Mesothelioma Research
It is indeed difficult to face a diagnosis of mesothelioma because, for decades, little progress has been made in finding treatments that extend the lives of victims of this aggressive cancer. To this point, mesothelioma has most certainly carried a death sentence and doctors have offered little more than treatments that help keep the patient comfortable.
However, as awareness of the disease continues to grow in the U.S. and in other countries that are greatly affected by mesothelioma - like the United Kingdom and Australia - more and more research dollars are being spent on finding ways to help mesothelioma patients.
Politicians are rallying for bans on asbestos and lobbying for money for more and better research centers dedicated solely to finding improved treatments for the disease. Companies that contaminated their employees through the widespread use of asbestos are donating funds to finance new research centers in attempts to assuage their guilt and make small amends for the pain and suffering they caused.
Each year, there's more and more hope offered to mesothelioma patients in the form of a variety of treatment opportunities.
Chemotherapy
By far, the most promising new chemotherapy drug introduced in the last few years and earmarked specifically for the treatment of mesothelioma is Alimta, manufactured by Eli Lilly. Alimta inhibits cell growth by preventing the formation of DNA and RNA, thus stopping the disease from spreading. When used in tandem with the platinum drug Cisplatin, clinical trials show that it can add an additional three months to the life of a patient--not a huge number but definitely a step in a positive direction.
Non-Chemo Drugs
A newer family of drugs known as anti-angiogenesis drugs have shown some promise in the treatment of mesothelioma. They include Avastin, Veglin, and PXD101. Avastin has been approved by the FDA for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer but is also being used for mesothelioma patients. Such drugs are often used in tandem with chemo drugs for better results. Both Veglin and PXD101 are currently in clinical trials.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy
This treatment delivers high doses of radiation directly to mesothelioma tumors, preventing the loss of healthy tissue that normally occurs with standard radiation. This technique is of great value when the tumor is located close to a vital organ, making traditional radiation difficult.
Gene Therapy, Immunotherapy
Both of these treatments continue to be tested on cancer patients, including those with mesothelioma. The first tries to manipulate the immune system; the second aims to replace tumor suppressor genes. Both therapies are still in the early stages of research.