mesothelioma patient and their loved ones investigate treatment options to combat the cancer, chemotherapy is often explored. The combination of Cisplatin and Alimta, two common chemotherapy medications, is often used in chemotherapy treatment for mesothelioma patients. Cisplatin is a platinum-based medication used to treat a myriad of cancers and frequently serves as the backbone of chemotherapy treatment for patients facing these illnesses. Alimta was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005 and is typically used in combination with Cisplatin for patients battling non-small cell lung cancer or malignant pleural ...

Protein Profiling of Pleural Effusions to Identify Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Using SELDI-TOF MS.

Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:08:28 +0100

The objective of this study was to detect protein profiles that could be used to identify malignant pleural mesothelioma with surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Pleural effusions were collected from patients with confirmed mesothelioma (n = 41) and from patients with effusions due to other causes ([n = 48] cancerous and non-cancerous). Samples were fractionated using anion exchange chromatography and bound to different types of ProteinChip array surfaces. All samples were also subjected to other commercially available immunoassays (human epididymes protein 4 [HE4], osteopontin [OPN], soluble mesothelin-related proteins [SMRP], and the cytokeratin 19 fragment [CYFRA 21-1]). Peak intensity data obtained by SELDI-TOF were subjected ...

Clinical Trial Seeks Mesothelioma Patients for Study

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:08:29 +0100

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland are seeking 40 patients with the asbestos-related illness mesothelioma, who are not surgery or radiation candidates, to test a new drug known as gefitinib. Gefitinib is used in the treatment of many types of locally advanced or metastatic lung cancer in patients who previously underwent chemotherapy treatments. Gefitinib prevents cell growth in cancerous cells by targeting proteins located in the cells. Proteins are typically high in cancer cells. Malignant mesothelioma is found in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue that lines the area around the heart, chest cavity and the abdominal cavity, as well as the outer surface of most of the organs. The cancer is often caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural...

Occupational cancer in Italy: Evaluating the extent of compensated cases in the period 1994-2006

American Journal of Industrial Medicine — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The aim of this study is to analyze occupational cancer claims compensated in the industrial sector in Italy between 1994 and 2006.A descriptive analysis of compensated occupational cancers based on the Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL) data was performed. Summary statistics were compiled by sex and age of worker, cancer type, workplace agent and economic sector. The temporal trend in the period 1994-2006 was investigated for the most frequently compensated cancers (mesothelioma and lung cancer from asbestos; nasal cavities cancer from wood and leather dust).Between 1994 and 2006, 6,243 cancer claims were compensated by INAIL due to occupational exposure in the industrial sector. Most (5,288, or 85%) of these compensated claims occurred in the period 2000-2006, when the annua...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma Awareness Day Observed September 26

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:54:39 +0100

On September 26, 2009 those affected by the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma and volunteers worldwide will help call attention to the rare cancer on national Mesothelioma Awareness Day. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, the non-profit organization that started the day in 2005, expects the day to be the most successful awareness day for the cancer since it was organized four years ago. “It is important to spread the word, to let everyone know about the viciousness of mesothelioma, but also to tell them about the resources and services available if they are ever faced with it,” said Bonnie Anderson, a mesothelioma patient and volunteer with the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. “I have been a part of the Meso Foundation since my diagnosis and have been very grat...

Mesothelioma-Causing Asbestos Exposure Results in $130 Million to Help Affected Residents

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:06:47 +0100

After declaring a public health emergency for the town of Libby, Montana in June of this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are planning on spending more than $130 million on cleanup efforts and improving the health care system in the area. To date, approximately 400 Libby residents have passed away from asbestos-related diseases such as malignant mesothelioma. In addition to Libby, the nearby town Troy is also intended to benefit from the public health emergency funds. Asbestos exposure has affected the area because of W.R. Grace & Company’s nearby toxic vermiculite mine that was contaminated with asbestos. Workers in the mine not only exposed themselves, but family members as well by unknowingly carrying home asbest...

Comparison of CT and integrated PET- based radiation therapy planning in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma

Radiation Oncology — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This study demonstrated the usefulness of PET-CT-based target volume delineation in patients with MPM. Co-registration of PET and CT information reduces the likelihood of geographic misses, and additionally, significant reductions observed in target volumes may potentially allow escalation of RT dose beyond conventional limits potential clinical benefits in tumor control rates, which needs to be tested in future studies. (Source: Radiation Oncology)

Mesothelioma a Risk for Firefighters Fighting for Workers Compensation in Pennsylvania

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:13:24 +0100

Though 31 states recognize that cancer development in firefighters is likely due to conditions the firefighters were exposed to on the job, Pennsylvania continues to fail to recognize cancer as an occupational illness for firefighters diagnosed in the state. In the states that recognize cancer as an occupational illness, firefighters may collect workers’ compensation to aid in healthcare expenses and assist with wage reimbursement. The Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association (PPFFA), an organization representing more than 10,000 professional firefighters throughout the state, is working to change the current law to resemble the law in place in the 31 states that recognize the connection between cancer and occupational exposure to certain health hazards. One such hazard is asb...

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma - a rare cause of pericardial effusion and consecutive constrictive pericarditis: a case report

Journal of Medical Case Reports — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Pericardial mesothelioma should be considered and managed appropriately in non-responders to pericardiocentesis, and in patients who develop constrictive pericarditis late in their clinical course. (Source: Journal of Medical Case Reports)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma - a rare cause of pericardial effusion and consecutive constrictive pericarditis: a case report

Journal of Medical Case Reports — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Mesothelioma: Automotive Industry Impacted by Asbestos

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:18:11 +0100

A recent asbestos-related case in the United Kingdom has highlighted the risks associated with workers employed in the automotive industry. The latest case follows a similar suit involving Kelvin Parker, a former installer of insulation and suspended ceilings at the Longbridge site. Parker, 54, was initially diagnosed with mesothelioma in August 2007. After passing away on November 19, 2008, his family continued to pursue legal action against the company responsible for his asbestos exposure. Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, a rare cancer that typically develops in the lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. In most instances, mesothelioma victims are unaware of their condition until symptoms arise and the cancer has already reached the latest stages of development...

Former Pipefitter, Welder Names 36 Defendants in Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:12:19 +0100

A man who formerly worked as a pipefitter, welder and pipeliner and his wife have filed a lawsuit against 36 companies, alleging that his mesothelioma cancer was caused by exposure to asbestos that occurred in the workplace. Tommy Harrell was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer commonly attributed to asbestos exposure, on July 30, 2009. Harrell says he was previously exposed to asbestos on the job when he worked around the toxic mineral beginning in 1957. Harrell and his wife filed the asbestos-related lawsuit against the numerous corporations on August 31, stating that the companies failed to warn Harnell of the hazards associated with asbestos exposure and did not implement a safety plan to properly handle the mineral. Harnell said he was unaware of the dangers he faced ...

Study Evaluates New Treatments That May Help Mesothelioma Patients

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:25:35 +0100

A study performed by Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, New Hampshire may provide a new hope for patients facing the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma. Completing studies based on past work performed with methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), a missing enzyme linked to several types of cancers including lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, Leukemia, Lymphoma and mesothelioma, researchers found that MTAP may be linked to the development of malignant tumors in those who lack the enzyme. Lead by Dr. Martin Lubin and Adam Lubin, researchers from the university utilized two powerful chemical agents to form a treatment which may destroy tumors, while protecting healthy cells. The first agent, thioguanine, is a highly toxic drug that can damage both cancerous and healthy cells, while the othe...

Estimation and inference for case-control studies with multiple non-gold standard exposure assessments: with an occupational health application

Biostatistics — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

In occupational case–control studies, work-related exposure assessments are often fallible measures of the true underlying exposure. In lieu of a gold standard, often more than 2 imperfect measurements (e.g. triads) are used to assess exposure. While methods exist to assess the diagnostic accuracy in the absence of a gold standard, these methods are infrequently used to correct for measurement error in exposure–disease associations in occupational case–control studies. Here, we present a likelihood-based approach that (a) provides evidence regarding whether the misclassification of tests is differential or nondifferential; (b) provides evidence whether the misclassification of tests is independent or dependent conditional on latent exposure status, and (c) estimates the m...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Famous Columnist Dies of Mesothelioma

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:17:22 +0100

Army Archerd, a famous columnist for Variety magazine, passed away September 8, 2009 from mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos. Archerd was famous for his column that detailed the lives of famous stars for more than 50 years. Archerd, 87, was diagnosed with mesothelioma five years ago. Doctors say he developed the aggressive cancer due to asbestos exposure that occurred at a shipyard during his service with the United States Navy throughout World War II. Asbestos use was prevalent during the World War II era, as the mineral was touted for its natural resistance to heat, fire and degradation caused by seawater. Approximately 30 percent of all malignant mesothelioma cases are veterans. Known in the entertainment industry for his kindness, honesty and ...

Mesothelioma: Compensation Awarded to Family

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:20:45 +0100

The family of Amanda Satterfield, who passed away from mesothelioma January 1, 2005, has been awarded compensation in a settlement case involving ALCOA Inc. The case stems from 2003 when Amanda was 23 years old and initially diagnosed with the rare cancer. After her passing, Amanda’s parents Doug and Donna Satterfield continued the lawsuit. According to their Web site, ALCOA Inc. is an aluminum company focusing in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, construction and commercial transportation markets. In 2008, the company was 10 times safer to work for than it was in 1991. However, safety levels prior to this date were much lower and the risk of asbestos exposure was prevalent. In 1973, Amanda’s father Doug Satterfield worked for ALCOA Tennessee Operations and hauled asbestos for the ...

Diagnosing Mesothelioma: Understanding the Steps of a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:22:11 +0100

Mesothelioma is a rare asbestos-related cancer unknown by many, as less than 3,000 people are diagnosed with the disease annually in the United States. Mesothelioma typically develops in those exposed to the toxic mineral asbestos, and commonly occurs due to occupational exposure in professions where asbestos use was prevalent. Those who served in the military prior to the 1980s were also frequently exposed to large amounts of asbestos, and approximately 30 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are veterans. Mesothelioma patients are often unaware of the cancer’s presence in their body until several decades have passed since the time initial exposure to asbestos occurred. A patient may take up to 50 years to demonstrate symptoms of mesothelioma, which can make the diagnostic proce...

Unlicensed Asbestos Removal Will Be Penalised Warns HSE, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0100

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning the building trade that companies and contractors will face prosecution if they remove asbestos without a licence. It follows HSE's successful prosecution of three contractors who carried out unlicensed asbestos removal at Kelford School in Rotherham in 2006. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Radiotherapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:12:26 +0100

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare malignancy affecting ∼3,000 people annually in the United States. Although the number of cases is declining in the United States , worldwide incidence of MPM is expected to increase over the next decade, particularly in Europe, Asia, and Australia . More than 80% of MPM cases have been attributed to asbestos exposure. MPM is typically characterized by manifestation of disease decades after asbestos exposure, accounting for the lag between asbestos regulation and peak MPM incidence . Median survival times (MST) for MPM patients range from 9 to 17 months, regardless of disease stage at diagnosis . (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Results of systemic pemetrexed-based combination chemotherapy versus cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal cisplatin and doxorubicin on survival in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

Lung Cancer — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

We read with great interest the recent publication by Carteni et al. who reported the results of an International Expanded Access Program that allowed the compassionate use of Pemetrexed (PEM) for patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) through a pharmaceutical company sponsored and FDA approval scheme. Under this scheme, 109 patients received PEM treatment for MPM. This is by far the largest study of patients receiving systemic chemotherapy for MPM. In 2003, the role of PEM in combination with Cisplatin was established through a Phase III randomized trial that reported a median survival of 12.1 months in the combination PEM and Cisplatin arm over 9.3 months in the Cisplatin alone arm (p=0.02) . The success of PEM led to a worldwide approval and recognition of the role of PEM...

California Wildfires Prompt Mesothelioma and Asbestos Concerns

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:54:59 +0100

Recent wildfires scorching Southern California have prompted several concerns over citizen safety from asbestos, a highly toxic building material that may still appear in many homes constructed before 1980. Now in its eighth day, these wildfires have destroyed more than 140,000 acres of the Los Angeles forest, 64,000 homes and have forces thousands to evacuate. Many local residents remain scared, unsure when the fires will be sufficiently contained. As the fate of their homes may be in jeopardy, avoiding exposure to asbestos is now a top concern. Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral that has been used throughout the 20th century as a form of insulation. Asbestos use was widespread during the industrial revolution when it was utilized as insulation in North America. During the...

[Case reports] CD30-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with microvillous features: so-called microvillous lymphoma

Journal of Clinical Pathology — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, CD30-positive MVLs are indistinguishable from ALCLs that have ultrastructural microvillous projections by morphology alone. However, the lack of EMA, TIA-1 and ALK expression in this MVL case facilitated a definite distinction from ALCLs. The results of a panel of three markers (CD10–, Bcl-6+ and MUM1+) suggested that the present case of CD30-positive MVLs has an activated non-germinal centre B-cell origin. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)

Mesothelioma Claims Life of Former Pipefitter, Police Commissioner

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:03:39 +0100

A former police commissioner from Pasadena, California passed away August 29, 2009, four months following his mesothelioma diagnosis. Quincy A. James, 76, died from the asbestos-related cancer in his home and was likely exposed to asbestos during his work as a pipefitter in the 1950s. He worked as a pipefitter for seven years to pay for his education at the University of Houston and the South Texas College of Law. Though James passed away due to his mesothelioma diagnosis, he successfully battled a myriad of other health conditions throughout his life. He was diagnosed with polio at 18 months old, but James “never let that disability affect the goals he wanted to achieve,” his daughter, Jala Lavender said. James did not receive treatment for polio for nearly two years after his diagnos...

Asbestos fiber concentration in the area surrounding a former asbestos cement plant and excess mesothelioma deaths in residents

American Journal of Industrial Medicine — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Many persons who had lived near a former asbestos cement plant (AC plant) died from mesothelioma in Amagasaki city, Japan.Asbestos fiber concentration in the area surrounding the AC plant was estimated so that the female mesothelioma death number predicted by a mathematical model was the same as the observed excess death number. We used the estimated asbestos fiber concentration to predict the excess mesothelioma deaths from 1970 to 2049.In a grid just south of the AC plant, the fiber concentration was estimated to be more than 3 f/ml for KM (asbestos potency factor for mesothelioma) of 7.75 × 10-9. An uncertainty factor of five yields a KM range 1.55 × 10-9 to 38.8 × 10-9; these in turn correspond to fiber concentrations of 15 and 0.6 f/ml. For KM = 7.75 × 10-9, grid units with higher...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness: Victim Seeks Compensation

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:17:26 +0100

Gilbert L. Harper and his wife Bonita Harper have recently filed a second asbestos lawsuit against 18 different corporations. Their lawsuit states Mr. Harper’s asbestos-related diagnosis was wrongfully caused. Throughout his career Harper worked as a plumber, carpenter, painter, fire investigator and in heating and air conditioning. Gilbert Harper and his wife believe he was exposed to asbestos during his time working at these jobs. In this new lawsuit, the couple is filing for a different asbestos-related illness from their initial complaint. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to several different illnesses, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. These illnesses are fatal and often lay dormant until they have reached the advanced stages of development. Mesothelioma sympto...

Mother’s Mesothelioma Death Caused by Asbestos-Contaminated Driveway, Son Alleges

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:12:35 +0100

The son of a woman whose husband worked for James Hardie, a building materials manufacturing company previously involved in the distribution and mining of asbestos-containing products, believes his mother’s death resulted from malignant mesothelioma that developed after she was exposed to asbestos from their family’s driveway. “We put down a asbestos driveway and that certainly would be a contributing factor and we wouldn’t be able to deny that or go away from it,” said John Boyle. Killer Company, a book by Matt Peacock published in the beginning of the year, details James Hardie’s involvement with asbestos and the company’s desire to prevent its employees from understanding the dangers associated with exposure to the toxic mineral. According to a former James Hardie engi...

Genomic abnormalities and signal transduction dysregulation in malignant mesothelioma cells

Cancer Science — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a tumor with poor prognosis associated with asbestos exposure. While it remains to be clarified how asbestos fibers confer genetic/epigenetic alterations and induce cellular transformation in normal mesothelial cells, the understanding of key molecular mechanisms of MM cell development, proliferation, and invasion has progressed. MM shows frequent genetic inactivation of tumor suppressor genes of p16INK4a/p14ARF and neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) which encodes Merlin, and epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A. However, no frequent mutations of well-known oncogenes such as K-RAS and PIK3CA have been identified. Activation of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family and MET, and subsequent deregulations of mit...

Pleural Fluid Mesothelin May Help Diagnose Mesothelioma

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:08:20 +0100

A study shows that this test is a valuable adjunct to cytology in patients with an undiagnosed pleural effusion, being reproducible and not affected by common inflammatory pleural processes. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos-Related Illnesses

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:34:24 +0100

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is known for its durability and fire-resistant properties. The substance has been used in a wide variety of building materials, including insulation products, siding, cements, flooring and roofing to name a few. When asbestos-containing materials become damaged or disturbed, toxic asbestos fibers can be released into the air. If these microscopic fibers are inhaled or ingested, there are several illnesses that may potentially develop, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. These illnesses have a latency period ranging from 10 to 50 years. This latency period can have a significant impact on patients diagnosed with asbestos cancer. For example, when mesothelioma symptoms and other signs of disease take several decades to appear, th...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration for Staging of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma [ORIGINAL ARTICLES: GENERAL THORACIC]

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Although this study is retrospective, EBUS had higher sensitivity than either mediastinoscopy or imaging studies for detection of nodal metastases. Nevertheless, the ability to accurately identify nodal involvement preoperatively in patients with mesothelioma remains suboptimal. Esophageal ultrasound may complement EBUS particularly in cases where infradiaphragmatic nodal metastases are suspected. (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Trimodality Therapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma [ORIGINAL ARTICLES: GENERAL THORACIC]

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Induction chemotherapy, followed by EPP and adjuvant radiotherapy for selected patients with mesothelioma, is safe, with acceptable operative mortality. Adjuvant IMRT may be more effective in terms of local control than EBRT. (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Mesothelioma Verdict Results in $2 Million for Family

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:45:25 +0100

An Illinois jury has recently awarded the family of a deceased woman $2 million for reasons associated with asbestos exposure. In the 1950s, Leslie Corry’s first husband worked at an asbestos and rubber company. During his employment he was exposed to asbestos fibers on a regular basis, which he unknowingly carried home on his clothes. While washing his clothes, it is believed that Corry was exposed to asbestos, which has been labeled the cause of her malignant mesothelioma. Although Corry’s secondary exposure occurred during the 1950s, she was not diagnosed with the rare cancer until several decades later due to the severe latency period of symptoms. Secondary exposure has primarily affected women who used to wash their husbands asbestos-contaminated clothes after work. Children w...

Leading Mesothelioma Researcher Expected to be Appointed Director of Cancer Research Center

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:21:40 +0100

A leading mesothelioma researcher is expected to be approved as the new director of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, a group of 15 board members who preside over the internal structure, management and operation of the university. If Michele Carbone, MD, PhD, is approved as the new director, he will begin a three-year term on September 1, 2009. Dr. Carbone is currently serving as the interim director, a position he assumed upon the resignation of the former director in December 2008. “Dr. Carbone, an internationally respected scientist, particularly in the area of mesothelioma, joined the Cancer Research Center in 2006 and has also been serving as Chairman of the Pathology Department at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. We very muc...

Mesothelioma Continues to Affect Veterans

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:51:24 +0100

Many United States military veterans were frequently exposed to asbestos during service and continue to experience the hazardous effects of exposure to the toxic mineral today. Malignant mesothelioma is a rare, but highly aggressive illness caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported every year in the United States alone, while 10,000 are reported worldwide. Thirty percent of these cases are developed in veterans. When asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can accumulate and cause inflammation and DNA damage. Asbestos exposure has also been linked to many other diseases, such as colon and gastrointestinal cancer. Veterans were often exposed to asbestos while working on naval vessels where asbestos was used as the ...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Spreading of mesothelioma cells is rapamycin-sensitive and requires continuing translation

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The interaction of cancer cells with extracellular matrix (ECM) is important in metastasization. Here we identified the molecules of the ECM expressed by sarcomatous malignant mesothelioma, and their effect on adhesion and spreading. In addition, by analyzing the relationship between translation and attachment to matrix, we found that mesothelioma cells rely on continuing translation to efficiently attach to matrix, and rapamycin inhibition affects spreading and migration of cancer cells. Specifically, we found that sarcomatous cells produce high amounts of fibronectin, able to support the spreading of mesothelioma cells. Spreading of cancer cells on fibronectin does not require de novo transcription but is sensitive to cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Next, we analyzed th...

Mesothelioma Widows Featured in Photographer’s Project

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:10:54 +0100

A compilation of portraits of 14 women who lost their husbands due to mesothelioma, a rare asbestos-related cancer, are featured in Breathe, a collection of moving photographs taken by photographer Christopher Ireland. Ireland’s interest in the rare cancer began in his teens when a friend’s father passed away from the disease. He said he learned that mesothelioma “was the type of cancer you don’t get cured from,” adding that the lack of a cure is what makes his assemblage of photographs “a significant project, a significant topic, a significant cancer.” Approximately 10 years after first learning of the cancer, Ireland began to meet with widows affected by malignant mesothelioma to start creating Breathe. Ireland visited with the women and learned about the husbands they lost...

[C-arm computed tomography for transarterial chemoperfusion and chemo-embolization of thoracic lesions.]

Der Radiologe — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: C-arm CT provides additional information on the vascular characteristics and perfusion of pulmonary lesions resulting in a change of interventional strategy in a relevant number of patients. PMID: 19707738 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Der Radiologe)

Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Pleura: Surgery and Clinical Course in 18 Cases [ORIGINAL ARTICLE]

Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura are very rare neoplasms that can sometimes present with malignant features. Between 1984 and 2007, 18 cases were treated in our institution. There were 7 men and 11 women, with a median age of 56 years (range, 33–77 years). All patients underwent surgical treatment. Except for one case with hemangiopericytic features, all tumors were histologically the fibrous type of pleural mesothelioma. Resections were radical and there were no recurrences. There was no perioperative mortality. The outcome was excellent, and all patients have been followed up continuously. Survival rates at 3, 5, and 10 years were calculated as 86.7%, 75%, and 66.7%. One patient died after 18 months (malignant type of solitary fibrous tumor), and 2 died of unrelated disease af...

Response:Malignant mesothelioma after irradiation: consistency and synergy

Blood — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

(Source: Blood)

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

New Mesothelioma Treatment Undergoes Testing

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:16:55 +0100

The standard chemotherapy treatments currently offered for mesothelioma patients include cisplatin and pemetrexed or a combination of cisplatin and gemcitabine. Recently though, scientists in Greece have tested the effectiveness of combining gemcitabine and docetaxel for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs. The primary cause of this illness is exposure to asbestos and those who contract this cancer have often worked in industries ranging from shipyards to construction sites to power and chemical plants. Even though someone may have been exposed to asbestos several decades ago, they are still at risk for developing mesothelioma as the latency period for symptoms to arise can reach 50 years. Those who...

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration for staging of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:24:15 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Although this study is retrospective, EBUS had higher sensitivity than either mediastinoscopy or imaging studies for detection of nodal metastases. Nevertheless, the ability to accurately identify nodal involvement preoperatively in patients with mesothelioma remains suboptimal. Esophageal ultrasound may complement EBUS particularly in cases where infradiaphragmatic nodal metastases are suspected. PMID: 19699913 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Trimodality therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:24:12 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Induction chemotherapy, followed by EPP and adjuvant radiotherapy for selected patients with mesothelioma, is safe, with acceptable operative mortality. Adjuvant IMRT may be more effective in terms of local control than EBRT. PMID: 19699914 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Pleural Fluid Mesothelin May Help Diagnose Mesothelioma

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:01:27 +0100

Increased levels of the glycoprotein mesothelin in pleural fluid samples are associated with mesothelioma and may be useful in diagnosing the malignancy, according to a report in the September 1st issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Mesothelioma Diagnosis May Be Easier With New Test

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:15:14 +0100

A new test lead by the Oxford Centre for Respiratory Medicine at Oxford University may aid in the mesothelioma diagnostic process, providing patients with an accurate and sensitive test to diagnose the rare asbestos-related cancer. Dr. Helen Davies, MRCP (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, UK), leader of the study, said that diagnosing the cause of pleural effusion, the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity (the space surrounding the lung), “can be maddeningly difficult” since “a wide variety of malignant and benign causes exist.” Pleural effusion is often a sign of mesothelioma, a cancer that Davies notes “is rapidly increasing on a global scale.” More than 90 percent of mesothelioma patients also experience pleural effusion. The new test examines the fluid ...

MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources.

Cytoreductive Surgery and Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

OncologySTAT Journal Scans — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:46:01 +0100

Combining introperitoneal chemotherapy with cytoreduction yielded longer survival (3.7 years) than with palliative debulking (1 year). Aims. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare disease and traditionally... (Source: OncologySTAT Journal Scans)

Test May Aid Mesothelioma Diagnosis (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:27:49 +0100

Pleural-fluid mesothelin outperformed cytology for diagnosis and exclusion of mesothelioma, British investigators reported. (Source: MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology)

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure at Power Plants

Asbestos and Mesothelioma News — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:17:47 +0100

Throughout the majority of the 20th century, power plants were a common location for asbestos exposure. Before the 1980s, asbestos was considered an ideal material due to its insulating properties and ability to withstand high temperatures. Areas within power plants that often contained the hazardous substance included floors, walls, pipes, cables, valves, pumps and turbines. If these materials were damaged or disturbed at any time, either because of age or use, they may have released microscopic asbestos fibers into the air where they could be inhaled. The effects of using asbestos are still being felt today as many past power plant workers are being diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases such as malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos. Ev...

New test for asbestos cancer

NHS News Feed — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:55:00 +0100

This study was conducted in people with a high background risk of having mesothelioma. In fact, the participants’ chance of having mesothelioma before entering the study was 24/167 or 14%. This means that the findings need to be confirmed in other populations, preferably people at different levels of risks of the disease to ensure that the predictive values obtained in this study can be more widely replicated. It is important to consider what resources are required when discussing the introduction of any new diagnostic test. With mesothelin detection, pleural fluid is already being collected for analysis, so this would not involve any further sampling or invasive procedures for patients. However, consideration must be given to the laboratory and reporting facilities that would be requir...