New Progression In Research And Treatment Of Mesothelioma

Cancer Research and Development is an ongoing process. In the treatment of mesothelioma, the researchers focused on improving traditional treatments and develop new techniques for pain relief for patients. New chemotherapy agents and combinations are now giving new hope to mesothelioma patients and increases survival among them. Several recent advances have improved the diagnosis and treatment of this incurable disease. Hope of recovery in the near future is not something surreal.

CT Scans

CT is not only a diagnostic tool in the treatment of mesothelioma. CT scans are in the process of the surgical team to determine a precise location of tumors in the patient's anatomy. This makes cytoreduction can be more effective. Adequate cytoreduction is essential to improve the chances of survival for the patient. The largest number of tumor cells that are removed, the greater the risk that the cancer grows and spreads.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Photodynamic therapy is one of the newest treatments for mesothelioma research. PDT uses a photosensitizer. This is a drug that produces active oxygen when exposed to certain wavelengths of light. Active oxygen destroys all the neighboring cells. When a patient is treated with (for example, sodium porfimer) photosensitizer, drug abuse throughout the body. However, the nature of the molecule, remains attached to cancer cells longer. So, after a period of 24-72 hours, when the agent is removed from normal cells, the tumor is exposed to light (usually laser-supplied tissue, the fiber optic cable through the endoscope). The active oxygen destroys cancer cells directly to a decrease in normal cells. PDT also helps shrink tumors indirectly by destroying the blood vessels that feed tumors and the immune system to fight tumors.

The advantage of photodynamic therapy is that it can be used repeatedly with far fewer side effects than other treatments. The main disadvantage is that the light can not usually reach the tumor cells that are more than 1 cm deep. Therefore, PDT is more effective in skin cancers and cancer in the lining of internal organs or cavities. Fortunately, mesothelioma falls into this category.

Angiogenesis inhibitors

Angiogenesis refers to the development of new blood vessels. Blood vessels are a critical factor in tumor growth. All malignant cancers to develop their own vascular system that transports nutrients from the bloodstream of the tumor, fueling its growth. Manage the development of vascular systems has been an important strategy in the fight against cancer mesothelioma. Angiogenesis inhibitors are drugs that block angiogenesis. This interrupts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tumor, whose growth stops immediately.

The advantage is that angiogenesis inhibitors are less toxic than most other chemotherapy drugs. They may be chronically administered to the patient and are therefore more effective fight against cancer. An example of an anti-angiogenic drugs under clinical study of mesothelioma is bevacizumab (Avastin).