Archive for the tag 'Gene Therapy'

Mesothelioma Survivors - the lung or pleural cavity

Taken this conversation from this mesothelioma forum. It’s focusing on general health issues such as: Adolescents, Babies, Child Health, Eating Disorders, General Health and Fitness, Immunizations/Vaccines, Infectious Diseases, Medical Tests and Procedures, Senior Health.

The Patient :

My aunt has been diagnosed with mesothelioma though it is not clear whether this is a few cancerous cells or a full tumour. We believe it to be fatal. Could you explain where this is in terms of the lung or pleural cavity. Also what should we be pushing for in terms of treatment. She has had one lot of radiotherapy. I think she will take an 8hr chemotherapy session shortly. There is mention of a clinical trial but have heard that such trials are more likely to cause discomfort than be of help.

Her husband has oesophogeal cancer and we are unsure of the survival rate/life expectancy there too. He has had chemotherapy and is now undergoing radiotherapy. The tumour has not reduced in size so far. He has had a stent put in and can eat foods if mashed.

Any help or suggestions would be very much apprieciated.

And answered by doctor :

I am sorry to hear about the cancer diagnoses.

80 percent of mesothelioma is pleural in origin and is typically associated with asbestos exposure. The median survival of patients with mesothelioma is between 6 and 18 months, and is not significantly affected by currently available therapeutic interventions.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are currently the recommended treatments of choice.

Experimental approaches include intracavitary therapy (directly injecting compounds into the pleural space) and gene therapy. Unfortunately, there is minimal success with these treatments, but they may be worth discussing with your personal physician.

Mortality of esophageal cancer depends on the stage. The mortality rates for stages I-IV are 60, 31, 20, and 4 percent respectively.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

So, what do you think about that?

Fighting Mesothelioma Cancer With Alternative Medicine

by M Nelson

Research in alternative medicine and conventional therapies to treat Mesothelioma cancer continues to be on the forefront to try and find a cure for this disease. Until an alternative is discovered and shows promise, conventional drugs and therapies such as Alimta and other chemotherapy drugs, surgery to remove tumors, and radiation therapy will be used to slow the cancer growth.

In addition to conventional treatments, a number of therapies from alternative medicine may be able to reduce symptoms of mesothelioma. Called complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, this diverse group of medical and health care options and practices aren’t considered to be a part of mainstream medical practice. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re ineffective. Some health care providers practice both CAM and conventional medicine, and combine the two with good results. This is referred to as integrative medicine. As much as thirty-six percent of America’s adult population are using some form of CAM. This rises to more than sixty percent if prayer and megavitamin therapy are included in the definition of alternative and complementary practices. Rates of alternative therapy use are highest among patients with serious illnesses such as mesothelioma cancer.

Some treatments offered by alternative medicine include acupuncture to relieve pain following surgery for tumor removal, ginger to treat the nausea and vomiting that chemotherapy causes, massage to treat pain from all kinds of cancers, and combining mistletoe extract with chemotherapy to treat tumors. Immunotherapy, also called biological therapy, is also becoming more common. In this therapy, substances called biological response modifiers are used to improve the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells, as well as to fight off other diseases.

Photodynamic therapy uses a drug that sensitizes tissues to light, then destroys cancerous cells by exposing them to a laser set to a specific frequency. Gene therapy is a new, but advancing field which treats potentially fatal diseases by modifying an individual’s genes therapeutically. Herbal medicines, traditional practices from countries such as China and Japan, and spiritual treatments are also used in CAM. Not all of these therapies have the ability to affect mesothelioma directly, and their effects will tend to vary by patient. However, they can be a big help in managing symptoms and side effects while using conventional treatments.

Those who are interested in using complementary or alternative medicine in their cancer treatment should ask their health care providers. It’s important to get the answers to a few questions when considering any therapy, whether alternative or conventional. Information such as the expected benefits of the therapy versus the risks, the potential side effects, and, in the case of alternative or complementary treatments, whether the therapy will interfere with treatments you’re already undergoing are helpful. If the therapy is part of a clinical trial, find out who the sponsor is. Many alternative therapies aren’t covered fully by health insurance. Some aren’t covered at all. It’s important to find out before beginning a CAM therapy whether or not your insurance will pay for it. A good place to start finding out about your options is the NCCAM website at http://nccam.nih.gov. From there, you’ll be able to get the information to decide what therapies, both conventional and alternative, are right for you.

About the Author
From personal research Maria Nelson provides an online research tool for cancer patients; with an emphasis on Mesothelioma cancer. Find resources to specialized cancer centers, doctors and a Mesothelioma attorneys directory for legal consideration.

Dealing With Mesothelioma Pain

Causes of Mesthelioma pain:

• The main cause of pain is due to the formation of malignant cells on the lining of the lung and abdomen.

• As the tumor presses against the nerves and other structures and organs around the area, it results in severe pain.

• It can arise due to effects of radiation and chemotherapy along with psychological stress.

Treating mesothelioma pain:

Mesothelioma pain can be acute and chronic. With the advancement in cancer research, various new techniques for controlling and treating are developing, which do not have side effects on mesothelioma patients.

• Some common treatments such as neurosurgery are performed by blocking or changing the nerve pathways through which pain transmits.

• Epidural or nerve blockage help mesothelioma patients manage pain.

• Counseling, meditation or body therapy reduce psychological trauma of suffering.

Mesthelioma treatment options:

With respect to traditional mesothelioma treatment options, locating the position of the cancer, the stage of the disease and age and general health of the patient is considered.

• Common treatments like radiation, chemotherapy as well as surgery are conducted on the patient.

• Radical treatment options and research has led to various available options. Based on the nature and severity of the disease, treatments such as gene therapy, immune augmentative therapy, photo dynamic therapy, interferon and interleukin therapy, radio frequency ablation, and angiogenesis therapies are used.

• At times, aggressive treatment is not possible due to age and health conditions. Under such circumstances, palliative treatment is recommended which treats the symptoms and not the disease.

Read the rest of article here…

Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment - Asbestos Kills

Mesothelioma cancer is a disease that results from exposure to asbestos related substances. Asbestos usually consists of fibres that can enter the body through the mouth, or the skin, and, subsequently, enter the lungs, or blood stream.

Mesothelioma cancer has become more widely documented in the last 5-10 years, due to the fact that symptoms of asbestos cancer can take between 20 to 40 years to manifest. Mesothelioma cancer is hard to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to manifest themselves until the later stages of the disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma lung cancer include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and other secondary illnesses such as pneumonia.

Asbestos cancer most often develops in men between the ages of 50 to 70 years who were exposed to high levels of asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos was mainly used in manufacturing industries such as automotive and ship building as well as in the construction industry. The use of asbestos was only recently banned in the 1990’s.

Mesthelioma lung cancer has been found to be the most common form of mesothelioma cancer and it develops in the lining of the lung (pleural). Mesothelioma cancer can also develop in the abdominal area (peritoneal) and around the heart (pericardial). There is a greater chance of malignancy in abdominal asbestos cancer. For a more detailed explanation of mesothelioma cancer, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Mesothelioma lung cancer can be detected through a CT scan which enables it to be sometimes diagnosed earlier than the other two types of mesothelioma cancer. The type of mesothelioma cancer treatment will depend on the stage at which the cancer was diagnosed, the age of the patient as well as personal preferences. The disease can be divided into four separate stages. The stage in the disease process that is reached will determine the method of mesothelioma cancer treatment. At the first stage when the tumour is confined to the lining of the lungs, surgeons may try to remove the entire tumour surgically. Once the tumour has invaded the surrounding body tissues in the later stages, it is not curable.

Conventionally, the more advanced stages of mesothelioma cancer are treated with either radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy x-rays to destroy cancerous cells and shrink tumours Chemotherapy, on the other hand, uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. The aim of these mesothelioma cancer treatments is to prolong the patient’s life as the disease cannot be cured in the more advanced stages.

In addition to these conventional mesothelioma cancer treatments, there are also various experimental treatments currently under investigation which offer new hope.

Immunotherapy: This form of biological therapy for mesothelioma cancer treatment uses the patient’s own immune system to attack the cancerous cells. Clinical studies have shown that the immune system is able to distinguish healthy cells from cancer cells, and can therefore be used to destroy those cancerous cells.

Gene Therapy: This form of mesothelioma cancer treatment is very much still in the developmental stages. The process involves injecting a specific gene straight into the tumour. This gene renders the cancer cells sensitive to the antiviral drug glanciclovir which under normal circumstances is not effective against these cells. The glanciclovir is then able to destroy all the cancer cells without harming the healthy tissue cells.

Drug Therapy: The drug Alimta is the only chemotherapy drug to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)for the treatment of patients with malignant mesothelioma lung cancer . This new and exciting drug has been demonstrated in clinical trials to reduce symptoms and increase the life expectancy of patients.

Photodynamic Therapy: Photodynamic therapy involves the use of light to destroy cancer cells. The patient first is first administered a photosensitizing drug that only collects in cancerous cells. Fibre-optic cables are then inserted in the body in order to focus light of a certain frequency on the tumour. The light stimulates the photosensitizing drug to produce toxic oxygen molecules that destroy the cancerous cells.

These experimental mesothelioma cancer treatments, although still in the developmental stages, offer cancer victims the prospect of a better and longer life. With the likelihood of an increase in the number of people diagnosed with asbestos cancer, further research into other forms of mesothelioma cancer treatment is vital.

Note to Publishers: You may freely republish this article as is, without editing or modification, and all links must be kept live. The author, Gregory De Villiers, writes on a variety of health and wellness topics. For more information on mesothelioma cancer as well as asbestos litigation, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_121761_17.html

Mesothelioma Treatments

Mesothelioma treatments have thus far been unable to limit the spread of the deadly cancer. Treatments for mesothelioma are divided into two categories; traditional mesothelioma treatments and new mesothelioma treatments.
Traditional mesothelioma treatments are the same as those used to treat most other cancers, and include:
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy)

Traditional mesothelioma treatments are often used in conjunction with one another in effort to provide the most thorough and effective method of treatment. For example, trimodality therapy combines all three traditional methods of treatment, where chemotherapy is administered first with the aim of slowing the growth of malignant mesothelioma. Chemotherapy treatments are followed by surgery designed to physically remove a mesothelioma tumor mass (extrapleural pneumonectomy is often performed as part of trimodality therapy). Postoperative radiation therapy is used for the final step, to target any lingering mesothelioma cells. Although trimodality therapy has been unable to eradicate malignant mesothelioma, it has proven to be effective in significantly prolonging patients’ survival time by as much as five years (the average post-diagnosis survival time is one to two years).
New mesothelioma treatments have been researched and developed with the hope of succeeding where traditional methods have not. Mesothelioma researchers are optimistic that new mesothelioma treatment modalities will eventually prove to be successful, though they have yet to yield results that are any better than traditional methods.

New treatments for mesothelioma include:
Development of new chemotherapy agents
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Immunotherapy
Gene therapy
The progression of mesothelioma, as with other cancerous diseases, is typically broken into stages, with the treatment options based on the stage of the disease. The commonly used staging for mesothelioma is the Brigham staging system and it is described as follows.
Stages of Mesothelioma
Stage 1 occurs when the tumor lies completely within the capsule of the pleura, without swollen lymph nodes (adenopathy).
Stage 2 has the characteristics of Stage 1, where the tumor has spread and there is presence of adenopathy. But in Stage 2 the boundaries of the tumor allow for a resection (removal of the tumor) without cutting into other organs.
Stage 3 includes extension of the disease into the chest wall or into the heart, through the diaphragm or peritoneum, or outside the pleura to involve the lymph nodes.
Stage 4 occurs when the cancer has formed in distant organs through metastases.
Treatment options for the management of malignant mesothelioma include:
chemotherapy
surgery
radiation
multimodality treatment
However, none of the treatment strategies have been shown to be particularly effective against the disease.

An overview of the options for the treatment of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Treatment options depend on many factors such as time, place and the age of patients and wishes. Important external factors to take into account the much experience with the oncologists at mesothelioma, and if so, whether a city-rural area to be transferred to a big city or for the aggressive palliative care. Survival rate of patients is determined to up to one year, while some major centres were of a cancer of the life expectancy after diagnosis, so as to be that five years longer. Screening By imaging tests allow doctors to see a photo on the side of the cancer. These tests can also use the X-ray computed tomography (CT) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). New tool for early detection: The test Mesomark The Food and Drug Administration has just the (January 2007), the first test for the in-vitro mesothelioma. Mesomark The test, developed by Fujirebio Diagnostics is in the patients with epithelioid biphasic mesothelioma or by a simple blood test. The test measures proteins in the blood, changes in the volume of the patient’s tumor is an important factor for the monitoring of the patient and the response to therapy. Modern Art treatment Surgery, the removal of the entire lung and in a part of the edition of the chest, the diaphragm and the part of the bag, which surrounds the core. Thoracoscopie is the insertion of an endoscope, which is a small narrow tube with a small cameria pleural fibrosis in the cave, situated directly on the tumor. Pathologiste, a biopsy, a tissue. Often chemical pleurodesis (emptying the liquid in the space intrapleurale), during the same procedure. Médiastinoscopie, another type of surgery is sometimes used for the measure from the stage of the disease, when enlarged nodes are using imaging techniques. Laproscopy mesothelioma in the techniques of imaging in patients indicate that the tumor invaded by the diaphragm. This information is important in assessing a patient potential for pleurectomy or extrapleuralen lung resection. Radiation Therapy (with high doses of X-rays or other high-energy radiation for cancer cells. Irradiation - Although the mesothelioma tumours are very resistant to radiation therapy, sometimes, these treatments to alleviate the symptoms that arise from the growth of tumors, such as the blocking of a main blood vessel problem. Radiation therapy is generally at the opening of the chest drain sites to prevent the growth of tumors along the paths in the chest wall. Chemotherapy - is used to prevent the cancer cells to grow and divide. Immunotherapy: intraopérative Intrapéritonéale heated chemotherapy is necessary to deprive the tumor as much as possible, followed by the direct administration of a heated between (40 and 48 ° C), chemotherapy, in the abdomen, while 60 to 120 minutes, then Abgetropfte. Palliative care procedures Pleuropéritonéale shunt is a procedure in which a catheter under the skin of pleural mesothelioma in the abdominal cavity. This procedure raises concern that the catheter may cause damage by anchoring himself in the abdomen. Pleurectomy a palliative procedure, if further surgery is not an option. The procedure can not effectively remove tumors. It is regarded as the most effective means to control the pleural effusion (water storage), in cases where the expansion of the lungs is by mesothelioma. Potentially curative These procedures are “intent” healing. Pleurectomy / Peel, usually in patients with early stage disease pleural mesothelioma (stage I and stage II select), and tried all gross tumor. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy for surgery is the removal of a diseased lung, a portion of the Pericardium a part of the membrane and a part of the parietal pleura. This type of surgery is often used to a clever and traditional mesothelioma in combination with chemotherapy and / or radiation therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, or photodynamic therapy. Cytoreductive Surgery removed tumors visible in the abdominal cavity. The rest of the cancer cells by intra-peritoneal hypertermiques (heated) chemotherapy (IPHC), then delivered the abdominal cavity. New treatments or experimental Gene Therapy: The best-known gene, called the p53 tumor. When this gene is damaged or missing, or genes, oncogenes cancer proliferate in a normal pace. The main axis of gene therapy for mesothelioma is a virus injected, has been changed, in the laboratory. The virus is in the room pleural mesothelioma in the chest, where the mesothelioma developed to be an attempt to kill cancer cells. Vaccine or drug therapy The mesothelioma patients have a high vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a chemical in the blood vessels, that the people of other types of cancer. The experiments are currently under way to check whether the VEGF can be blocked, making the vehicles of growth of blood vessels pull mesothelioma tumors. Bevacizumab is a vaccine against the drug currently in use. A process has recently declared that the drug increases the chances of survival for patients with lung cancer. An American Phase 2 bevacizumab procedures tested to mesothelioma, in combination with chemotherapy drugs. Bevacizumab is still in the testing phase, and much more important process are necessary before we know it in the treatment of mesothelioma and other types of cancer. The photodynamic therapy (PDT) In photodynamic therapy drug called a photosensitising injection into the bloodstream and into the cells of the body through which the light-sensitive cells. If the patient is in the laser light, the cells. PDT is used in combination with surgery for the treatment of patients in the early stages of mesothelioma. PDT is in the stages of the proceedings and very experimental. The clinical trials and election law The clinical studies of the research with the help of an investigation of individuals affected by cancer. The National Cancer Institute says that the purpose of most clinical trials are designed to test new drugs against cancer or new methods for diagnosis, prevention or early detection of cancer. The conditions for the approval for clinical trials is not the same, each study contains specific guidelines for participation. Some procedures allow for the participation of other treatments have failed, while others require that the patient is not treated. The choice of a clinical trial may only after a medical consultation. Examinations for the Prevention - ways to reduce the risk or the likelihood of cancer to develop. Most tests are conducted on the prevention, in which healthy people who had no cancer. These tests, drugs, vitamins or diet to reduce cancer risk. Some procedures are interviews with people who have cancer, and want to prevent the return of cancer (Relapse), or the risk of developing a new type of cancer. Screening Trial - ways to detect cancer. They are often carried out to determine whether the cancer before finding the causes of the symptoms reduces the chances of dying of the disease. These procedures are people who show no signs of cancer. Diagnosis Cancer Trials - develops new tests or scans The trials for the treatment - studies of new drugs or combinations of drugs, new treatment options, and new ways of processing Quality of life processes explore how the comfort and quality of life of patients with cancer and survivors of cancer. These tests can be opportunities for the people who are suffering from nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbances, depression, or adverse reactions, cancer or treatment. Trials Genetics Study - sometimes are part of another clinical trial of cancer. The genetic component of the negotiations may affect the way can influence the genetic detection, diagnosis, or a response to a therapy against cancer. The clinical studies are in 4 phases: The phase 1 of the examination, if the attempt to treat drug is safe or harmful, and the efforts to establish the correct dosage. Phase 2 trials check the effectiveness of the treatment. Phase 3 tests to examine a new treatment against the current standard therapy. If it leads to better results, it could be the new standard treatment. Phase 4 trials are after a drug was approved. They collect information on the side effects of the safety and the long-term risks and benefits of a drug. The research is underway, the possibilities for improving the treatment of Mesothelioma, but clinical trials are not all in new and better treatments. After the examination, he discovered that the treatment in the test does not work, or it is the worst side effect, the existing forms of treatment. But for the researchers and doctors, and at the end for the patients it is important that this research is in progress.

Asbestos treatment of lung cancer and mesothelioma information

Dr. Appointments are important to ensure that you are in the living room healthy. However, the burden of asbestos crisis, an appointment to the routine. Because the diseases associated with asbestos decades in the form, early detection is crucial for the correct treatment. The people who work in areas such as construction, shipbuilding and manufacturing are particularly suitable contracts to these conditions.

Even with the best available techniques for the early detection of mesothelioma can now often miss diagnosis. The best thing to do is to provide early detection and systematic, especially when you asbestos exposure. The medical technology has every day, and where appropriate, a cure is found. But until then, the victims of mesothelioma should take action against those responsible. With a lawyer in your state today, for you to receive any compensation for their suffering.

The affected areas are cancer mesothelioma from the wall of the internal organs of the body. Because of the location of the infected cell, mesothelioma is not responding well to conventional therapy, in contrast to most other forms of cancer. In addition, there is no blatant symptoms of the illness, when the doctors can not correctly diagnose the disease until it is good. Due to these factors, the effectiveness of many conventional treatments are limited.

In the treatment of Mesothelioms, doctors have different ways of treatment. Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy treatments were traditional options for slowing the growth of cancer cells. The doctors that deal with mesothelioma have for the planning of a new, innovative attack for combating this disease. New treatments, such as angiogenesis, Photo Dynamic and gene therapy in possession of a new hope for the victims of mesothelioma everywhere. Depending on the condition and location of the cancer, doctors to choose the best approach for the circumstances. If it is discovered early enough, doctors can the lives of the victims, but unfortunately can not cure the disease.

The three main types of malignant mesothelioma are epithelioid, sarcomatoid and mixed / biphasic. Epithelioid is the most common form of 50-70% of all cases of mesothelioma are such. Epithelioid also has the best chance to survive. It affects the internal organs and the surfaces ceilings. Sarcomatoid is much worse, because it concerns the secondary tissues of the body, such as cartilage, muscle, bone and fat. However, this form of cancer is much rarer, because he is only 7-20% of the time. Mixed / biphasic is, the two types of cancer, both what 20-35% of cases.

There are three areas, target groups, which also affect the mesothelioma. Mesothelioma pleural mesothelioma affects the cave around pleural fibrosis of the lungs and is responsible for the majority of 75% of all cases diagnosed. Mesothelioma peritoneal is 10-20% of all cases, and the tissues of the stomach (including stomach and intestinal complaints). Pericardial mesothelioma is the shape that rare that is in the bag, and the lining around the heart.