Mesothelioma Blog

At a recent American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Denver, several new studies were discussed that showed promise in fighting prostate, brain and pancreatic cancer.

One of the most impressive studies was based on finding a new tactic for fighting prostate cancer. Prostate cancer, which kills approximately 3,000 men each month, has been historically difficult to treat. Chemotherapy has a low rate of success and hormone therapy is only effective in staving off tumor growth for one to two years.

To combat these hurdles, a team of researchers led by Dr. Richard Junghans of the Boston University School of Medicine found a novel way to attack prostate tumor cells. Rather then using manufactured drugs or hormones, the team modified each patient’s own immune system to better fight off the disease.

To accomplish this, the team modified normal human T-cells to “trick” them into attacking the cancer. Using a very low dose of the new tactic resulted in a 50 to 75 percent reduction in prostate-specific antigens present in participants. Now, larger studies are planned to go forward with higher doses that are hoped to completely eliminate these antigens.

A new tactic for treating brain cancer has also reported. Studies performed at the University of Southern California show that a modified version of Celecoxib (Celebrex) reduces toxic side effects and effectively inhibit the growth of new blood vessels necessary for tumor growth. Though proven promising for brain cancer, the new treatment may also be effective in breast cancer and other forms of cancer.

Two new agents have also shown promising results in the fight against pancreatic cancer. These two agents – a histone deacetylase inhibitor (LBH589) and a mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin) – have proven remarkably successful when used in combination. In the study, which was performed at the Mayo Clinic, cell death improved from 10 percent when rapamycin was used alone to 60 to 70 percent when used in combination.

Resource:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/hscout/2009/04/19/hscout626220.html

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting continue to be one of the most maligned side effects among chemotherapy patients. Now, a new combination of drugs shows promising results that can reduce or eliminate nausea side effects within the first week following a chemotherapy treatment.

In a study performed at the Juntendo University Hospital in Tokyo, researchers investigated the effectiveness of palonosetron, a 2nd-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, as a nausea treatment when used in conjunction with dexamethasone. The results, culled from more than 1,100 patients who underwent chemotherapy, indicate that the drug combination achieves a complete response (no vomiting and no use of rescue medication) in 76 percent of those in which it is administered. Furthermore, 74 percent of participants reported nothing more than mild nausea.

Both of these figures are an improvement over the current go-to medication for chemotherapy-induced nausea, granisetron.

Additionally, the new drug combination was found to positively affect appetite and caloric intake of chemotherapy patients. This is welcome news, as nausea and vomiting that result from chemotherapy can often lead to reduced eating habits and unhealthy weight loss.

Palonosetron is an FDA-approved drug developed by Helsinn Healthcare SA of Switzerland. In America, Aloxi® is the most-prescribed brand of the drug. Onicit® and Paloxi® are also marketed versions of the drug.

Resources:
http://sev.prnewswire.com/biotechnology/20090320/3859955en_iCrossing20032009-1.html
http://www.oncologynursingnews.com/New-Drug-Combination-Benefits-Postchemo-Lifestyle/article/128456/

According to a new study released by Dr. Edward J. Stepanski and colleagues in Memphis, TN, poor sleep exacerbates a number of side effects felt by cancer patients. These side effects include fatigue, pain and depressed mood.

While it would be simple to advise patients to simply get a better night sleep, the high levels of pain and other symptoms often make sleep difficult. The study concluded that more than 50 percent of the 11,000 cancer patients reported difficulty sleeping. Moreover, 26 percent reported moderate to severe difficulty sleeping. As a whole, this segment of patients also reported significantly higher levels of fatigue, pain and depressed mood.

Unfortunately, lack of sleep seems to be only one link in a recurring cycle of symptoms. Based on the study, sleep leads to pain, which hinders future sleep patterns and increases feelings of depressed mood and fatigue. Compounded, it can only be expected that poor sleep will continue and pain will continue to increase.

Younger participants in the study and those who had received recent chemotherapy treatments were more likely to report difficulty sleeping. This is likely because younger patients typically receive more aggressive chemotherapy regiments and are therefore exposed to higher levels of toxicity.

To circumvent the sleep/pain cycle, Dr. Stepanski suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy may serve to improve sleep. Additional studies are required to validate this theory.

Resources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090415075046.htm
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE53T6M820090430

The number of cancer cases expected to be diagnosed in 2030 will be 45 percent higher than present numbers, a new study at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center suggests. Specifically, an estimated 2.3 million Americans are projected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2030, as opposed to 1.6 million Americans in 2010.

The dramatic increase in future cancer cases can be attributed to demographic changes. Certainly, a larger total population of United States citizens is partly to blame for the increased instance of cancer. However, demographic changes in age and minorities will serve to exacerbate the number of cancer cases.

By analyzing demographic trends, the study concludes that the number of cancer diagnoses in adults over the age of 65 will increase by 67 percent. An influx of minorities will also see a doubling of cancer cases among non-white adults – jumping from 330,000 to 660,000. It total, 70 percent of all cancer cases in 2030 will be attributed to the elderly and 28 percent will be attributed to minorities.

While cancer rates (as a percentage of the total population) are expected to stay relatively constant, the report does raise serious concerns in terms of treatment. This surge in cancer cases could put a tremendous strain on the health care infrastructure.

According to studies performed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 40 percent of all U.S.-based oncologists are over the age of 55. This means that a good number of cancer specialists will be retiring in the next decade. Couple this with the reduced rate of new oncologists entering the field, and a shortage of approximately 3,800 cancer doctors is expected by 2030.

Resources:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNewsMolt/idUKTRE53S7PL20090429?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/JCO.2008.20.8983v1
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=58283

An increasing number of cancer research programs are focusing on identifying individual cancer genes that cause resistance to traditional medications. While this field of study possesses vast potential, effective applications have proven difficult. This may change soon, however, as a new interest in RNA is showing enticing possibilities.

As a whole, the division of personalized cancer treatment is designed to counter treatment-resistant cancers by counteracting individual gene defenses and minimizing negative side effects. Now, new RNA technologies, such as non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and RNA interference (RNAi), are offering new ways to attack individual gene expression.

RNA has already been linked to resistance in a number of cancers. Of particular interest are tumors that prove resistant to inhibitors of anti-apoptotic proteins. Recent studies indicate that a specific ncRNA can be manipulated to increase drug resistance in cancer cells by reducing the level of apoptosis. Apoptosis is the clinical term for programmed cell death.

Additionally, the prevalence of specific small strains of ncRNA, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), has been linked to cancer resistance. As a result, researchers are now looking for a way to manipulate miRNA levels to reduce cancer resistance and improve treatment processes.

Hypothetically, interfering with RNA processes can silence virtually any gene, and early attempts at doing so have proven effective. In preclinical trials, RNAi technology was markedly successful in reversing resistance to cancer drugs.

While promising, RNA manipulation still has many hurdles to overcome. For one, effective delivery processes and specificity have proven difficult. Additionally, the long-term health hazards of these new treatment processes are still unknown. Until further research is conducted on the topic, the correlation between RNA and cancer treatment will remain unavailable to the general public.

Resources:
http://www.dddmag.com/Article-Conquering-Cancer-Resistance.aspx

Every year, an estimated 127,000 women develop estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. This subcategory of breast cancer has proven increasingly frustrating for both researchers and patients, because it is resistant to the beneficial effects of tamoxifen – the world’s most popular breast cancer drug.

Now, however, it appears that researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) may have found an important clue into the workings of ER+ breast cancer. Through laboratory research, the GUMC team has determined that high amounts of cholesterol may be shielding cancer cells against tamoxifen.

This conclusion was met following studies that indicated tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells exhibit significantly higher amounts of cholesterol. Scientists suggest that the cholesterol may be aiding resistance in one of two ways. The first possibility is that cholesterol serves as a barrier between cancer drugs and the cell membrane. The alternative is that additional cholesterol surrounding the mitochondria is inhibiting susceptibility to cell death.

As a result of the research, experts are hypothesizing that cholesterol-lowering drugs could be used to lower the resistance of ER+ breast cancer so that cancer drugs can be more effective. New drugs that address cholesterol levels in patients may also be developed.

While the discovery serves as one of several new insights into tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer, additional research is still necessary. Previous studies that focused on the connection between cholesterol-reducing drugs and breast cancer resistant have failed to display consistent results. One potential problem with the use of statins is that they may help to reduce cholesterol in the blood, but not in the cancer cells.

Regardless of these facts, the new findings courtesy of GUMC provide important insight into the matter. Based on the research, new treatment strategies can now be investigated.

Resources:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/gumc-cat033009.php
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iD_r-9wuoxCtimfWbfX4CmMj0TIg

Currently, chemotherapy drugs must be administered in high doses to ensure that the therapeutic properties will effectively reach cancer cells. Though effective, this brute force process is inefficient and highly disruptive to normal cells.

Now, a new research study released by an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health and Sciences Technology hints at a more direct route for attacking cancer tumors. This route involves engineered nano-particles that are specially designed to disrupt the signaling pathway of cancer cells so that a higher concentration of drugs can reach its intended target.

The name of this inhibited signaling pathway is MAPK. The MAPK pathway is responsible for signaling the growth of new cancerous cells. By using a MAPK inhibitor, which was engineered from an FDA-approved polymer, the team was successful in slowing tumor growth as well as predisposing new cancer cells to being killed by chemo drugs.

Additionally, the polymer provides a more targeted approach to cancer treatment. This is because the nano-particles are capable of distinguishing between cancerous and non-cancerous cells. As a result, lower doses of chemotherapy are required and the potential for negative side effects experienced by the patient are significantly reduced.

When used in combination with cisplatin on lab mice that had melanoma, the treatment proved dramatically more effective. For 50 percent of all mice treated with nano-particles, the entire tumor regressed. In mice that were not given the nano-particle, cisplatin alone was not effective in complete tumor reduction.

The use of nano-particles is predicted to be beneficial for the majority of cancer types. The tactic may be most effective on difficult-to-treat cancers such as breast cancer and liver cancer. According to the research team, targeted treatment processes such as this one will be the primary approach within five to ten years.

Resources:
http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Pressreleases/PressRelease.aspx?PageID=480
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090421/jsp/nation/story_10852785.jsp
http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/51/30590/delivering-cancer-drugs-directly-tumors.html

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lung cancer kills more people than any other type of cancer. This may soon change, however, as radiologists at Temple University have just developed a new and promising lung cancer radiation therapy.

In clinical trials, the new technique (dubbed stereotactic body radiotherapy, or SBRT) dramatically improved the probability that participants would survive early stage lung cancer. Furthermore, the new treatment requires a fewer number of treatments when compared to traditional chemotherapy and also reduces the necessity for future surgeries relating to the disease.

Professor Curtis Miyamoto, head researcher for the study, explains that SBRT treatment requires only three to eight treatments. This should come as good news to lung cancer patients, who traditionally require 35 regular chemotherapy treatment sessions.

More importantly, the cure rate (measured as 2 years of disease-free survival) is more than doubled as a result of the new procedure. Professor Miyamoto indicates that the cure rate of participants is about 81 percent, and can go as high as 98 percent depending on the size and seriousness of the tumor. In traditional radiation treatments of lung cancer, approximately 35 percent of patients are cured.

Experts are intrigued by the ability of this minimally invasive procedure to offer the same level of results as those previously only found in more invasive surgeries (such as lung removal). Professor Miyamoto will discuss his findings further at the Latin American Association of Radiating Therapy Oncology this June in Cancun, Mexico.

Resources:
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/03/09/New_lung_cancer_radiation_therapy_created/UPI-12681236609883/
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/549838/
http://www.cdc.gov/Cancer/lung/statistics/

It has been estimated that the spread of cancer from its original point of growth is the direct cause of 90 percent of all cancer-related deaths. This fact has long been known, but a new insight into the process may lead to promising new cancer drugs that may slow or stop the deadly progression.

In a report written by the Institute of Cancer Research and published in the Cancer Cell journal, researchers indicate that they have pinpointed an enzyme that is imperative to the process of metastasis. This enzyme, known as LOX (lysyl oxidase), essentially serves as a cancer messenger, broadcasting signals to new areas of the body where the cancer has not yet spread. As a result of these signals, a preparation process is instigated which reduces the hostility of the new area and allows the cancer to latch on and grow in the new environment.

The identification of LOX as an essential element of metastasis has been heralded as a landmark discovery. Dr. Janine Erler, head researcher for the project, refers to the finding as a “crucial missing piece in the jigsaw that scientists have been searching for.”

Dr. Erler shows further enthusiasm that the finding will soon lead to new cancer drugs that block the ability of the enzyme to properly function. Ideally, this would result in cancer tumors remaining localized, an outcome that should result in a steep decline in cancer-related deaths.

Of course, in order for a LOX-focused cancer drug to work, cancer patients would need to be diagnosed before metastasis has taken place. Because of this, increased efforts in screening and early diagnosis procedures need to be reinforced as well.

Resource:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7813072.stm
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/88262/Cancer-cure-is-step-closer

No matter what the type of cancer, a patient’s probability for successful treatment improves the earlier the disease is identified. This fact has led cancer researchers to spend a considerable amount of time trying to identify new methods that point to the manifestation of cancer as quickly as possible.

One such method of early diagnosis is achieved by looking for biomarkers. Biomarkers are unique molecules, such as proteins, that are produced by cancer cells or as a result of tumor growth. Searching for these biomarkers, however, is often like looking for a needle in the haystack. Normal body proteins, such as albumin, often blanket the sheer minuteness of such cancer proteins in the body during the early stages of cancer.

Previous attempts to strip albumin and other normal proteins from blood samples while leaving cancer proteins in tact have historically proven unsuccessful. However, a new technique overcomes this issue by baiting the pertinent proteins and drawing them away from the larger pool of blood proteins.

The process, which was developed by the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine at George Mason University, involves using a smart polymer gel that sifts through blood samples and accurately identifies trace amounts of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). PDGF is a biomarker that is produced as new blood vessels form to feed a growing tumor.

The new procedure has been proven to detect small levels of PDGF that were previously impossible. The result is a potentially new procedure that could lead to the earlier detection of numerous types of cancer.

Resources:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826536.000-smart-gel-sifts-out-the-smallest-signs-of-cancer.html