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Mesothelioma – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

Overview

Malignant mesothelioma (me-zoe-thee-lee-O-muh) is a type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium).

Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer. Mesothelioma treatments are available, but for many people with mesothelioma, a cure isn't possible.

Doctors divide mesothelioma into different types based on what part of the mesothelium is affected. Mesothelioma most often affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs (pleura). This type is called pleural mesothelioma. Other, rarer types of mesothelioma affect tissue in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), around the heart and around the testicles.

Mesothelioma care at Mayo Clinic

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on where the cancer occurs.

Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs, causes signs and symptoms that may include:

Peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in tissue in the abdomen, causes signs and symptoms that may include:

Signs and symptoms of other types of mesothelioma are unclear, since these forms of the disease are very rare.

Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects tissue that surrounds the heart, can cause signs and symptoms such as breathing difficulty and chest pains.

Mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis, which affects tissue surrounding the testicles, may be first detected as swelling or a mass on a testicle.

See your doctor if you have signs and symptoms that worry you. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma aren't specific to this disease and, due to the rarity of mesothelioma, are more likely to be related to other conditions. If any persistent signs and symptoms seem unusual or bothersome, ask your doctor to evaluate them. Tell your doctor if you've been exposed to asbestos.

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In general, cancer begins when a series of changes (mutations) happens in a cell's DNA. The DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The mutations tell the cell to grow and multiply out of control. The abnormal cells accumulate and form a tumor.

It isn't clear what causes the initial genetic mutations that lead to mesothelioma, though researchers have identified factors that may increase the risk. It's likely that cancers form because of an interaction between many factors, such as inherited conditions, your environment, your health conditions and your lifestyle choices.

Most mesotheliomas are thought to be related to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral that's found naturally in the environment. Asbestos fibers are strong and resistant to heat, making them useful in a wide variety of applications, such as in insulation, brakes, shingles, flooring and many other products.

When asbestos is broken up, such as during the mining process or when removing asbestos insulation, dust may be created. If the dust is inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers will settle in the lungs or in the stomach, where they can cause irritation that may lead to mesothelioma. Exactly how this happens isn't understood. It can take 20 to 60 years or more for mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure.

Most people with asbestos exposure never develop mesothelioma. This indicates that other factors may be involved in determining whether someone gets mesothelioma. For instance, you could inherit a predisposition to cancer or some other condition could increase your risk.

Factors that may increase the risk of mesothelioma include:

As pleural mesothelioma spreads in the chest, it puts pressure on the structures in that area. This can cause complications, such as:

Reducing your exposure to asbestos may lower your risk of mesothelioma.

Most people with mesothelioma were exposed to the asbestos fibers at work. Workers who may encounter asbestos fibers include:

Ask your employer whether you have a risk of asbestos exposure on the job.

Follow all safety precautions in your workplace, such as wearing protective equipment. You may also be required to shower and change out of your work clothes before taking a lunch break or going home. Talk to your doctor about other precautions you can take to protect yourself from asbestos exposure.

Older homes and buildings may contain asbestos. In many cases, it's more dangerous to remove the asbestos than it is to leave it intact. Breaking up asbestos may cause fibers to become airborne, where they can be inhaled. Consult experts trained to detect asbestos in your home. These experts may test the air in your home to determine whether the asbestos is a risk to your health. Don't attempt to remove asbestos from your home hire a qualified expert.

Oct. 11, 2022

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Mesothelioma - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Mesothelioma Cancer | Causes, Diagnosis, Life Expectancy & Treatment

Common Tests for Diagnosing Mesothelioma

Before performing a tissue biopsy to diagnose mesothelioma, doctors may check for abnormalities. This process may involve various tests, like bloodwork and imaging scans.

Doctors often use imaging scans in the initial stages of a mesothelioma diagnosis. These tests commonly include CT scans, MRIs and X-rays. Scans, like a chest X-ray, can help doctors determine the extent and location of tumors. Doctors may also use imaging to see how far the disease has progressed.

Each scan has different benefits and limitations. Depending on each case, doctors may recommend more than one type of imaging scan. After a diagnosis, doctors may again use these tests to help determine the stage of the disease, monitor spread and check for any fluid buildup.

Biopsies are an important step in diagnosing and treating mesothelioma. A biopsy, which removes tissue or fluid for testing, is the only way to diagnose mesothelioma. Imaging scans and other tests can play a role in the diagnosis process, but only biopsy testing can be conclusive. A biopsy can also help determine important disease factors, like cell type.

A biopsy is often performed with a needle that extracts a fluid or tissue sample. After the procedure, a pathologist will analyze the sample. Some biopsy methods are less invasive than others.

Blood tests measure indicators of mesothelioma, called biomarkers, in a blood sample. Doctors may combine bloodwork with a biopsy to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. Blood tests alone cannot diagnose mesothelioma.

MESOMARK is a blood test that has approval for some mesothelioma monitoring. While other tests may identify general cancer indicators, MESOMARK is specific to mesothelioma indicators. Advances in blood test methods may someday support earlier mesothelioma diagnosis.

Staging is another important step in the initial diagnostic process. After confirming a mesothelioma diagnosis, doctors often go on to estimate its stage. The most common mesothelioma staging method is the tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging system. Stages range from early stages (1 and 2) to later stages (3 and 4).

More:

Mesothelioma Cancer | Causes, Diagnosis, Life Expectancy & Treatment

Mesothelioma – Wikipedia

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the internal organs (known as the mesothelium).[9] The most common area affected is the lining of the lungs and chest wall.[1][3] Less commonly the lining of the abdomen and rarely the sac surrounding the heart,[10] or the sac surrounding the testis may be affected.[1][11] Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma may include shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, a swollen abdomen, chest wall pain, cough, feeling tired, and weight loss.[1] These symptoms typically come on slowly.[2]

More than 80% of mesothelioma cases are caused by exposure to asbestos.[3] The greater the exposure the greater the risk.[3] As of 2013, about 125 million people worldwide have been exposed to asbestos at work.[12] High rates of disease occur in people who mine asbestos, produce products from asbestos, work with asbestos products, live with asbestos workers, or work in buildings containing asbestos.[3] Asbestos exposure and the onset of cancer are generally separated by about 40 years.[3] Washing the clothing of someone who worked with asbestos also increases the risk.[12] Other risk factors include genetics and infection with the simian virus 40.[3] The diagnosis may be suspected based on chest X-ray and CT scan findings, and is confirmed by either examining fluid produced by the cancer or by a tissue biopsy of the cancer.[2]

Prevention focuses on reducing exposure to asbestos.[4] Treatment often includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.[5] A procedure known as pleurodesis, which involves using substances such as talc to scar together the pleura, may be used to prevent more fluid from building up around the lungs.[5] Chemotherapy often includes the medications cisplatin and pemetrexed.[2] The percentage of people that survive five years following diagnosis is on average 8% in the United States.[6]

In 2015, about 60,800 people had mesothelioma, and 32,000 died from the disease.[7][8] Rates of mesothelioma vary in different areas of the world.[3] Rates are higher in Australia, the United Kingdom, and lower in Japan.[3] It occurs in about 3,000 people per year in the United States.[13] It occurs more often in males than females.[3] Rates of disease have increased since the 1950s.[3] Diagnosis typically occurs after the age of 65 and most deaths occur around 70 years old.[3] The disease was rare before the commercial use of asbestos.[3]

Symptoms or signs of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years (or more) after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (pleural effusion) are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.[14]

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:[14]

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body.[citation needed]

The most common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are abdominal swelling andpain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other features may include weight loss, fever, night sweats, poor appetite, vomiting, constipation, and umbilical hernia.[15] If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.[citation needed]

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:[citation needed]

Pericardial mesothelioma is not well characterized, but observed cases have included cardiac symptoms, specifically constrictive pericarditis, heart failure, pulmonary embolism, and cardiac tamponade. They have also included nonspecific symptoms, including substernal chest pain, orthopnea (shortness of breath when lying flat), and cough. These symptoms are caused by the tumor encasing or infiltrating the heart.[10]

In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:[7]

If a mesothelioma forms metastases, these most commonly involve the liver, adrenal gland, kidney, or other lung.[16]

Working with asbestos is the most common risk factor for mesothelioma.[17] However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. Tentative evidence also raises concern about carbon nanotubes.[18][19]

The incidence of mesothelioma has been found to be higher in populations living near naturally occurring asbestos. People can be exposed to naturally occurring asbestos in areas where mining or road construction is occurring, or when the asbestos-containing rock is naturally weathered. Another common route of exposure is through asbestos-containing soil, which is used to whitewash, plaster, and roof houses in Greece.[12] In central Cappadocia, Turkey, mesothelioma was causing 50% of all deaths in three small villagesTuzky, Karain, and Sarhdr. Initially, this was attributed to erionite. Environmental exposure to asbestos has caused mesothelioma in places other than Turkey, including Corsica, Greece, Cyprus, China, and California.[12][20][21] In the northern Greek mountain town of Metsovo, this exposure had resulted in mesothelioma incidence around 300 times more than expected in asbestos-free populations, and was associated with very frequent pleural calcification known as Metsovo lung.[22][23]

The documented presence of asbestos fibers in water supplies and food products has fostered concerns about the possible impact of long-term and, as yet, unknown exposure of the general population to these fibers.[24]

Exposure to talc is also a risk factor for mesothelioma; exposure can affect those who live near talc mines, work in talc mines, or work in talc mills.[25]

In the United States, asbestos is considered the major cause of malignant mesothelioma[26] and has been considered "indisputably"[27] associated with the development of mesothelioma. Indeed, the relationship between asbestos and mesothelioma is so strong that many consider mesothelioma a "signal" or "sentinel" tumor.[28][29][30][31] A history of asbestos exposure exists in most cases.

Pericardial mesothelioma may not be associated with asbestos exposure.[10]

Asbestos was known in antiquity, but it was not mined and widely used commercially until the late 19th century. The dangers were not unknown in antiquity. Pliny the Elder, a Roman author and naturalist, observed that quarry slaves from asbestos mines tended to die young.[32] Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not publicly known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among naval personnel (e.g., Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the official position of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. EPA is that protections and "permissible exposure limits" required by U.S. regulations, while adequate to prevent most asbestos-related non-malignant disease, are not adequate to prevent or protect against asbestos-related cancers such as mesothelioma.[33] Likewise, the British Government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states formally that any threshold for exposure to asbestos must be at a very low level and it is widely agreed that if any such threshold does exist at all, then it cannot currently be quantified. For practical purposes, therefore, HSE assumes that no such "safe" threshold exists. Others have noted as well that there is no evidence of a threshold level below which there is no risk of mesothelioma.[34] There appears to be a linear, doseresponse relationship, with increasing dose producing increasing risk of disease.[35] Nevertheless, mesothelioma may be related to brief, low level or indirect exposures to asbestos.[27] The dose necessary for effect appears to be lower for asbestos-induced mesothelioma than for pulmonary asbestosis or lung cancer.[27] Again, there is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos as it relates to increased risk of mesothelioma.

The time from first exposure to onset of the disease, is between 25 and 70 years.[36] It is virtually never less than fifteen years and peaks at 3040 years.[27][37] The duration of exposure to asbestos causing mesothelioma can be short. For example, cases of mesothelioma have been documented with only 13 months of exposure.[38][39]

Exposure to asbestos fibers has been recognized as an occupational health hazard since the early 20th century. Numerous epidemiological studies have associated occupational exposure to asbestos with the development of pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, asbestosis, carcinoma of the lung and larynx, gastrointestinal tumors, and diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, gaskets, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation.[40]

Commercial asbestos mining at Wittenoom, Western Australia, took place from 1937 to 1966. The first case of mesothelioma in the town occurred in 1960. The second case was in 1969, and new cases began to appear more frequently thereafter. The lag time between initial exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma varied from 12 years 9 months up to 58 years.[41] A cohort study of miners employed at the mine reported that 85 deaths attributable to mesothelioma had occurred by 1985. By 1994, 539 reported deaths due to mesothelioma had been reported in Western Australia.[citation needed]

Occupational exposure to asbestos in the United States mainly occurs when people are maintaining buildings that already have asbestos. Approximately 1.3 million US workers are exposed to asbestos annually; in 2002, an estimated 44,000 miners were potentially exposed to asbestos.[25]

Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases.[11][42][43] This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers via washing a worker's clothes or coming into contact with asbestos-contaminated work clothing.[12][25] To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibres, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.[citation needed]

Many building materials used in both public and domestic premises prior to the banning of asbestos may contain asbestos. Those performing renovation works or DIY activities may expose themselves to asbestos dust. In the UK, use of chrysotile asbestos was banned at the end of 1999. Brown and blue asbestos were banned in the UK around 1985. Buildings built or renovated prior to these dates may contain asbestos materials.[44]

Therefore, it is a legal requirement that all who may come across asbestos in their day-to-day work have been provided with the relevant asbestos training.

In a recent research carried on white American population in 2012, it was found that people with a germline mutation in their BAP1 gene are at higher risk of developing mesothelioma and uveal melanoma.[45]

Erionite is a zeolite mineral with similar properties to asbestos and is known to cause mesothelioma.[11] Detailed epidemiological investigation has shown that erionite causes mesothelioma mostly in families with a genetic predisposition.[12][20][21] Erionite is found in deposits in the Western United States, where it is used in gravel for road surfacing, and in Turkey, where it is used to construct homes. In Turkey, the United States, and Mexico, erionite has been associated with mesothelioma and has thus been designated a "known human carcinogen" by the US National Toxicology Program.[21]

In rare cases, mesothelioma has also been associated with irradiation of the chest or abdomen, intrapleural thorium dioxide (thorotrast) as a contrast medium, and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such as erionite or talc.[11][25] Some studies suggest that simian virus 40 (SV40) may act as a cofactor in the development of mesothelioma.[25] This has been confirmed in animal studies,[46][47] but studies in humans are inconclusive.[46][48][49]

The mesothelium consists of a single layer of flattened to cuboidal cells forming the epithelial lining of the serous cavities of the body including the peritoneal, pericardial and pleural cavities. Deposition of asbestos fibers in the parenchyma of the lung may result in the penetration of the visceral pleura from where the fiber can then be carried to the pleural surface, thus leading to the development of malignant mesothelial plaques. The processes leading to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma remain unresolved, although it has been proposed that asbestos fibers from the lung are transported to the abdomen and associated organs via the lymphatic system. Additionally, asbestos fibers may be deposited in the gut after ingestion of sputum contaminated with asbestos fibers.[citation needed]

Pleural contamination with asbestos or other mineral fibers has been shown to cause cancer. Long thin asbestos fibers (blue asbestos, amphibole fibers) are more potent carcinogens than "feathery fibers" (chrysotile or white asbestos fibers).[27] However, there is now evidence that smaller particles may be more dangerous than the larger fibers. They remain suspended in the air where they can be inhaled, and may penetrate more easily and deeper into the lungs. "We probably will find out a lot more about the health aspects of asbestos from [the World Trade Center attack], unfortunately," said Dr. Alan Fein, chief of pulmonary and critical-care medicine at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.[50]

Mesothelioma development in rats has been demonstrated following intra-pleural inoculation of phosphorylated chrysotile fibers. It has been suggested that in humans, transport of fibers to the pleura is critical to the pathogenesis of mesothelioma. This is supported by the observed recruitment of significant numbers of macrophages and other cells of the immune system to localized lesions of accumulated asbestos fibers in the pleural and peritoneal cavities of rats. These lesions continued to attract and accumulate macrophages as the disease progressed, and cellular changes within the lesion culminated in a morphologically malignant tumor.[citation needed]

Experimental evidence suggests that asbestos acts as a complete carcinogen with the development of mesothelioma occurring in sequential stages of initiation and promotion. The molecular mechanisms underlying the malignant transformation of normal mesothelial cells by asbestos fibers remain unclear despite the demonstration of its oncogenic capabilities (see next-but-one paragraph). However, complete in vitro transformation of normal human mesothelial cells to a malignant phenotype following exposure to asbestos fibers has not yet been achieved. In general, asbestos fibers are thought to act through direct physical interactions with the cells of the mesothelium in conjunction with indirect effects following interaction with inflammatory cells such as macrophages.[citation needed]

Analysis of the interactions between asbestos fibers and DNA has shown that phagocytosed fibers are able to make contact with chromosomes, often adhering to the chromatin fibers or becoming entangled within the chromosome.[51] This contact between the asbestos fiber and the chromosomes or structural proteins of the spindle apparatus can induce complex abnormalities. The most common abnormality is monosomy of chromosome 22. Other frequent abnormalities include structural rearrangement of 1p, 3p, 9p and 6q chromosome arms.[citation needed]

Common gene abnormalities in mesothelioma cell lines include deletion of the tumor suppressor genes:[citation needed]

Asbestos has also been shown to mediate the entry of foreign DNA into target cells. Incorporation of this foreign DNA may lead to mutations and oncogenesis by several possible mechanisms:[citation needed]

Several genes are commonly mutated in mesothelioma, and may be prognostic factors. These include epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and C-Met, receptor tyrosine kinases which are overexpressed in many mesotheliomas. Some association has been found with EGFR and epithelioid histology but no clear association has been found between EGFR overexpression and overall survival. Expression of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase is a negative prognostic factor. Expression of PDGFRB is a positive prognostic factor.[60] In general, mesothelioma is characterized by loss of function in tumor suppressor genes, rather than by an overexpression or gain of function in oncogenes.[61]

As an environmentally triggered malignancy, mesothelioma tumors have been found to be polyclonal in origin, by performing an X-inactivation based assay on epitheloid and biphasic tumors obtained from female patients.[62] These results suggest that an environmental factor, most likely asbestos exposure, may damage and transform a group of cells in the tissue, resulting in a population of tumor cells that are, albeit only slightly, genetically different.[63]

Asbestos fibers have been shown to alter the function and secretory properties of macrophages, ultimately creating conditions which favour the development of mesothelioma. Following asbestos phagocytosis, macrophages generate increased amounts of hydroxyl radicals, which are normal by-products of cellular anaerobic metabolism. However, these free radicals are also known clastogenic (chromosome-breaking)and membrane-active agents thought to promote asbestos carcinogenicity. These oxidants can participate in the oncogenic process by directly and indirectly interacting with DNA, modifying membrane-associated cellular events, including oncogene activation and perturbation of cellular antioxidant defences.[citation needed]

Asbestos also may possess immunosuppressive properties. For example, chrysotile fibres have been shown to depress the in vitro proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes, suppress natural killer cell lysis and significantly reduce lymphokine-activated killer cell viability and recovery. Furthermore, genetic alterations in asbestos-activated macrophages may result in the release of potent mesothelial cell mitogens such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor- (TGF-) which in turn, may induce the chronic stimulation and proliferation of mesothelial cells after injury by asbestos fibres.[citation needed]

Diagnosis of mesothelioma can be suspected with imaging but is confirmed with biopsy. It must be clinically and histologically differentiated from other pleural and pulmonary malignancies, including reactive pleural disease, primary lung carcinoma, pleural metastases of other cancers, and other primary pleural cancers.[11]Primary pericardial mesothelioma is often diagnosed after it has metastasized to lymph nodes or the lungs.[10]

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma.[14] A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytopathology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe.[10] For pleural fluid, this is done by thoracentesis or tube thoracostomy (chest tube); for ascites, with paracentesis or ascitic drain; and for pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g., tuberculosis, heart failure).[citation needed] However, with primary pericardial mesothelioma, pericardial fluid may not contain malignant cells and a tissue biopsy is more useful in diagnosis.[10] Using conventional cytology diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is difficult, but immunohistochemistry has greatly enhanced the accuracy of cytology.[citation needed]

Generally, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. Alternatively, the cardiothoracic surgeon might directly open the chest (thoracotomy). If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, an open surgical procedure may be necessary.[citation needed]

Immunohistochemical studies play an important role for the pathologist in differentiating malignant mesothelioma from neoplastic mimics, such as breast or lung cancer that has metastasized to the pleura. There are numerous tests and panels available, but no single test is perfect for distinguishing mesothelioma from carcinoma or even benign versus malignant. The positive markers indicate that mesothelioma is present; if other markers are positive it may indicate another type of cancer, such as breast or lung adenocarcinoma. Calretinin is a particularly important marker in distinguishing mesothelioma from metastatic breast or lung cancer.[11]

There are three main histological subtypes of malignant mesothelioma: epithelioid, sarcomatous, and biphasic. Epithelioid and biphasic mesothelioma make up approximately 75-95% of mesotheliomas and have been well characterized histologically, whereas sarcomatous mesothelioma has not been studied extensively. Most mesotheliomas express high levels of cytokeratin 5 regardless of subtype.[11]

Epithelioid mesothelioma is characterized by high levels of calretinin.[11]

Sarcomatous mesothelioma does not express high levels of calretinin.[11]

Other morphological subtypes have been described:

Staging of mesothelioma is based on the recommendation by the International Mesothelioma Interest Group.[64] TNM classification of the primary tumor, lymph node involvement, and distant metastasis is performed. Mesothelioma is staged IaIV (one-A to four) based on the TNM status.[64][65]

Mesothelioma can be prevented in most cases by preventing exposure to asbestos. The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health maintains a recommended exposure limit of 0.1 asbestos fiber per cubic centimeter.[25]

There is no universally agreed protocol for screening people who have been exposed to asbestos. Screening tests might diagnose mesothelioma earlier than conventional methods thus improving the survival prospects for patients. The serum osteopontin level might be useful in screening asbestos-exposed people for mesothelioma. The level of soluble mesothelin-related protein is elevated in the serum of about 75% of patients at diagnosis and it has been suggested that it may be useful for screening.[66] Doctors have begun testing the Mesomark assay, which measures levels of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRPs) released by mesothelioma cells.[67]

Mesothelioma is generally resistant to radiation and chemotherapy treatment.[68] Long-term survival and cures are exceedingly rare.[11] Treatment of malignant mesothelioma at earlier stages has a better prognosis. Clinical behavior of the malignancy is affected by several factors including the continuous mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which favors local metastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue and other organs within the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latency period between asbestos exposure and development of the disease. The histological subtype and the patient's age and health status also help predict prognosis. The epithelioid histology responds better to treatment and has a survival advantage over sarcomatoid histology.[69]

The effectiveness of radiotherapy compared to chemotherapy or surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma is not known.[70]

Surgery, by itself, has proved disappointing. In one large series, the median survival with surgery (including extrapleural pneumonectomy) was only 11.7 months.[71] However, research indicates varied success when used in combination with radiation and chemotherapy (Duke, 2008), or with one of the latter. A pleurectomy/decortication is the most common surgery, in which the lining of the chest is removed. Less common is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in which the lung, lining of the inside of the chest, the hemi-diaphragm and the pericardium are removed.[citation needed] In localized pericardial mesothelioma, pericardectomy can be curative; when the tumor has metastasized, pericardectomy is a palliative care option. It is often not possible to remove the entire tumor.[10]

For patients with localized disease, and who can tolerate a radical surgery, radiation can be given post-operatively as a consolidative treatment. The entire hemithorax is treated with radiation therapy, often given simultaneously with chemotherapy. Delivering radiation and chemotherapy after a radical surgery has led to extended life expectancy in selected patient populations. It can also induce severe side-effects, including fatal pneumonitis.[72] As part of a curative approach to mesothelioma, radiotherapy is commonly applied to the sites of chest drain insertion, in order to prevent growth of the tumor along the track in the chest wall.[citation needed]

Although mesothelioma is generally resistant to curative treatment with radiotherapy alone, palliative treatment regimens are sometimes used to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel. Radiation therapy, when given alone with curative intent, has never been shown to improve survival from mesothelioma. The necessary radiation dose to treat mesothelioma that has not been surgically removed would be beyond human tolerance.[citation needed] Radiotherapy is of some use in pericardial mesothelioma.[10]

Chemotherapy is the only treatment for mesothelioma that has been proven to improve survival in randomised and controlled trials. The landmark study published in 2003 by Vogelzang and colleagues compared cisplatin chemotherapy alone with a combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed (brand name Alimta) chemotherapy in patients who had not received chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma previously and were not candidates for more aggressive "curative" surgery.[73] This trial was the first to report a survival advantage from chemotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma, showing a statistically significant improvement in median survival from 10 months in the patients treated with cisplatin alone to 13.3 months in the group of patients treated with cisplatin in the combination with pemetrexed and who also received supplementation with folate and vitamin B12. Vitamin supplementation was given to most patients in the trial and pemetrexed related side effects were significantly less in patients receiving pemetrexed when they also received daily oral folate 500mcg and intramuscular vitamin B12 1000mcg every 9 weeks compared with patients receiving pemetrexed without vitamin supplementation. The objective response rate increased from 20% in the cisplatin group to 46% in the combination pemetrexed group. Some side effects such as nausea and vomiting, stomatitis, and diarrhoea were more common in the combination pemetrexed group but only affected a minority of patients and overall the combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin was well tolerated when patients received vitamin supplementation; both quality of life and lung function tests improved in the combination pemetrexed group. In February 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pemetrexed for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.[74] However, there are still unanswered questions about the optimal use of chemotherapy, including when to start treatment, and the optimal number of cycles to give.[citation needed] Cisplatin and pemetrexed together give patients a median survival of 12.1 months.[11]

Cisplatin in combination with raltitrexed has shown an improvement in survival similar to that reported for pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin, but raltitrexed is no longer commercially available for this indication. For patients unable to tolerate pemetrexed, cisplatin in combination with gemcitabine or vinorelbine is an alternative, or vinorelbine on its own, although a survival benefit has not been shown for these drugs. For patients in whom cisplatin cannot be used, carboplatin can be substituted but non-randomised data have shown lower response rates and high rates of haematological toxicity for carboplatin-based combinations, albeit with similar survival figures to patients receiving cisplatin.[75] Cisplatin in combination with premetrexed disodium, folic acid, and vitamin B12 may also improve survival for people who are responding to chemotherapy.[76]

In January 2009, the United States FDA approved using conventional therapies such as surgery in combination with radiation and or chemotherapy on stage I or II Mesothelioma after research conducted by a nationwide study by Duke University concluded an almost 50 point increase in remission rates.[citation needed]

In pericardial mesothelioma, chemotherapy typically adriamycin or cisplatin is primarily used to shrink the tumor and is not curative.[10]

Treatment regimens involving immunotherapy have yielded variable results. For example, intrapleural inoculation of Bacillus Calmette-Gurin (BCG) in an attempt to boost the immune response, was found to be of no benefit to the patient (while it may benefit patients with bladder cancer). Mesothelioma cells proved susceptible to in vitro lysis by LAK cells following activation by interleukin-2 (IL-2), but patients undergoing this particular therapy experienced major side effects. Indeed, this trial was suspended in view of the unacceptably high levels of IL-2 toxicity and the severity of side effects such as fever and cachexia. Nonetheless, other trials involving interferon alpha have proved more encouraging with 20% of patients experiencing a greater than 50% reduction in tumor mass combined with minimal side effects.[citation needed]

In October 2020, the FDA approved the combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) with ipilimumab (Yervoy) for the first-line treatment of adults with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) that cannot be removed by surgery.[74] Nivolumab and ipilimumab are both monoclonal antibodies that, when combined, decrease tumor growth by enhancing T-cell function.[74] The combination therapy was evaluated through a randomized, open-label trial in which participants who received nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab survived a median of 18.1 months while participants who underwent chemotherapy survived a median of 14.1 months.[74]

Hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy is used in conjunction with surgery,[77] including in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.[78] The surgeon removes as much of the tumor as possible followed by the direct administration of a chemotherapy agent, heated to between 40 and 48C, in the abdomen. The fluid is perfused for 60 to 120 minutes and then drained. High concentrations of selected drugs are then administered into the pleural cavity. Heating the chemotherapy treatment increases the penetration of the drugs into tissues. Also, heating itself damages the malignant cells more than the normal cells.[citation needed]

Multimodal therapy, which includes a combined approach of surgery, radiation or photodynamic therapy, and chemotherapy, is not suggested for routine practice for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma.[79] The effectiveness and safety of multimodal therapy is not clear (not enough research has been performed) and one clinical trial has suggested a possible increased risk of adverse effects.[79]

Large series of examining multimodality treatment have only demonstrated modest improvement in survival (median survival 14.5 months and only 29.6% surviving 2 years).[71] Reducing the bulk of the tumor with cytoreductive surgery is key to extending survival. Two surgeries have been developed: extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy/decortication. The indications for performing these operations are unique. The choice of operation namely depends on the size of the patient's tumor. This is an important consideration because tumor volume has been identified as a prognostic factor in mesothelioma.[80] Pleurectomy/decortication spares the underlying lung and is performed in patients with early stage disease when the intention is to remove all gross visible tumor (macroscopic complete resection), not simply palliation.[81] Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a more extensive operation that involves resection of the parietal and visceral pleurae, underlying lung, ipsilateral (same side) diaphragm, and ipsilateral pericardium. This operation is indicated for a subset of patients with more advanced tumors, who can tolerate a pneumonectomy.[82]

Mesothelioma usually has a poor prognosis. Typical survival despite surgery is between 12 and 21 months depending on the stage of disease at diagnosis with about 7.5% of people surviving for 5 years.[83]

Women, young people, people with low-stage cancers, and people with epithelioid cancers have better prognoses.[11] Negative prognostic factors include sarcomatoid or biphasic histology, high platelet counts (above 400,000), age over 50 years, white blood cell counts above 15.5, low glucose levels in the pleural fluid, low albumin levels, and high fibrinogen levels. Several markers are under investigation as prognostic factors, including nuclear grade, and serum c-reactive protein. Long-term survival is rare.[60]

Pericardial mesothelioma has a 10-month median survival time.[10]

In peritoneal mesothelioma, high expression of WT-1 protein indicates a worse prognosis.[11]

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. The incidence rate varies from one country to another, from a low rate of less than 1 per 1,000,000 in Tunisia and Morocco, to the highest rate in Britain, Australia and Belgium: 30 per 1,000,000 per year.[84] For comparison, populations with high levels of smoking can have a lung cancer incidence of over 1,000 per 1,000,000. Incidence of malignant mesothelioma currently ranges from about 7 to 40 per 1,000,000 in industrialized Western nations, depending on the amount of asbestos exposure of the populations during the past several decades.[85] Worldwide incidence is estimated at 1-6 per 1,000,000.[11] Incidence of mesothelioma lags behind that of asbestosis due to the longer time it takes to develop; due to the cessation of asbestos use in developed countries, mesothelioma incidence is expected to decrease.[25] Incidence is expected to continue increasing in developing countries due to continuing use of asbestos.[11] Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. Approximately one fifth to one third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal.[citation needed] Less than 5% of mesotheliomas are pericardial. The prevalence of pericardial mesothelioma is less than 0.002%; it is more common in men than women. It typically occurs in a person's 50s-70s.[10][86]

Between 1940 and 1979, approximately 27.5 million people were occupationally exposed to asbestos in the United States.[87] Between 1973 and 1984, the incidence of pleural mesothelioma among Caucasian males increased 300%. From 1980 to the late 1990s, the death rate from mesothelioma in the USA increased from 2,000 per year to 3,000, with men four times more likely to acquire it than women.[citation needed] More than 80% of mesotheliomas are caused by asbestos exposure.[11]

The incidence of peritoneal mesothelioma is 0.53.0 per million per year in men, and 0.22.0 per million per year in women.[88]

Mesothelioma accounts for less than 1% of all cancers diagnosed in the UK, (around 2,600 people were diagnosed with the disease in 2011), and it is the seventeenth most common cause of cancer death (around 2,400 people died in 2012).[89]

The connection between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma was discovered in the 1970s. In the United States, asbestos manufacture stopped in 2002. Asbestos exposure thus shifted from workers in asbestos textile mills, friction product manufacturing, cement pipe fabrication, and insulation manufacture and installation to maintenance workers in asbestos-containing buildings.[25]

Mesothelioma, though rare, has had a number of notable patients:

Although life expectancy with this disease is typically limited, there are notable survivors. In July 1982, Stephen Jay Gould, a well-regarded paleontologist, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. After his diagnosis, Gould wrote "The Median Isn't the Message",[98] in which he argued that statistics such as median survival are useful abstractions, not destiny. Gould lived for another 20 years, eventually succumbing to cancer not linked to his mesothelioma.

Some people who were exposed to asbestos have collected damages for an asbestos-related disease, including mesothelioma. Compensation via asbestos funds or class action lawsuits is an important issue in law practices regarding mesothelioma.[citation needed]

The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898). The liability resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached billions of dollars.[99] The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been the source of many court cases, reaching up to the United States Supreme Court, and government attempts at resolution of existing and future cases. However, to date, the US Congress has not stepped in and there are no federal laws governing asbestos compensation.[100]In 2013, the "Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2013" passed the US House of representatives and was sent to the US Senate, where it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.[101] As the Senate did not vote on it before the end of the 113th Congress, it died in committee. It was revived in the 114th Congress, where it has not yet been brought before the House for a vote.[102][needs update]

The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers was brought in 1929. The parties settled that lawsuit, and as part of the agreement, the attorneys agreed not to pursue further cases. In 1960, an article published by Wagner et al. was seminal in establishing mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to asbestos.[103] The article referred to over 30 case studies of people who had had mesothelioma in South Africa. Some exposures were transient and some were mine workers. Before the use of advanced microscopy techniques, malignant mesothelioma was often diagnosed as a variant form of lung cancer.[104] In 1962, McNulty reported the first diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma in an Australian asbestos worker.[105] The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in Wittenoom from 1948 to 1950.[citation needed]

In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. In 1965, an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighbourhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.[citation needed]

Despite proof that the dust associated with asbestos mining and milling causes asbestos-related disease, mining began at Wittenoom in 1943 and continued until 1966. In 1974, the first public warnings of the dangers of blue asbestos were published in a cover story called "Is this Killer in Your Home?" in Australia's Bulletin magazine. In 1978, the Western Australian Government decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom, following the publication of a Health Dept. booklet, "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom", containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of worldwide medical information.[citation needed]

By 1979, the first writs for negligence related to Wittenoom were issued against CSR and its subsidiary ABA, and the Asbestos Diseases Society was formed to represent the Wittenoom victims.[citation needed]

In Leeds, England the Armley asbestos disaster involved several court cases against Turner & Newall where local residents who contracted mesothelioma demanded compensation because of the asbestos pollution from the company's factory. One notable case was that of June Hancock, who contracted the disease in 1993 and died in 1997.[106]

The WT-1 protein is overexpressed in mesothelioma and is being researched as a potential target for drugs.[11]

There are two high-confidence miRNAs that can potentially serve as biomarkers of asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma. Validation studies are needed to assess their relevance.[citation needed]

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Mesothelioma - Wikipedia

Mesothelioma Cancer: Symptoms, Life Expectancy, Risk Factors … – asbestos

Key Facts About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the mesothelium, a layer of protective tissue that covers the majority of internal organs.

Treatments are available to extend life expectancy and improve quality of life, but there is no cure for mesothelioma.

Tumor location determines the four types of mesothelioma.

Forms on the membrane or soft tissue lining, called the pleura, that covers the lungs. Accounts for the majority of all mesothelioma cases.

Forms on the tunica vaginalis or membrane that covers the testes. The rarest type of mesothelioma, representing less than 1% of cases.

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Asbestos causes mesothelioma. The carcinogen is the primary proven cause of the disease. Asbestos-related diseases may occur after repeated use of asbestos-contaminated products, such as talc and older construction materials.

This cancer begins to develop when a person inhales or swallows asbestos fibers. The fibers become lodged in the soft lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart. Over time, tumors form on the damaged tissue, leading to mesothelioma.

Most people exposed to asbestos will not develop mesothelioma. However, some factors place specific people more at risk than others.

Mesothelioma tumors develop in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart.

People who handled or were around asbestos for prolonged periods of time have the highest risk of developing mesothelioma. Those in close contact with exposed workers are also at risk.

Workers in construction jobs, firefighters and auto mechanics are among the top high-risk jobs.

Service people were exposed to high levels of asbestos because it was used in all military branches.

Women, children and other household members exposed to asbestos fibers on a workers clothing, hair or skin.

Symptoms of mesothelioma include dry cough, shortness of breath and respiratory complications. Other symptoms, which typically vary by type of mesothelioma, appear when tumors spread, grow and press against the chest wall and the abdominal cavity.

Talking to a doctor about your symptoms can lead to an early mesothelioma diagnosis, allowing for more treatment options. Mesothelioma symptoms appear like other, more common cancers and illnesses, and misdiagnosis is common. Its essential to be aware of your history of asbestos exposure and discuss it with your doctor as soon as possible.

Doctors use several procedures and tests to diagnose mesothelioma, but only a biopsy can confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. A mesothelioma diagnosis in the early stages of cancer improves a patients eligibility for more treatment options.

Patients can expect to undergo several imaging scans, blood tests and biopsy procedures after their mesothelioma diagnosis. These tests help doctors confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis and determine cancer location, stage and cell type.

Most people initially undergo a basic chest X-ray to check for any abnormalities. If an abnormal growth or fluid around the lung is detected, doctors will recommend a more detailed imaging scan such as a PET scan, CT scan or MRI.

If cancer is suspected, doctors will recommend taking a sample of tissue, which is also known as a biopsy. Doctors use this tissue sample to definitively confirm the presence of malignant mesothelioma cells.

Blood tests may be used but do not confirm the presence of mesothelioma. Researchers are evaluating if blood tests can aid in the early diagnosis of at-risk former asbestos workers.

Get the latest information on top treatments, immunotherapy, clinical trials and more.

The three cell types of mesothelioma are epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic. They are named for the characteristics of cells within tumors. Epithelioid is the most common and responds well to many treatments. Sarcomatoid and biphasic are rarer and more resistant to therapies.

These cells are the most responsive to treatment. This type of mesothelioma accounts for 70% of mesothelioma diagnoses. It also leads to improved prognosis and life expectancy.

Cells of this type are least responsive to treatment. Patients with these cell types have poorer diagnoses and shorter life expectancies. This mesothelioma type accounts for 10% of all cases.

This is a combination of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. Its less responsive to treatment. Prognosis and life expectancy depend on the ratio of both cell types. It accounts for 30% to 40% of cases.

Staging tracks malignant mesothelioma tumor growth and helps doctors make treatment plans and predict patient prognoses. The stages of mesothelioma range from 1 to 4 and are based on tumor size and location.

Early-stage mesothelioma is more confined to one site, while late-stage mesothelioma shows tumors spreading beyond the chest or abdominal cavity. Staging is an integral part of determining treatment.

The four stages of mesothelioma are used to determine cancer progression and available treatment options.

Tumors have spread from the original location into adjacent structures, and the median life expectancy is 20 months.

Cancer has spread into regional lymph nodes, and the median life expectancy is 17.9 months.

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The standard treatment for mesothelioma may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or multimodal therapy. Doctors develop a treatment plan based on cancer type, location and stage.

A multimodal or multidisciplinary approach involves a combination of multiple treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy, in a specific order based on the cancer stage.

Extrapleural pneumonectomy (lung removal) or pleurectomy and decortication (pleura removal) are mesothelioma surgeries that offer patients the best chance of survival.

More than 70% of mesothelioma patients undergo chemotherapy. These potent drugs shrink tumors and kill cancer cells but also have numerous side effects.

Doctors can administer mesothelioma radiation therapy at any cancer stage, often combined with surgery and chemotherapy. Radiation reduces pain and slows tumor growth.

Mesothelioma immunotherapy drugs control cancer growth using cells from the immune system. Immunotherapy eligibility and success rates vary for each patient.

The FDA-approved TTFields involves a battery-operated device worn on the skin in combination with chemotherapy to limit cancer growth.

Some patients may be eligible for mesothelioma clinical trials that test newer therapies. Though not every mesothelioma treatment is suitable for each patient, most patients can benefit from palliative care to help manage symptoms.

Because mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer, many patients are misdiagnosed or do not have access to specialized care. Finding a local mesothelioma treatment center is the best way to benefit from the latest therapies and improve a mesothelioma prognosis.

Mesothelioma cancer centers across the U.S. employ the top mesothelioma doctors who have years of experience treating patients, improving their prognoses and extending their life expectancies.

Top mesothelioma doctors across the U.S. include:

The life expectancy for mesothelioma patients is about 12 months with treatment. About 10% of patients with pleural mesothelioma and 65% with peritoneal mesothelioma live for five years or longer. Prognosis refers to the overall outlook of a patients cancer based on their response to treatment.

Alongside cancer treatments, a healthier lifestyle and nutrient-rich diet can improve the quality of life with a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis. For example, quitting smoking and receiving flu and pneumonia vaccinations improves lung function and overall health.

Learn about healthy eating with mesothelioma and take control of your diet. Get quick and easy recipes to ease cancer symptoms.

Many free resources, such as medical webinars and support groups, help patients and families better understand and cope after a diagnosis. General support options, caregiver resources and financial assistance can lower your familys emotional, physical and monetary burden.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that commonly develops in the thin tissue lining the lungs or abdomen. What makes this cancer unique is that it is caused almost exclusively by inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers.

The terms mesothelioma and malignant mesothelioma usually refer to the cancerous and aggressive form of the disease. Non-cancerous or benign mesothelioma tumors can also occur throughout the body but do not spread as quickly and do not typically return after surgery.

Mesothelioma is not a form of lung cancer. While both are types of cancer, mesothelioma grows on the pleura lining the outside of the lungs, diaphragm and chest cavity. Lung cancer develops within the lung space. Both diseases share similar symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest pain, and can occur after inhaling asbestos fibers.

Asbestos is the only proven cause of mesothelioma. The primary risk factor for mesothelioma is asbestos exposure from serving in the military or working jobs that involve handling products contaminated with asbestos.

Mesothelioma is incurable, though researchers continue investigating new therapy options in clinical trials. Some patients live several years beyond the average life expectancy, and recent treatment advancements, such as immunotherapy, provide patients hope for an eventual cure.

You may be eligible to seek compensation for mesothelioma from asbestos trust funds, lawsuits or VA claims. Financial assistance helps cover the cost of treatment expenses and lost wages. Speaking with a mesothelioma lawyer is the best way to learn about your legal options if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

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Mesothelioma Cancer: Symptoms, Life Expectancy, Risk Factors ... - asbestos

Mesothelioma: Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment – Cleveland Clinic

OverviewCaused by exposure to chemicals like asbestos, mesothelioma affects the tissue that covers your organs.What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma refers to tumors that develop in the mesothelium, a type of tissue that makes up the lining of cavities or hollows that protect and surround certain organs. This tissue forms:

Most people think of cancer of the pleura when they hear the word mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is related to exposure to asbestos and is often cancerous.

There are different ways to refer to mesothelioma. One way is to determine if the tumor is cancerous (malignant mesothelioma) or not cancerous (benign mesothelioma). Other types refer back to the cavities formed by mesothelial tissue and are called:

Mesothelioma may also be divided into groups based on the type of cell that creates the tumor. These types are:

Mesothelioma is associated with exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral used in many industries. Its use is now regulated in the U.S. and safety measures are in place, but this hasnt always been true. People who were exposed 20 to 40 years ago are only now being diagnosed.

More men than women are affected by mesothelioma, at a rate of 3 to 1. Men in their 50s to their 70s represent most of the diagnoses.

Workers in the following industries were, and possibly still are, more at risk due to increased exposure to asbestos products:

Military veterans may have been exposed in many ways at military bases, on ships and in construction.

In childhood mesothelioma, asbestos doesnt seem to be an issue. Children who have had earlier types of cancer and have been treated with radiation therapy have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is considered a rare illness. Currently, there are an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 new cases of mesothelioma in the U.S. each year. Of the total, there are about 2,500 cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

You can have mesothelioma without symptoms, and you can have different symptoms depending on the type of mesothelioma you have. If you have any of the types of mesothelioma, its possible to have:

In adults, the main cause of mesothelioma is past exposure to asbestos fibers and dust. Between 70% and 80% of people with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos, mostly through work. It takes over 20 years for symptoms to develop.

In smaller numbers, people have developed mesothelioma after exposure to similar minerals like silica and erionite. Erionite is a type of mineral (zeolite) thats been linked to mesothelioma.

Scientists are also investigating whether your genes contribute to your risk of developing mesothelioma. This is because only a small number of people who have been exposed to asbestos have developed mesothelioma.

Scientists are also looking into other causes, including exposure to chemicals, having viral infections and having radiation. Additionally, radiation therapy is associated with childhood mesothelioma.

Your healthcare provider will take your medical history and do a physical examination. Hearing your symptoms and listening to your chest will provide the first clues. Your provider will probably order a series of tests to make their diagnosis. These tests may include:

Treating mesothelioma depends on what type you have. Treatment is different for benign (noncancerous) mesothelioma than it is for malignant mesothelioma.

Benign mesothelioma tumors arent cancerous and dont spread (metastasize) to other parts of your body. They can grow in the pleura, in your abdomen and in the reproductive organs of men and women. Typically, your healthcare provider will remove them in a surgical procedure. They usually dont come back if they are completely removed. Some providers might suggest further treatment with chemotherapy in the case of some types of benign mesothelioma.

After youve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, your healthcare provider will use the information they have to assess how far the disease has progressed. This assessment is called staging and refers to cancers. Higher staging numbers typically mean that the disease has progressed, such as Stage III or Stage IV disease.

The most common type of cancerous mesothelioma is malignant pleural mesothelioma. But for all types of malignant mesothelioma, your options may include surgery, with or without chemotherapy or other therapies, or chemotherapy, radiation therapy and other types of therapy without surgery.

If your provider stages your tumor and youre able to have surgery, youll have surgery to remove the tumor. However, less than 33% of people with malignant pleural mesothelioma can have this type of surgery. You may or may not have chemotherapy or radiation therapy as well.

If you cant have surgery, the tumor is treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation. You may have an option to try treatments that are being studied, such as biologic agents and antiangiogenic therapies. Antiangiogenic treatments try to destroy cancer by making sure it doesnt have a blood supply.

Even though surgery and chemotherapy might be the best course of treatment, they may have complications such as:

The best way to prevent mesothelioma is to avoid asbestos and other harmful minerals. If you must be around asbestos, be sure to follow the guidelines for protective masks and clothing.

The prognosis for any type of malignant mesothelioma is poor. Many people die in the first four to six months after diagnosis and most by 12 months after diagnosis. However, some people have lived longer than that and a rare few were alive at the five-year mark.

If youve been treated for malignant melanoma, your mesothelioma specialist will probably want to see you on a specific schedule. Youll also want to see your primary care provider too. These providers will monitor your overall health and may do tests to see if cancer returns.

Ask, too, about ways to improve your life if you're having side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. There may be more options than you think.

Make sure that you know when you should contact a healthcare provider immediately for instance, if you have a fever or extreme dizziness. Then, follow those suggestions. Its always OK to contact your provider with any questions you might have.

Benign mesothelioma, or mesothelioma that isnt cancerous, isnt fatal. However, malignant mesothelioma is almost always fatal.

Part of the reason that malignant mesothelioma is so deadly is that it grows without symptoms for years. Another reason is that current treatment options arent that successful at treating the disease.

There are many different types of mesothelioma, so life expectancy estimates vary. And people are all different in terms of age, general health and other medical conditions. As always, youll probably have better results if mesothelioma is found early and treated as vigorously as possible.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

If you are someone who used to work with asbestos and you have trouble breathing, make the call to your healthcare provider to get checked out. If you do find out you have mesothelioma, work with your healthcare team to develop a plan for each type of possible outcome. This can mean getting as much information as you can and speaking to family and friends about whats going on. You might find it useful to join a support group or get some counseling. You might want to be involved in clinical studies if you can. Your healthcare team will provide support and information.

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Mesothelioma: Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment - Cleveland Clinic

Dying from Mesothelioma | What to Expect and How to Support

This page has been fact-checked by aDoctor of nursing practice specializing in Oncology and has experience working with mesothelioma patients.

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Sources of information are listed at the bottom of the article. We make every attempt to keep our information accurate and up-to-date.

Please Contact Us with any questions or comments.

Due to the aggressive nature of mesothelioma, it is fatal for most patients. Patients and families should be aware of supportive care treatment options and other resources to prioritize symptom management and offer some relief. Knowing what to expect at the end of life can help relief anxiety and fear.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that typically spreads rapidly and is mainly considered incurable. This means that for most patients, it is terminal. Some people may live with cancer for a few years, and some may even go into remission, but the general prognosis is poor.

The average mesothelioma life expectancy across the board is just 15 months. This includes all types of mesothelioma, diagnosed at any stage and for patients of all ages. Most will face dying from mesothelioma.

By stage IV, advanced metastatic has a greater effect on organs, leading to more symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, and weight loss. The symptoms of this late-stage mesothelioma include:

End-stage cancer can be very painful, but palliative care relieves most of this pain. When death is close at hand, most cancer patients experience certain symptoms in addition to those characteristics of the specific cancer type:

In the final days and hours of life, many patients stop eating or drinking. They often become withdrawn and unresponsive. They may be sleeping most of the time, finding it difficult to stay awake.

Most patients die from mesothelioma in stage 4, when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and caused extensive damage.

Late-stage cancer causes organs to fail, impairs the immune system, causes malnutrition and wasting, and can even result in a coma. The actual cause of death at the end of mesothelioma is likely several factors, such as infections and organ failure.

Palliative care was once thought to be the same as hospice and giving up. It is not the same as hospice, and palliative care now has a vital role along with the oncology team during treatment.

More people are now aware of the benefits of incorporating palliative care at the time of diagnosis and continue through the treatment course. The primary role of palliative care is to focus on complex symptom management and ensure treatment decisions align with the patients goals for therapy.

Palliative care is any treatment that helps to improve the patients quality of life. A patients preference should always be prioritized in decisions regarding palliative care. Sometimes that even includes no treatment and focusing on symptom management alone.

Some options for end-stage mesothelioma patients include:

Medical care at the end of life is important, but so are other types of care. Therapy and counseling, and spiritual guidance bring comfort to many patients as they are dying. It is important to ask patients what kind of support they want and what they do not want.

Loved ones can support the patient in important ways. Simply being there is often comforting. Talk to the patient, touch them, read to them, watch movies, or sit together.

If they can still talk, let them express their feelings and any fears they have about dying. Dont avoid difficult subjects. Talk about memories and happy times, but be prepared to talk about tough things too.

It is also important to help your loved one make decisions during this time. You can bring them some relief by helping with practical things, like money or legal decisions. Work with financial counselors or a trusted lawyer to make this easier for both of you.

Designate a Medical Power of Attorney (MPOA) who can make medical decisions on behalf of the patient if they are unable to do so.

As a loved one is dying from mesothelioma, the family needs support as well. One of the best things you can do for your own mental health is to be there for your loved one. Provide the support and comfort they need as they choose it.

Family and loved ones can also benefit from therapy. Grief begins before your loved one passes away, and talking about it to a mental health professional is helpful. You may also find comfort in a support group for grieving. Listening to and sharing with people going through similar experiences helps you feel less alone and less afraid.

Technically speaking, hospice care provides palliative treatments for those with a terminal illness thought to have less than six months to live. The focus is on making patients feel better, so things such as chemotherapy and radiation will stop. It is possible to enroll and unenroll should that be the choice.

Your loved one may choose to receive care at home, known as home hospice care, or stay in a hospice facility with 24-hour care and supervision. At home, the primary caregiver is usually a family member with support from the medical staff.

Hospice care tries to meet all the needs of the patients through a team of professionals:

Hospice provides palliative medical care, alternative therapies, counseling, spiritual guidance, and recreation. Hospice teams may also include legal and financial professionals to help families make critical end-of-life decisions.

Daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or wound care are typically done by family members, with nursing staff coming out a few times a week, depending on the needs.

Hospice care benefits both patients and their families. With a care team taking charge, the pressure is taken off the family. The team offers options and guidance, and the patient and family can make more informed decisions with more confidence.

It is also important to understand that hospice is not just for patients in their final days or weeks of life. Medicare allows for hospice care for patients expected to live six months or less. Being in hospice may seem scary initially, but it can also provide great comfort and relief.

Yes, doctors can make mistakes when diagnosing mesothelioma and when determining a cause of death. However, it is more likely that mesothelioma is underreported as a cause of death. A pathologist might mistake a mesothelioma cause of death for lung cancer or another similar illness.

A study of cancer registry entries and causes of death found that this does happen frequently. The researchers compared deceased people diagnosed with mesothelioma during their lives with their death certificates.

They found that 10% of death certificates were incorrect. These certificates listed lung cancer, another cancer, or another cause of death when they should have listed mesothelioma.

Besides wanting to know what happened to your loved one, an accurate cause of death has practical implications. Most cases of mesothelioma are related to occupational asbestos exposure. For families to seek justice and get compensation from those responsible, they need proof of the cause of death.

If you feel uncomfortable or unsure about the cause of death listed on a death certificate, talk to a lawyer. You can challenge the cause of death, but you have to go through the proper channels, which vary by state. A lawyer will make sure you have the best chance of success and that you do everything correctly.

Facing death head-on isnt easy, but it is inevitable for patients dying of mesothelioma and their families. As the loved one of a patient with mesothelioma, know what to expect, what you can do to support them, and help them make decisions in their best interest.

Anne Courtney has a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and is an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner. She has years of oncology experience working with patients with malignant mesothelioma, as well as other types of cancer. Dr. Courtney currently works at University of Texas LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes.

References

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Dying from Mesothelioma | What to Expect and How to Support

Mesothelioma.com Scholarship | Mesothelioma.com

When I got sick, our world as we knew it crumbled. I had to quit my job as a salon owner and stylist and concentrate on treatment. Our income was instantly cut. Cameron, my husband, knew that he had to get his degree to do better for our family, including our newborn daughter Lily.

As soon as I finished treatment, he enrolled in school. For two years, his typical day started at 6 a.m., driving a delivery truck for a local courier company. He then would go directly from work to school, have class until 10, do homework until 1 a.m. and start the process all over again five hours later.

Im very proud to say he got his Bachelors of Science in Information Technology, graduated with full honors, and never missed a day of school. His instructors and dean were so impressed they asked him to give the graduation speech. Ive never been as proud of my husband as that moment. To overcome so much, in such a short amount of time, and come out with a degree and a great job, makes me know that he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to. Next up is his Masters degree in Information Technology Management, which he hopes to start soon.

Furthering ones education is something Cam and I are incredibly passionate about, and we know from experience how hard it is to balance family, jobs, and school (not to mention a wife whos fighting cancer). But while it can be difficult, the rewards are too numerous to count. Hopefully, this scholarship can give a little extra help to someone in a time of need.

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Mesothelioma.com Scholarship | Mesothelioma.com

What Is Malignant Mesothelioma? – American Cancer Society

Malignant mesothelioma is cancer that starts in cells in the linings of certain parts of the body, most commonly the linings of the chest or abdomen (belly).

Cancer starts when cells start to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer. To learn more about how cancers start and spread, see What Is Cancer?

A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells lines the inside of your chest, your abdomen, and the space around your heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most of your internal organs. The lining formed by these cells is called the mesothelium.

The mesothelium helps protect your organs by making a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to slide against each other. For instance, this fluid makes it easier for your lungs to move (expand and contract) inside your chest when you breathe. The mesothelium has different names in different parts of the body:

Mesothelial tumors can start in any of these linings. These tumors can be cancer (malignant) or not cancer (benign).

A cancer tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. This is often shortened to just mesothelioma. Mesotheliomas can start in 4 main parts of the body.

Malignant mesotheliomas are grouped into 3 main types based on how the cancer cells look:

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What Is Malignant Mesothelioma? - American Cancer Society

Minnesota Mesothelioma Victims Center is Urging the Family of a Construction Worker who Has Just Been Diagnosed with Mesothelioma to Call the Team at…

MINNEAPOLIS, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Minnesota Mesothelioma Victims Center, "If your husband or dad has just been diagnosed with mesothelioma anywhere in Minnesota and he is or was a construction or skilled trades worker such as a plumber, electrician, welder, carpenter, laborer, or mechanic please make his financial compensation a top priority and call the remarkable team at the law firm ofDanziger&De Llano at 800-864-4000 to ensure a top compensation result. Frequently mesothelioma compensation for a person like this might be in the millions of dollars. Mesothelioma compensation for a person with this rare cancer is based on the specifics of how they were exposed to asbestos.

"If a person with mesothelioma would like to receive the very best possible financial compensation it is incredibly important--they try to make a list of how, where and when they were exposed to asbestos at work and or for Veterans while in the service. It is this incredibly vital information that will become the basis for their mesothelioma compensation as the team at the law firm of Danziger&De Llano is always happy to discuss at 800-864-4000."

"For more information about how the mesothelioma compensation process works along with extremely good advice please call the remarkable legal team at the law firm ofDanziger&De Llano at 800-864-4000. We are very certain you will be glad you did."https://meso.dandell.com

The Minnesota Mesothelioma Victims Center wants to emphasize their statewide initiative is focused on people with mesothelioma anywhere in Minnesota, including communities such as Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, or Saint Cloud.

For the best possible mesothelioma treatment options in Minnesota, the Minnesota Mesothelioma Victims Center strongly recommends the following heath care facilities.

High-risk work groups for exposure to asbestos in Minnesota include Veterans of the US Navy, power plant workers, shipyard workers, factory workers, welders, industrial workers, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, machinists, iron ore miners, and construction workers. Typically, the exposure to asbestos occurred in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, or 1980's.https://meso.dandell.com

According to the CDC the states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon.

However, based on the calls the Mesothelioma Victims Center receives a person with mesothelioma or asbestos exposure lung cancer could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska.https://meso.dandell.com

For more information about mesothelioma, please refer to the National Institutes of Health's website related to this rare form of cancer:https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma

Media Contact:

Michael Thomas202-422-2069[emailprotected]

SOURCE Minnesota Mesothelioma Victims Center

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Minnesota Mesothelioma Victims Center is Urging the Family of a Construction Worker who Has Just Been Diagnosed with Mesothelioma to Call the Team at...

Enlivex Presented Substantial Survival Benefit of Allocetra in Combination with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Mesothelioma Cancer Study at the…

Nes-Ziona, Israel, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd. ( ENLV, the Company), a clinical-stage macrophage reprogramming immunotherapy company, announced the poster presentation of a substantial survival benefit of AllocetraTM combined with immune checkpoint inhibition in a preclinical mesothelioma study at the International Society of Cell and Gene Therapy Annual 2022 Meeting. The poster was titled, Allocetra-OTS, an Early Apoptotic Cellular Therapy Synergize with Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapy or Immune Check Point Inhibitor Against Peritoneal Solid Tumor.

Mesothelioma, Treatment Landscape, and Macrophage-Solid Tumor DynamicsMesothelioma is one of the deadliest solid cancers with few treatment options, all of which have limited efficacy. People who are most at risk to develop mesothelioma generally have had long-term exposure to asbestos (e.g., construction workers, pipe fitters, and shipyard workers). It takes many years for mesothelioma to develop; it can appear 30 years after asbestos exposure. Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting CTLA4 and PD1 are FDA-approved as first-line treatments for patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma.

In mesothelioma and in some other solid cancers, tumor cells, as part of their defense mechanisms, facilitate the recruitment of macrophages which become pro-tumor tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) rather than anti-tumor macrophages. The TAMs typically form a physical layer on top of the solid tumor, and induce immunosuppression in the solid tumor microenvironment. This in-turn promotes tumor growth and metastasis and makes it very difficult for the immune system or any anti-cancer drug to efficiently attack the cancerous cells. Allocetra is a cell therapy in development that is targeted at these TAMs, and its proposed mechanism of action is to change the balance of macrophage populations to skew towards anti-tumor macrophages and away from pro-tumor macrophages.

The Mesothelioma Model

To test the potential effect of cell therapy-induced macrophage reprogramming on difficult-to-treat solid tumors, Enlivex ran preclinical studies in which five groups of mice were implanted with mesothelioma cancer cells. The difference between the groups was the treatment given, which started on day 12 after the cancers initial growth period.

Results from multiple studies strongly support the potential of AllocetraTM to assist in the process of macrophage reprogramming in the solid tumor microenvironment and significantly change survival outcomes. As expected, only 1/16 (6%) of the untreated mice remained alive at day 42 (that one last remaining mouse died on day 65), compared with up to 25% survival for the mice in the group that was treated with the anti-CTLA4 immune checkpoint inhibitor. Surprisingly, AllocetraTM as a stand-alone treatment provided comparable survival rates as anti-CTLA4 monotherapy, with a 28.5% survival rate and a delayed cancer growth rate observed. Notably, the synergistic effect of treating with both drugs resulted in up to 100% survival with complete disappearance of the cancer. The effect was correlated with the AllocetraTM treatment dose. A lower dose of AllocetraTM provided slightly lower survival and cancer complete remission rates (67% complete remission for the low-dose treatment vs. up to 100% for the higher dose). The attached chart provides a visual guide to the progressions/regression of the mesothelioma cancer in the different groups, as recorded for study mesothelioma AB12 137.

Across multiple studies of the AB12 mesothelioma model, anti-CTLA4 therapy significantly improved survival duration from mean 349 to 44.9 20 days (p<0.05). Allocetra as a stand-alone therapy improved survival duration to 52.3 20 days (p<0.02). The synergistic effect of the combination therapy of anti-CTLA4 + AllocetraTM improved survival duration to 86.720 days (p<0.0001) with complete cancer remission in 60-100% of mice, depending on the dose administered.

Prof. Dror Mevorach, Chief Scientific Officer of Enlivex, stated: This reproducible and statistically significant data strongly support Allocetras proposed therapeutic mechanism of action of reprogramming macrophages in solid tumors. We believe that, in contrast to CAR-T, CAR-NK and other anti-cancer cell therapies directed at tumor antigens, AllocetraTM restores macrophage homeostasis in the tumor environment via reprogramming of pro-tumor macrophages. This may ultimately allow immune checkpoint inhibitors to be exponentially more effective.

Oren Hershkovitz, Ph.D., CEO of Enlivex, added: Based on these results, Enlivex is planning to initiate a series of clinical trials during 2022 that are designed to evaluate Allocetra in combination with FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies in patients with advanced-stage solid tumors. To date, we have infused AllocetraTM in dozens of hospitalized patients in fragile condition resulting from sepsis and COVID-19-related organ dysfunction. We believe that the proposed differentiated mechanism of action of AllocetraTM, together with the safety and tolerability it has demonstrated in these prior studies, as well as the encouraging efficacy results of our preclinical solid tumor models, highlight an intriguing opportunity for Enlivex to provide another layer of life-saving therapy for patients who have few available options.

ABOUT ALLOCETRA

Allocetra is being developed as a universal, off-the-shelf cell therapy designed to reprogram macrophages into their homeostatic state. Diseases such as solid cancers, sepsis, and many others reprogram macrophages out of their homeostatic state. These non-homeostatic macrophages contribute significantly to the severity of the respective diseases. By restoring macrophage homeostasis, Allocetra has the potential to provide a novel immunotherapeutic mechanism of action for life-threatening clinical indications that are defined as "unmet medical needs", as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with leading therapeutic agents.

ABOUT ENLIVEX

Enlivex is a clinical-stage macrophage reprogramming immunotherapy company developing Allocetra, a universal, off-the-shelf cell therapy designed to reprogram macrophages into their homeostatic state. Resetting non-homeostatic macrophages into their homeostatic state is critical for immune system rebalancing and resolution of life-threatening conditions. For more information, visit http://www.enlivex.com.

Safe Harbor Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as expects, plans, projects, will, may, anticipates, believes, should, would, could, intends, estimates, suggests, has the potential to and other words of similar meaning, including statements regarding expected cash balances, market opportunities for the results of current clinical studies and preclinical experiments, the effectiveness of, and market opportunities for, ALLOCETRATM programs. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may affect Enlivexs business and prospects, including the risks that Enlivex may not succeed in generating any revenues or developing any commercial products; that the products in development may fail, may not achieve the expected results or effectiveness and/or may not generate data that would support the approval or marketing of these products for the indications being studied or for other indications; that ongoing studies may not continue to show substantial or any activity; and other risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The results of clinical trials in humans may produce results that differ significantly from the results of clinical and other trials in animals. The results of early-stage trials may differ significantly from the results of more developed, later-stage trials. The development of any products using the ALLOCETRATM product line could also be affected by a number of other factors, including unexpected safety, efficacy or manufacturing issues, additional time requirements for data analyses and decision making, the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation, the impact of competitive products and pricing and the impact of patents and other proprietary rights held by competitors and other third parties. In addition to the risk factors described above, investors should consider the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors discussed in Enlivexs filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Companys most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable law.

ENLIVEX CONTACT Shachar Shlosberger, CFO Enlivex Therapeutics, Ltd. [emailprotected]

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTEric RibnerLifeSci Advisors[emailprotected]

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Enlivex Presented Substantial Survival Benefit of Allocetra in Combination with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Mesothelioma Cancer Study at the...

Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges Former Construction Worker with Mesothelioma Anywhere in the USA to Call the Lawyers at Danziger & De Llano…

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, "We have recently endorsed, and we recommend the remarkable compensation team at the law firm of Danziger & De Llano for a construction worker or skilled trades worker with recently diagnosed mesothelioma anywhere in the USA. The remarkable legal team at the law firm of Danziger & De Llano has been assisting people with mesothelioma for over two decades nationwide and they are responsible for billions of dollars in mesothelioma compensation for their clients---with the key being a very focused effort to ensure the best compensation results for each client as they are always happy to discuss at 800-864-4000.

"Most construction workers or skilled trades workers like an electrician, carpenter, plumber, roofer or insulator probably had routine exposure to asbestos in the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s. There were no national guidelines on asbestos exposure until the early 1980s.

"If your husband, dad or grandfather is a current or former construction worker and or any type of skilled trades worker and he has just been diagnosed with mesothelioma anywhere in the United States please make his financial compensation a top priority and call the remarkable compensation team at the law firm of Danziger & De Llano at 800-864-4000. They consistently overachieve when it comes to client compensation, and they will make the process as easy as possible for you or your loved one." https://meso.dandell.com/

According to the CDC the states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon.

However, based on the calls the Mesothelioma Victims Center receives a person with recently diagnosed mesothelioma could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska. https://meso.dandell.com/

High-risk work groups for exposure to asbestos include US Navy Veterans, power plant workers, shipyard workers, oil refinery workers, steel mill workers, manufacturing/factory workers, pulp or paper mill workers, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, machinists, miners, construction workers, insulators, railroad worker, roofers, or firemen. As a rule, these types of workers were exposed to asbestos in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, or 1980's. US Navy Veterans make up about one-third of all US Citizens who are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. https://meso.dandell.com/

For more information about mesothelioma please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer: https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma

Media Contact:Michael Thomas202-422-2069[emailprotected]

SOURCE Mesothelioma Victims Center

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Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges Former Construction Worker with Mesothelioma Anywhere in the USA to Call the Lawyers at Danziger & De Llano...

SELLAS Life Sciences Reports Encouraging Updated Clinical Data Indicating Increased Survival from Ongoing Phase 1 Mesothelioma Study of Galinpepimut-S…

NEW YORK, June 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. ( SLS) ("SELLAS" or the Company), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for a broad range of cancer indications, today announced encouraging updated clinical data from a Phase 1 investigator-sponsored clinical trial of its lead clinical candidate, galinpepimut-S (GPS), combined with the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo) in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) who were either refractory to or relapsed after at least one line of the standard of care therapy.

Data from eight patients enrolled in the study have been analyzed, with final data in the clinical trial expected by the end of 2022. Of the eight patients, seven received at least three doses of GPS, the last of which was given in combination with nivolumab. All enrolled patients have received and progressed with, or were refractory to, frontline pemetrexed-based chemotherapy.

The study details are as follows:

This updated data is very encouraging, as it not only confirms our data reported in June 2021, but now reflects an increased survival benefit even though almost all additionally enrolled patients had Grade III and IV malignant mesothelioma, said Angelos Stergiou, M.D., Sc.D. h.c., President and CEO, SELLAS. This increase in survival appears to be consistent with long term immunity-mediated antitumor effect with this immunotherapy combination and it reinforces the data we unveiled earlier this year from the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of GPS in combination with another checkpoint inhibitor, pembrolizumab, in relapsed and refractory ovarian cancer patients, in which GPS showed a superior disease control rate compared to that seen with checkpoint inhibitors alone.

Of additional importance is the fact that both trials addressed patients with bulky active disease, the setting in which other cancer vaccines have historically had very little effect. We believe that the results of both studies demonstrate the potential effectiveness of GPS as a combination therapy, concluded Dr. Stergiou.

About MPMWith approximately 3,300 cases in the United States each year, accompanied by a rising incidence in developing countries, MPM is notoriously difficult to treat and can lead to poor clinical outcomes with respect to both OS and PFS, especially for those patients with the sarcomatoid variant who show a median OS of approximately 4.0 to 5.0 months. In relapsed and refractory patients who progressed after the first line standard of care pemetrexed, a similar patient population to that in the GPS nivolumab combination trial, the common treatment regimen is vinorelbine and OS in those patients is reported to be between 4.5 and 6.2 months. In patients treated with other chemotherapy regimens, such as carboplatin and irinotecan, median OS is reported to be approximately 7.0 months.

About SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc.SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. ( SLS) is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapeutics for a broad range of cancer indications. SELLAS lead product candidate, GPS, is licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and targets the WT1 protein, which is present in an array of tumor types. GPS has potential as a monotherapy or in combination with other therapies to address a broad spectrum of hematologic malignancies and solid tumor indications. The Company is also developing GFH009, a small molecule, highly selective CDK9 inhibitor, which is licensed from GenFleet Therapeutics (Shanghai), Inc., for all therapeutic and diagnostic uses in the world outside of Greater China.

For more information on SELLAS, please visit http://www.sellaslifesciences.com.

Opdivo is a registered trademark of Bristol Myers Squibb, and is not a trademark of SELLAS. The manufacturer of this brand is not affiliated with and does not endorse SELLAS or its products.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including those relating to future events. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as plan, expect, anticipate, may, might, will, should, project, believe, estimate, predict, potential, intend, or continue and other words or terms of similar meaning. These statements include, without limitation, statements related to the clinical development of GPS for MPM, and the potential for GPS as a drug development candidate. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, objectives, estimates, expectations, and intentions, and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Companys clinical plans, risks and uncertainties associated with immune-oncology product development and clinical success thereof, the uncertainty of regulatory approval, and other risks and uncertainties affecting SELLAS and its development programs as set forth under the caption Risk Factors in SELLAS Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2022 and in its other SEC filings. Other risks and uncertainties of which SELLAS is not currently aware may also affect SELLAS forward-looking statements and may cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date hereof. SELLAS undertakes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances that exist after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made.

Investor ContactAllison SossKCSA Strategic CommunicationsEmail: [emailprotected]Phone: 212.896.1267

Media ContactsRaquel Cona / Michaela FawcettKCSA Strategic CommunicationsEmail: [emailprotected]Phone: 212.896.1204

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SELLAS Life Sciences Reports Encouraging Updated Clinical Data Indicating Increased Survival from Ongoing Phase 1 Mesothelioma Study of Galinpepimut-S...

TCR Therapeutics Announces 2022 Strategic Priorities and Anticipated Milestones – Yahoo Finance

- Safety Review Team (SRT) identified gavo-cel recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) at 1x108 cells/m2- Initiation of gavo-cel Phase 2 study expected in 1H 2022 with initial data in 2H 2022- Initial data from TC-510 Phase 1/2 trial anticipated in 2H 2022- Selection of lead allogeneic TRuC-T cell candidate anticipated in 2022- TCR2 to present an update on Company progress at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 7:30AM E.T.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TCR2 Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: TCRR), a clinical-stage cell therapy company with a pipeline of novel T cell therapies for cancer patients suffering from solid tumors, today announced its strategic priorities and anticipated milestones for 2022.

TCR2 is building a leading cell therapy company for the treatment of cancer patients with solid tumors and we believe 2022 will be a transformative year for the company. In our upcoming Phase 2 clinical trial, gavo-cel efficacy will be evaluated both as a monotherapy and in combination with key immune checkpoint inhibitors through our partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb. We believe gavo-cel has a promising competitive profile in mesothelioma as well as other mesothelin-positive solid tumors, such as ovarian cancer, where we were the first company to demonstrate a RECIST clinical response with a cell therapy as a single agent, said Garry Menzel, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of TCR2 Therapeutics. In addition, we will be generating clinical data from the next program in the pipeline, TC-510, which is our first enhanced TRuC-T cell. In a milestone-rich year, we will also provide several preclinical updates on our emerging pipeline, including from a collaboration with Arbor Biotechnologies to further advance our allogeneic TRuC-T cells for the treatment of solid tumors.

2022 Strategic Priorities and Anticipated Milestones

Gavo-cel: Lead TRuC-T cell targeting mesothelin-positive non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, malignant pleural/peritoneal mesothelioma, and cholangiocarcinoma

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SRT identified recommended Phase 2 dose at 1x108 cells/m2

Update on Phase 2 expansion cohort initiation anticipated in 1H 2022, which is subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) feedback on the clinical trial design and clearance to initiate the Phase 2 expansion cohort

Expanded and complete Phase 1 dataset on safety, efficacy and translational data anticipated in 1H 2022

Initial data from Phase 2 expansion cohort including safety, efficacy and translational data anticipated in 2H 2022

TC-510: TRuC-T cell targeting mesothelin-positive solid tumors

IND filing and clearance anticipated in 1H 2022

Initial safety, efficacy and translational data from Phase 1 dose escalation anticipated in 2H 2022

Pipeline Expansion: Prioritization of enhanced TRuC-T cells in the Companys growing pipeline including both autologous and allogeneic programs in 2022

Allogeneic TRuC-T cells: Preclinical data from and selection of lead allogeneic TRuC-T cell candidate anticipated in 2022

Autologous TRuC-T cells: Preclinical data from TRuC-T cells targeting novel antigens and enhancements anticipated in 2022

Manufacturing: TCR2 continues to focus on securing manufacturing capacity in a capital efficient manner

Material for gavo-cel clinical trials expected to be supplemented by ElevateBio in 2H 2022

Phased buildout of commercial-scale manufacturing center of excellence in Rockville, Maryland with anticipated cGMP production in 2023

Cash Position and Financial Guidance

TCR2 ended the third quarter of 2021 with $295.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments. The Company expects that this will fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into 2024.

About TCR2 Therapeutics

TCR2 Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage cell therapy company developing a pipeline of novel T cell therapies for cancer patients suffering from solid tumors. The company is focused on the discovery and development of product candidates against novel and complex targets utilizing its proprietary T cell receptor (TCR) Fusion Construct T cells (TRuC-T cells). The TRuC platform is designed to specifically recognize and kill cancer cells by harnessing signaling from the entire TCR, independent of human leukocyte antigens (HLA). For more information about TCR2, please visit http://www.tcr2.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. The use of words such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "endeavor," "potential," "continue" or the negative of such words or other similar expressions can be used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding the therapeutic potential of gavo-cel, TC-510 and TCR2s other product candidates, timing for interim updates for the gavo-cel clinical trial and expectations regarding timing of initial data from the gavo-cel Phase 2 study, expectations regarding the timing of TCR2s TC-510 IND submission, Phase 1 clinical trial initiation and initial clinical data, expectations regarding manufacturing plans and capabilities, expectations regarding TCR2s existing collaborations and partnerships, expectations regarding regulatory approval timelines, expectations regarding future clinical development, partnering and commercialization plans, the development of TCR2s TRuC-T cells and pipeline development, their potential characteristics, applications and clinical utility, the potential therapeutic applications of TCR2s TRuC-T cell platform, and statements regarding TCR2s financial position.

The expressed or implied forward-looking statements included in this press release are only predictions and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation: uncertainties inherent in clinical studies and in the availability and timing of data from ongoing clinical studies; whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial; whether results from preclinical studies or earlier clinical studies will be predictive of the results of future trials; the expected timing of submissions for regulatory approval or review by governmental authorities, including review under accelerated approval processes; orphan drug designation eligibility; regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products; TCR2s ability to maintain sufficient manufacturing capabilities to support its research, development and commercialization efforts, including TCR2s ability to secure additional manufacturing facilities; whether TCR2's cash resources will be sufficient to fund TCR2's foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic on TCR2s ongoing operations; and other risks set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in TCR2s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward- looking statements as predictions of future events. Although TCR2 believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur.

Moreover, except as required by law, neither TCR2 nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements included in this press release. Any forward-looking statement included in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it was made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investor and Media Contacts:

TCR2 Therapeutics

Carl MauchSenior Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications(617) 949-5667carl.mauch@tcr2.com

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TCR Therapeutics Announces 2022 Strategic Priorities and Anticipated Milestones - Yahoo Finance

Man who died with ‘superglue’ coating on heart was a ‘lovely soul’ – Liverpool Echo

Tributes have poured in for a 35 year old man who from a rare form of asbestos-related cancer.

John Edwards, from Speke, sadly died back in 2019 and an inquest found the 35-year-old died from a cancer called pericardial malignant mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.

His devastated family hope to raise awareness of the disease in a bid to save families from similar heartbreak and are appealing for information after "one of a kind" John's death.

READ MORE:Woman forced to leave Liverpool club after humiliating incident in dress

Back in December 2018, John was feeling unwell and was told he was likely suffering from a flu virus.

But in February 2019, still unwell, he was given antibiotics to treat a chest infection which seemed to get 'progressively worse'.

John's wife Alison told the ECHO he would 'find it hard to catch his breath' before being rushed to Whiston hospita l with low oxygen levels and an extremely high heart rate.

John was treated for heart failure and sent home, but 11 days later he was rushed back in after "coughing up blood".

Alison said he was treated for pneumonia and told he had inflammation of the heart sac and was referred to Liverpool's Heart and Chest hospital and scheduled for surgery.

It was there the surgeon found a "solid" like coating on his heart which Alison said medics described as like "superglue".

John was placed in a medically induced coma to keep him alive and transferred to a London hospital.

On the 10th day, John received his biopsy results from his operation and the family were told he had cancer from asbestos exposure.

John was diagnosed on July 5 and on July 6 the family were told he would not survive the rest of the day.

The 35-year-old died a short time later with his loving family by his side.

After publishing John's story, people paid tribute to the family man, with one describing him as a "lovely soul."

Writing on the ECHO's Facebook page, Tracey Connor said "I met john a couple of times with him being friends with my nephews Tony and Mark, he was a lovely soul. RIP John."

James McDonald added: "I knew John when we were about 14 years old.

"He was a cracking base guitar player and an all round nice lad.

"We used to play in a band together occasionally and would go to Quiggins some Saturdays back in 1999 he used to love it in there.

"If I know John he'll be jamming with Kurt Cobain up there. RIP big guy."

Alexandra Cole said: "I remember John as he knew my brother Ste from their shared passion of playing guitar.

"Really polite, happy friendly lad. Rest in peace fella. Deepest condolences to his family."

Tony Wilky also said: "He worked in my local shop and would always chat to everyone who came in such a nice lad.

"Really loved his job. Everyone thought he was really sound. RIP John."

An inquest held into his death found John died from pericardial malignant mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.

Alison said: "He was healthy, stocky, but healthy and he just went downhill really quickly.

"We don't know where the possible exposure came from but we've found out he used to climb on school roofs, schools were made of asbestos back then, and some people have said he played in the flats and used to go the swimming baths.

"We just want to know where it came from, his mum needs to know. We will never get him back but we need to know.

"They say it gets better but it doesn't. You just get longer to think about the things that could have changed.

"John was never going to get better or survive, there's no treatment but we have a solicitor trying to get information which can help other families.

"He lived at Alderwood Avenue at the time where they think he was exposed, the address has been checked and it's not there but could be anywhere around there."

John's form of cancer is 'extremely rare' and has similar symptoms to that of heart failure.

Alison went on to say: "If it wasn't for the inquest, his death would have been put down to heart failure.

"John was happy. His favourite thing was playing the guitar, he would sit and play for hours.

"We didn't have children, we weren't lucky, but I have a son from a previous relationship and he was an amazing dad to him.

"He took him on no questions asked and loved his family, his mum, dad, sister and nephews, he loved them all.

"John was fine, and then suddenly he wasn't. It's unrecognisable and we want to get it out there."

The family is appealing to any of John's childhood friends who remember playing with him in the 1980s and 90s.

It has been found that during those years, John would play after school and at weekends in and around local schools, which would often involve climbing on to the roofs of school buildings to retrieve his football.

As with other large buildings constructed in the first half of the 20th century, school roofs were often made of asbestos.

Growing up on Alderwood Avenue, John would venture all over Speke and attended Millwood primary school and Speke Comp which both are now knocked down.

Leigh Day Solicitors is urging anyone with information to contact Kevin Johnson on 0151 305 2760 or ktjohnson@leighday.co.uk

John's sister Andrea added: "As a child John was a typical boy getting up to all sorts of things in various places around Speke.

"We have been given some information from an old friend about the school roof he would play on and abandoned flats and garages.

"We just hope we can raise awareness of Johns illness and maybe try and prevent it happening to another family."

More information about the appeal can be found online by clicking here

Liverpool City Council said: "We are sorry to hear of the death of Mr Edward's but it would be inappropriate to comment any further at the moment."

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Man who died with 'superglue' coating on heart was a 'lovely soul' - Liverpool Echo

Cancer: the silent killer wreaking havoc on firefighters – KGET 17

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Firefighters earn a living battling countless dangers as they tamp down blazes.

But unlike a structure fire, their most prolific killer is silent, invisible, and far more deadly.

[Firefighter] culture for a very long time was the guys who had the dirtiest helmets and the dirtiest turnouts and they smelled like a structure fire, that it was a badge of honor that they had, Bakersfield Fire Captain Mike Taylor said. Well now, that situation has changed.

Cancer, already more common among firefighters than the general population, is on the rise. Since 2002, about two out of three line-of-duty firefighter deaths have been caused by cancer, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters. For certain types of cancer, like mesothelioma or esophageal cancer, firefighters are nearly twice as likely to contract it.

For Taylor, those statistics arent just numbers. Hes lived that loss.

My father was a great man. He wanted to spend time with his family, Taylor said. It was heartbreaking to see his long career come to an end, and then shortly after retirement, him pass away so he wasnt able to enjoy retirement.

Taylors father David, a captain with the Fresno City Fire Department, died of cancer in 2018. His grandfather, who built fire engines for that department, succumbed to kidney cancer. Hes seen firefighter after firefighter retire, and within years, fall to cancer.

That seems to be the story of so many retirees, Taylor said.

Bakersfield Fire, like departments across the nation, has measures in place to combat the rising tide of cancer deaths machines to better clean uniforms and funnel exhaust out of garages.

Taylor says for firefighters, the risks will never completely go away.

Weve got to go into a fire, Taylor said. Products of combustion are carcinogens, thats a well-known fact. So were always going to be exposed to those.

For now, Taylor says staying in shape and maintaining general health is one way to lessen health risks down the line.

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Cancer: the silent killer wreaking havoc on firefighters - KGET 17

Top News About Mesothelioma and Asbestos of 2021: Part 1 – Mesothelioma Guide

With the end of the calendar year on our collective doorstep, its time to reflect on the previous 12 months.

In the world of mesothelioma and asbestos, 2021 was a busy year. A lot of breaking news regarding regulations and advancements for treatment occurred.

In fact, there was so much news about mesothelioma that Mesothelioma Guides annual year-in-review article needed to be split into two parts.

Here is part 1, which has five of the top 10 stories from 2021 about mesothelioma and asbestos. These are summarized, with links to the full stories included. Look for part 2 on Thursday.

Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturing giant responsible for Talc Baby Powder and other talc products, is the center of thousands of cancer lawsuits. The company is accused of exposing users to asbestos, which can contaminate talcum powder in cosmetics like Baby Powder.

Johnson & Johnson stopped manufacturing and selling talc Baby Powder in the United States and Canada in 2020. Now the company is trying to Texas Two-Step away from current and future lawsuits. The Texas Two-Step is when a company creates a subsidiary LLC as an attempt to offload legal liabilities to the subsidiary, which immediately files for bankruptcy to block future lawsuits. Johnson & Johnson filed to create a subsidiary called LTL to absorb all talc cancer liabilities.

The Texas Two-Step is common in mesothelioma claims and led to the requirement of companies to create asbestos trust funds, a way for companies with bankrupt subsidiaries to continue compensating patients, albeit at smaller amounts.

When Johnson & Johnson tried this maneuver, a North Carolina judge paused the movement along with 35,000 legal claims. The judge moved the case to New Jersey, where Johnson & Johnson headquarters are. The judge paused the claims for 60 days, which is set to expire in mid-January.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested talc samples from an assortment of products. The agency tested 50 samples and found no asbestos, a perfect score. In 2020, the FDA found evidence of asbestos fibers in 17% of samples.

This is excellent news for the health and safety of consumers, who may use talc cosmetics or cleaning powders for beauty or skincare. Caution is still recommended and companies are urged to use alternatives to talc for consumer safety.

Many cancer centers with mesothelioma programs were at the top of the U.S. News & World Report hospitals rankings.

The Mayo Clinic, UCLA Medical Center, Johns Hopkins, University of California San Francisco Medical Center, Michigan Medicine, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital and Vanderbilt University Medical Center all made the top 20. All of these top cancer centers feature at least one specialist for either pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma.

The Checkmate-743 clinical trial led to Opdivo and Yervoy being approved for unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. The three-year follow-up proves this immunotherapy combination is working tremendously for patients who cant have surgery.

The three-year survival rate is 23%, which is higher than chemotherapys 15% rate. The two-year survival rate is 40% and the median survival for Opdivo and Yervoy is 18.1 months.

Opdivo and Yervoy are immune checkpoint inhibitors, meaning they block specific protein receptors to help the immune system appropriately treat cancer cells as dangerous.

A study from Spain revealed people with mesothelioma are at high risk of COVID-19 death.

A hospital in the European country had seven cases of COVID-19 among mesothelioma patients. Five died, with four attributed to COVID complications. Six of the seven were hospitalized.

This data confirms the fears of COVID-19 for mesothelioma patients. The combination could have a deadly effect on respiratory functioning.

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Tips to Make the Most of Holiday Season Despite Mesothelioma – Mesothelioma Guide

The holiday season is a heartwarming time for family and friends.

Unfortunately, for some, the cheer is dampened by a diagnosis of mesothelioma during the holidays.

Around 2,500-3,000 people each year in the United States are told they have mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos. This news often leaves people with more questions than answers. As they go to the holiday season, theyre either beginning treatment with hopes of long-term survival or receiving palliative care to make their final months comfortable.

The dark cloud hovering above should not overwhelm your time with family. Whether youre the patient with mesothelioma or a loved one of someone diagnosed with the cancer, here are four tips to help make this years holiday season special.

Make memories with your loved ones. This is the most important piece of advice we can give and one that serves as an umbrella for the rest.

The holidays are a time of the year when different segments of your family come together to spend time as a collective group. Whether its a massive lunch or dinner at someones house, an exchanging of presents or some other activity, this is a potential once-a-year opportunity.

Strike up a conversation with your nephew. Share laughs with your grandchild. Smile at your son or daughter.

If youre the family member, include your loved one with mesothelioma. The most important part of this time is being part of the family. So make sure to include them, as this is a part of providing patient support.

One of the best assets fighting malignant mesothelioma is regular exercise and a healthy diet. Dont overdo it: Regular exercise could be a walk around the block or even gardening in the front or back yard.

This serves as a chance to spend time with family. Make exercise a group activity a family walk outside or gardening with a loved one. This can turn into cherishable moments during the holidays.

Let family members help you with meals, too. If youre the primary caregiver, ask other family members for help. If youre a family member visiting, request to help with meals. You can make this a team-oriented task for the benefit of your loved one with mesothelioma.

Yes, exercise is important. So is rest and sleep.

Mesothelioma is trying to take over your body. The cancer is going to sap your energy. The same is true for the therapy you might be taking to fight back against these tumors. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy both cause fatigue and nausea as a side effect.

If you dont want to participate in a family holiday activity such as shopping or another event just say no. Its OK, and your family members will understand.

If youre the family member, respect and understand that the participation level might be low. This is understandable, and its OK to let them have time to themselves. Its also worthwhile to stay back and spend one-on-one time with your parent, grandparent or sibling with cancer.

Mesothelioma is an expensive disease. It removes people from full-time work both the patient and family caregiver and causes exorbitant medical bills. Debt is quite common for families paying for mesothelioma treatment costs.

When the holidays come around, theres a sense of responsibility to spend money on gifts. There are alternatives, such as:

Please remember the holidays arent at all about the price tag on gifts. Its about spending time with your loved ones and making memories. This time together is the best gift of all, and it can raise your spirits as you continue living with and fighting your cancer.

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Tips to Make the Most of Holiday Season Despite Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma Guide

Mesothelioma: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment …

Your Guide To Mesothelioma Mesothelioma Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium, a membrane that lines the inside of the body's cavities, such as the abdomen or chest. Three out of every four cases of mesothelioma disease begin in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma can also begin in the abdominal cavity and around the heart.

Regardless of where they originate, malignant cells from the mesothelium can invade and damage nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Often by the time mesothelioma is diagnosed, the disease is advanced. The 5-year survival rate is around 5% to 10%. Most patients with mesothelioma of the lung die as a result of respiratory failure or pneumonia. Some patients get a small-bowel obstruction when the tumor extends through the diaphragm, a muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavity. A smaller number people die of complications of the heart when the tumor invades the pericardium -- a thin sac that surrounds the heart -- and the heart itself.

The main risk factor for mesothelioma is working with asbestos. Asbestos is a group of minerals with thin microscopic fibers. Because these fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity, asbestos has been mined and used widely in the construction, automotive, and other industries.

If tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air, as they are in the manufacturing process, they can be inhaled or swallowed, leading to serious health problems. As many as 75% of mesothelioma cases can be linked to exposure to asbestos at work. There is also some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. Cases of mesothelioma have also been seen in people living close to asbestos mines.

However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. Other, uncommon, but possible causes include:

Zeolites.These minerals are chemically related to asbestos. One of these related minerals, erionite, is common in the soil in some areas of Turkey, according to the American Cancer Society. Exposure to erionite is believed to be responsible for high rates of mesothelioma rates in those areas.

Radiation.The American Cancer Society notes that there have been a few published reports of mesotheliomas that developed following exposure to high doses of radiation to the chest or abdomen or after injections of thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), a material used by doctors in some chest X-rays until the 1950s.

SV40 virus.Some studies in laboratory animals have raised the possibility that infection with the simian virus 40 (SV40) might increase the risk of developing mesothelioma, according to the American Cancer Society. Some injectable polio vaccines given between 1955 and 1963 were contaminated with SV40, exposing as many as 30 million people in the U.S. to the virus. So far, the largest studies addressing this issue in humans have not found an increased risk for mesothelioma or other cancers among people who received the contaminated vaccines as children.

Genetics.Some experts believe certain people may be genetically predisposed to mesothelioma. Rates of the disease vary among populations.

Mesothelioma symptoms commonly do not appear until 20 to 50 years after initial asbestos exposure.

The main symptoms of mesothelioma of the lungs are shortness of breath and chest pain. Accumulation of fluid in the pleura caused by the mesothelioma, if sufficiently large, may also contribute to the shortness of breath.

Symptoms of peritoneal (abdominal) mesothelioma can include:

If cancer has spread to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, swallowing difficulties, or swelling of the neck or face.

Because many conditions share these symptoms, having these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean you have mesothelioma. It's important to see your doctor to determine what is causing them.

Because mesothelioma is uncommon, it is often misdiagnosed at first. If you have symptoms that suggest you might have mesothelioma, your doctor will likely take a complete medical history to check for symptoms and possible things that raise your risk of having the disease, especially asbestos exposure. Exposure to asbestos is the No. 1 thing that makes mesothelioma more likely.

Your doctor will also ask about your general health and do an exam to check for possible signs of mesothelioma. These may include fluid in the chest cavity, abdomen, or pericardium (the thin membrane around the heart).

Depending on the findings of the exam, your doctor may refer you for mesothelioma testing.

There are several different types of mesothelioma tests. These include:

Blood tests.Blood levels of three substances -- fibulin-3, osteopontin, and soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRPs) -- are often higher in people with mesothelioma. Although these blood tests cannot confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma -- more study is needed before they can be of reliable use in a clinical setting --high levels of these substances make the disease more likely.

Fluid and tissue sample tests.If you have a buildup of fluid in the body that may be related to mesothelioma, your doctor can remove a sample of the fluid by putting a needle through the skin into the area of fluid buildup. The fluid can then be examined under a microscope for cancer cells. If cancer cells are found, further tests can tell if the cancer is mesothelioma.

This test goes by different names, depending on where the fluid is:

Even if your doctor does not find mesothelioma cells in fluid, that doesn't necessarily mean you don't have mesothelioma. Sometimes samples of actual tissue (biopsies) are needed to diagnose mesothelioma.

Biopsies.There are ways to remove tissue to be examined for mesothelioma. They include:

Imaging tests.These tests allow your doctor to view the inside of your body without making cuts. Imaging tests commonly used in mesothelioma diagnosis include:

Certain things affect a mesothelioma prognosis as well as your options for mesothelioma treatment. They include the following:

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on a number of things, including those mentioned above. Three standard types of treatment are used: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Treating mesothelioma often involves a combination of two or all three.

Surgery.The main surgeries used in mesothelioma treatment are:

Radiation therapy.This type of cancer treatment uses high-energy X-rays and other types of radiation to kill mesothelioma cells or keep them from growing. Radiation may be given externally or internally. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into the area near the mesothelioma.

Chemotherapy.This uses drugs to stop the growth of cancerous mesothelioma cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy can be given by mouth, injected into a vein or muscle to enter the bloodstream and reach mesothelioma cells throughout the body, or it can be placed directly into the affected area of the body to mainly affect mesothelioma cells in that area. Sometimes, doctors use more than one chemotherapy drug. This is called combination chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy. This uses certain drugs to help your immune system fight cancer. The combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) is approved by the FDA for unresectable mesothelioma. Thats mesothelioma that has spread over a large portion of the body and cant be treated with surgery.

Tumor-treating fields (TTF). This type of treatment uses chemotherapy and electric fields with specific frequencies to slow the division of cancer cells.

SOURCES:

Brigham and Women's Hospital International Mesothelioma Program: "Mesothelioma."

National Cancer Institute: Fact Sheet: "Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk,""Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers," "Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment."

American Cancer Society: "Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma What Are the Risk Factors for Malignant Mesothelioma?" "Detailed Guide: Malignant Mesothelioma: How Is Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosed?" Treatment of Mesothelioma Based on the Extent of the Cancer.

FDA: FDA Approves Drug Combination for Treating Mesothelioma.

UpToDate: Systemic treatment for unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma.

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Mesothelioma: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment ...

Propulsion of Malignant Mesothelioma Pipeline as Novel and Extensive Therapies Enter the Treatment Domain, Anticipates DelveInsight – Yahoo Finance

Malignant Mesothelioma is a rare growth of mesothelial cells strongly associated with asbestos exposure. Major pipeline molecules include durvalumab, pembrolizumab, tremelimumab, nintedanib, ADI-PEG 20, and MesoPher. Additionally, the development of novel therapies is going to introduce advanced treatment options.

Las Vegas, USA, Oct. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Propulsion of Malignant Mesothelioma Pipeline as Novel and Extensive Therapies Enter the Treatment Domain, Anticipates DelveInsight

Malignant Mesothelioma is a rare growth of mesothelial cells strongly associated with asbestos exposure. Major pipeline molecules include durvalumab, pembrolizumab, tremelimumab, nintedanib, ADI-PEG 20, and MesoPher. Additionally, the development of novel therapies is going to introduce advanced treatment options.

DelveInsights Malignant Mesothelioma Pipeline Insight 2021 report offers exhaustive global coverage of available, marketed, and pipeline therapies in different phases of clinical development, key companies working to advance the pipeline space, and future growth potential of the Malignant Mesothelioma pipeline domain.

Some of the crucial points taken from the Malignant Mesothelioma Pipeline report:

DelveInsights Malignant Mesothelioma Pipeline analysis depicts the space with 25+ active players working to develop 25+ pipeline therapies.

Major pharmaceutical companies that are developing potential drug candidates to improve the Malignant Mesothelioma treatment scenario include Momotaro-Gene, Polaris Group, Amphera, Vivace Therapeutics, MedImmune, TCR2 Therapeutics, Atara Biotherapeutics, Inhibrx, Eisai, Targovax, Merck & Co, Bayer HealthCare, SELLAS Life Sciences Group, CanBas, FKD Therapies, Virttu Biologics, MolMed, Ys Therapeutics, LIPAC Oncology, TCR2 Therapeutics, Hutchison Medipharma Limited, Clovis Oncology, Sanofi, Merck & Co., PharmaMar, Targovax and many others.

Key Malignant Mesothelioma pipeline therapies such as rAd-IFN, Pembrolizumab, ADI-PEG 20, MesoPher, MTG201, HMPL-453, SAR444245, Rucaparib, TC 210, iCasp9M28z T-cell, INBRX-109, VT3989, LEITP-1009, YS110, Gavo-cel, iCasp9M28z T-cell, Lurbinectedin, ONCOS-102 and others are under investigation in different phases of clinical trials.

Targovax initiated a randomized, phase I/II clinical trial combining ONCOS-102 with Pem-Cis in 31 patients, indicating that ONCOS-102 can activate the immune system and increase tumour infiltrating T-cells into Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Sellas Life Sciences Group is evaluating Galinpepimut-S (GPS) for the treatment of Malignant Mesothelioma. It is an immunotherapy that targets the Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) protein which is present and over-expressed in an array of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

LIPAC is developing a new Liposomal Enhanced IntraThoracic Paclitaxel (LEITP) for the treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma utilizing the LiPax technology. Preclinical studies with LEITP-1009 are underway.

In July 2021, PharmaMar announced that the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has given its positive opinion for Orphan Drug Designation to Zepzelca (lurbinectedin) for the treatment of Malignant Mesothelioma.

UV1 is a peptide-based vaccine inducing a specific T cell response against the universal cancer antigen telomerase.

Momotaro-Gene is evaluating MTG201, a novel investigational gene therapy with unique dual mechanisms of action capable of addressing a range of cancers. A Phase II clinical trial is being conducted at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Track which potential therapy is anticipated to take charge of Malignant Mesothelioma pipeline in the forthcoming years by requesting a sample @ Malignant Mesothelioma Emerging Therapies and Forecast

Story continues

The Malignant Mesothelioma pipeline report lays down detailed profiles of the pipeline assets, inactive and dormant assets, comparative analysis of clinical and non-clinical stage Malignant Mesothelioma products, comprehensive assessment of driving and restraining factors, along with the opportunities and risks in the Malignant Mesothelioma pipeline landscape.

Malignant Mesothelioma Overview

Malignant Mesothelioma is a rare, incurable, asbestos-related cancer. It mainly affects the lining of the lung and chest cavity (pleura) or lining of the abdomen (peritoneum). In rare cases, mesothelioma tumors can grow in the linings of the heart (pericardium) or testes (tunica vaginalis).

There are 4 types of mesothelioma, each affecting a different area in the body. The four types are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma, and testicular mesothelioma.

Explore more about Malignant Mesothelioma pipeline therapeutics assessment @ Malignant Mesothelioma Pipeline Assessment

Malignant Mesothelioma Pipeline Drugs

Drug

Company

Phase

MoA

RoA

rAd-IFN

Trizell Ltd

III

IFNA2B expression stimulants

NA

Pembrolizumab

Merck & Co

III

Programmed cell death-1 receptor antagonists

Intravenous

ADI-PEG 20

Polaris Pharmaceuticals

II/III

Arginine deiminase replacements

Intramuscular

MesoPher

Amphera

II/III

Immunostimulant

Intradermal

MTG201

Momotaro-Gene

II

DKK3 expression modulators

Intratumoural

HMPL-453

Hutchison Medipharma Limited

II

Type 1, 2, 3 1 fibroblast growth factor receptor antagonists

Oral

SAR444245

Sanofi

II

Interleukin-2 replacements

Intravenous

Rucaparib

Clovis Oncology

II

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1, 2, 3 inhibitors

Oral

TC 210

TCR2 Therapeutics

I/II

Immunologic cytotoxicity; T lymphocyte replacements

NA

iCasp9M28z T-cell

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals

I/II

Immunologic cytotoxicity; Programmed cell death-1 receptor antagonists; T lymphocyte replacements

NA

INBRX-109

Inhibrx

I

TRAIL receptor 2 agonists

Parenteral

VT3989

Vivace Therapeutics

I

Transcription factor inhibitors

Oral

LEITP-1009

LIPAC Oncology

Preclinical

Proto-oncogene protein c-bcl-2 inhibitors

NA

Request for Sample to know more @ Malignant Mesothelioma Pipeline Analysis and Key Companies

Malignant Mesothelioma Therapeutics Assessment

The Malignant Mesothelioma Pipeline report proffers an integral view of the Malignant Mesothelioma emerging novel therapies segmented by Stage, Product Type, Route of Administration, Molecule Type, and Mechanism of Action.

By Product Type

Mono

Combination

Mono/Combination

By Stage

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Propulsion of Malignant Mesothelioma Pipeline as Novel and Extensive Therapies Enter the Treatment Domain, Anticipates DelveInsight - Yahoo Finance

Mesothelioma News – Mesothelioma.net

Published on October 19, 2021

Kathy Weist was exposed to asbestos repeatedly throughout her 62 years, but it was the toxic fibers her husband carried

Published on October 18, 2021

Despite the best efforts of researchers and physicians around the world, malignant mesothelioma remains a fatal disease. Still, scientific breakthroughs

Published on October 15, 2021

Its been a long time coming, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and advocacy groups including the Asbestos Disease Awareness

Published on October 14, 2021

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a terminal disease, and patients are told that survival rarely exceeds two years. But a variety

Published on October 13, 2021

Like many other mesothelioma victims, after receiving his terminal diagnosis 82-year-old Alfonso Rocciola filed a personal injury lawsuit against the

Page Updated on October 14, 2021

For years, people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases sought justice and fair compensation from Englehard Corporation,

Published on October 11, 2021

Like many other companies whose products contained asbestos, Aldrich Pump LLC and Murray Boiler LLC have faced tens of thousands

Published on October 08, 2021

In a study of the effectiveness of focused radiation following chemotherapy, Italian researchers have found that mesothelioma patients receiving the

Published on October 07, 2021

Harold Cox died of malignant pleural mesothelioma on October 8th, 2019, but before he died he and his wife Doris

Published on October 06, 2021

Every mesothelioma patient can respond differently to the https://mesothelioma.net/treatment-for-mesothelioma/available treatment protocols based on their cell type, genetics, and their overall

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Mesothelioma News - Mesothelioma.net



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