Study Tests New Treatments That May Benefit Mesothelioma Patients

Study Tests New Treatments That May Benefit Mesothelioma Patients

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 other drug, fluorouracil, protects healthy tissues from the first agent’s toxicity. Both of these drugs are already in clinical use but are administered in low doses due to the high potency of the medications.

Though in its early stages, the study demonstrates the possibility of attacking tumors that are resistant to these drugs, while still protecting healthy tissue. Dr. Lubin believes that successful animal studies will lead to clinical use as soon as possible.

Malignant mesothelioma typically develops after exposure to asbestos. When toxic asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may become lodged in organs or body cavities, causing inflammation or infection. Many patients do not demonstrate symptoms of the cancer for 20 to 50 years after initial exposure occurred, allowing mesothelioma to progress to later stages of development.

Though a cure for mesothelioma does not exist, treatment options such as radiation, chemotherapy and surgery are available to patients to combat the disease. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year, accounting for approximately 3 percent of cancer diagnoses in the United States.

For more information on mesothelioma and mesothelioma treatment, please visit the Mesothelioma Center.

Posted on September 11, 2009 12:09 | Health General
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