Mesothelioma Treatments: Immunotherapy
Mesothelioma is an incurable, aggressive cancer primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. It is a disease that starts in the lining of the cells in the lungs or abdomen. There are three types of mesothelioma:
Pleural Mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the lung; Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity; Pericardial Mesothelioma, which occurs lining of the heart
This rare cancer affects men more than women, and symptoms of the disease do not usually develop until decades after exposure to asbestos. Because of the long time between exposure and developing the disease, it is more commonly diagnosed in people who are in their late fifties or older. There is no known cure for malignant mesothelioma and survival times from date of diagnosis is usually very short.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can vary and it is often difficult to diagnose in a timely manner, thereby making it hard to treat before it has advanced to a late stage. Several conventional therapies are used to treat mesothelioma: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. However, failure of these therapies to cure or treat mesothelioma has led doctors and researchers to try out new approaches that might offer more relief and be more successful.
Immunotherapy, considered a biological therapy, is one of the new approaches being researched. Research usually starts with animal trials, and then when deemed safe, used in clinical trials with human patients. Immunotherapyinvolves treating mesothelioma using the natural substances that the body uses to fight infections and diseases. It is a method of trying to activate the body’s natural immune system to fight the disease and destroy the cancer cells.
There are three main types of immunotherapy: interferon, interleukin 2, and vaccines. With these types of therapy, cancer cells are targeted and healthy cells are not affected. Interferons and interleukins are made by cells either naturally or in a laboratory. They are then injected back into the body. The idea is to slow or stop the cancer growth by injecting the interferon or interleukin or vaccine into the body. The injected cells or drugs then recognize the cancer cells as a threat to the bodies immune system and know to attack and destroy the diseased cells. In immunotherapy the injections can be made either directly into the pleural cavity or into the bloodstream.
Vaccines are a new type of biological therapy that are available only through clinical trials. Vaccines are substances that are injected into the body or taken orally that help protect the body from infection and disease. Now there are some vaccines that are being used to try and treat some types of cancer, including mesothelioma. The vaccines work like the interferon and interleukin in that they recognize the cancerous cells as a threat and attack them. It is hoped that then if new diseased cells develop, the immune system will immediately recognize them as a threat and start making the necessary antibodies to fight off the disease before it has a chance to take hold in the body. Therefore vaccines can treat cancer in three ways: stopping and preventing growth, preventing a recurrence, and destroying any cells left after other forms of treatment.
Initial results have shown promise, especially for patients who are diagnosed in the early stages of mesothelioma. The most success has been using more than one type of therapy, known as multi-modality therapy. This combines traditional therapy, such as chemotherapy, with a newer treatment option, such as immunotherapy.
Anyone interested in learning more about clinical trials and immunotherapy can contact the National Cancer Institute or U.S. National Institute of Health.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease and would like to learn more about treatment options or are seeking legal representation from an experienced mesothelioma attorney, please call 1-800-440-4262. The call is free and the asbestos lawyers and staff at Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason, can offer support and answer any questions you may have. We also can mail you a complimentary, comprehensive packet full of useful information and resources. You can also visit our website at http://www.mesothelioma-attorney.com/.
We hope that this article has been helpful. We have witnessed the struggle and heartbreak associated with mesothelioma. Our aim is to help those suffering from mesothelioma to get the best treatment, to find ways to eliminate or slow down the cancer, and to provide support around the pain and suffering that goes along with this diagnosis.
NOTE: Any medical or clinical trials information provided in this article is intended to assist those diagnosed with mesothelioma and to be informational in nature. We do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. Any information you obtain through our articles should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a health care professional who is familiar with your medical situation; we can not provide personal medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider to discuss your specific healthcare needs.
