Mesothelioma Cure

Finding a Cure for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma treatment has come a long way over the past several decades. When mesothelioma researchers began studying the cancer, all they knew was that it was linked to asbestos. There was little information on how the disease progressed and very few treatment options were available.

Today, options such as chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy are pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Further, they are extending the lifespans of patients with mesothelioma.

Biological therapies and cell therapies are very promising. They may even deliver a cure at some point in the near future. Biological therapies modify or disrupt the way that cells normally work. This can offer doctors creative solutions for fighting abnormal cells affected by asbestos exposure.

New Treatments to Lead to a Cure

Researchers are constantly working on new treatment options to improve the prognosis of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Several new and emerging treatments have shown promise in treating mesothelioma effectively and increasing life expectancy. For example, immunotherapy is a relatively new medical treatment using the body’s immune system to attack and destroy cancer cells. When doctors first began studying mesothelioma decades ago, this treatment was unavailable.

There is hope that a cure may be discovered in the future. Currently, however, most treatments for mesothelioma focus on extending life expectancy and improving quality of life.

Researchers continue to develop new, innovative methods for treating mesothelioma. Many of these new treatments are studied through clinical trials run by medical teams, including some of the country’s top mesothelioma doctors.

Use our Free Doctor Match to find mesothelioma specialists in your area who can help you access new and emerging treatments.

Clinical Trials

One way that doctors and medical professionals work to discover new emerging treatments for mesothelioma is through clinical trials.

Licensed medical practitioners and researchers run clinical trials to evaluate new medical treatments. They are regulated by the federal government and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mesothelioma clinical trials allow doctors, scientists, and researchers to try newer treatments in a controlled setting.

Doctors have criteria for determining which patients can join a clinical trial. For example, there are several different types of mesothelioma. A patient with pleural mesothelioma — the most common form of the disease — may be eligible for a certain clinical trial, while a patient with testicular mesothelioma, which is rare, may not be.

Although medical professionals conduct clinical trials, they have risks. The drugs and treatments involved are sometimes untested. This means there is the possibility of unknown side effects. Patients who join clinical trials are informed of the possible risks and benefits before starting the study and should make sure their doctor is involved.

Types of Emerging Treatments

Doctors and researchers are working hard to discover new ways to treat mesothelioma. Several new treatments established over the past few decades have improved life expectancy, prognosis, and reduced symptoms. There is some hope that one of these treatments will eventually lead to a cure.

Many of the most common emerging mesothelioma treatments are:

Immunotherapy

In immunotherapy, patients are given drugs to boost their immune system, enabling it to target and attack cancerous cells more efficiently. It may also suppress a patient’s immune system to allow other types of treatments to take effect.

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a relatively new treatment that introduces manipulated genes into the body. Gene therapy helps cancerous cells affected by mesothelioma to be more susceptible to other forms of cancer treatment.

p53 Restorative Drugs

The tumor protein p53 is a human gene that can be used in medical treatments to suppress cancer. It can be used to either repair damaged cells or kill cancerous cells. More research is currently being done to learn more about this treatment.

Epigenetic Therapy

The epigenome is a record of how chemicals change in a person’s DNA, which is unique to each individual. Doctors are working to determine how cancer turns off particular anticancer mechanisms in the epigenome and how epigenetic therapy can alter these changes.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Photodynamic therapy, or PDT, uses a photosynthesizing agent to destroy cancer. This agent is combined with wavelengths of light to create singlet oxygen, which kills cancer cells. PDT has effectively treated several forms of cancer, including mesothelioma.

Virotherapy

Virotherapy uses viruses to target and kill cancer cells. It is often used in conjunction with other therapies, such as immunotherapy.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy uses cold temperatures to target and kill cancer cells. Although it is a relatively new mesothelioma treatment, it has been used to treat other conditions for years.

Improving Mesothelioma Surgical Techniques

The most common surgeries for patients with mesothelioma are extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), pleurectomy with decortication (P/D), and cytoreduction with HIPEC.

• In an EPP, a cancerous lung may be removed entirely, along with certain parts of the chest lining or nearby lymph nodes. This is used to treat pleural mesothelioma.
• A P/D allows doctors to remove the lung lining that’s been affected by cancer, but both lungs are spared. This is another treatment for pleural mesothelioma.
• Cytoreduction with HIPEC combines abdominal surgery and heated chemotherapy to treat patients with peritoneal mesothelioma.

There is currently a debate between mesothelioma doctors and researchers on whether an EPP or a P/D is better. Many doctors argue that EPPs are too aggressive and risky. In turn, there is increased advocacy for P/D procedures.

Need your doctor’s help determining which mesothelioma surgery is right for you? Download our Free Checklist of Questions to Ask Your Doctor before your next appointment.

 

Finding the Right Emerging Treatment For You

Although there is no cure for mesothelioma today, physicians and researchers are working hard to develop emerging treatments that may eventually lead to a cure.

Emerging treatments such as immunotherapy, gene therapy, p53 restorative drugs, epigenetic therapy, and photodynamic therapy are often offered through clinical trials.

If you or a loved one suffers from mesothelioma, you may want to consider one of these treatment options. They may improve your prognosis or reduce your symptoms.

Keep in mind, it is important to consult with a mesothelioma specialist. They can evaluate your specific case of mesothelioma to help determine which emerging treatment may work best for you.

Use our Free Doctor Match to get help connecting with a local specialist today.