Mesothelioma Treatment – Anti-angiogenic Therapy
We have been writing about the often fatal disease, mesothelioma, primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a form of aggressive cancer that develops in the lining of the lung or the abdomen. Diagnosis is often difficult and symptoms can take 10 to 50 years from time of exposure to appear.
Shipyard workers, pipefitters, mechanics, construction, maintenance and repair workers, and renovators have a heightened risk of contracting an asbestos-related disease due to occupational exposure where they encounter asbestos-containing products at their work sites. Each year in the United States, an estimated 2500 to 3000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma. It is the cause of more than 2500 deaths in the U.S., and more than 43,000 deaths worldwide each year.
Common treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, however there are many clinical trials being conducted to investigate even better ways to diagnosis, treat and possibly cure mesothelioma.
One treatment option is a biological therapy known as anti-angiogenic therapy. Anti-angiogenic stems from the word angiogenic, which is the mechanism of the human body to form new blood vessels. Tumors need the blood vessels to grow and spread. Drugs or substances used to stop or prevent the body from forming new blood vessels are called anti-angiogenic agents. Antiangiogenic therapy uses drugs or other substances to stop the growth of tumors by interfering with the blood vessels that the cancer needs to survive. Tumor cells can not spread or survive unless supplied with oxygen and other nutrients that are carried by the blood.
Research has shown that the drugs used to stop the blood vessels from forming can prevent cancer from spreading, has fewer side effects than other cancer treatments, and are not toxic to healthy cells.
Researchers are continually investigating new drugs that can work against cancer, and specifically mesothelioma. One such antiangiogenic drug that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is bevacizumab, or Avastin. After individual consultation with a specialist, Bevacizumab is administered only by or under the immediate supervision of a treating doctor. There are several clinical trials that are investigating this drug combined with other treatment options. For a full list of these clinical trials, visit the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website.
The NCI list also tells you which trials are still recruiting patients, discusses latest treatment results, and gives information about other trials that may be available to treat asbestos related cancers. Certain therapies are better suited for particular types of mesothelioma and can depend upon what stage the cancer is diagnosed. The website also lists any criteria that must be met in order to participate in open trials.
Although antiangiogenic therapy is relatively new, continuing research shows promise that this method may help the body to fight cancer and prevent growth of blood vessels that feed cancer cells.
New treatments such as this one are available for mesothelioma patients and offer hope for improved survival and quality of life. However these treatments can be expensive. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, call an experienced mesothelioma attorney for a free case evaluation. A good asbestos lawyer can help you obtain monetary compensation for treatment of this disease and allow you to focus on fighting mesothelioma without the stress of financial worry.
