Source: CancerMonthly.com

Virotherapy is a rapidly-evolving treatment regimen where viruses are engineered to replicate only in certain types of tumor cells and to specifically attack only those cells. The difficulty is designing a virus with the proper molecular composition to target only certain types of cancer cells, such as those involved with mesothelioma, while ignoring normal cells.

Researchers at the Division of Human Gene Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), led by Zeng B. Zhu, MD, have done just this. They have engineered an adenovirus-based agent with a recently identified tumor specific promoter (TSP) called "survivin". The TSP is important because it can restrict the expression of certain genes and viral replication in tumor cells. In this case, the viral agent the team engineered has shown great promise for the treatment of mesothelioma because it only replicates in mesothelioma cells while ignoring normal cells.

While the team was quick to point out that this is only one step in developing new treatments for mesothelioma, it is an important step nonetheless. Besides mesothelioma, virotherapy offers promise for the treatment of other types of cancer and the team at UAB is specifically working on treatments for ovarian cancer and glioma.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: Syracuse.com

Aapex Environmental Services is contesting the recent fine by the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) of $57,000 for allegedly violating six occupational health standards relating to asbestos exposure. The alleged citations occurred during Aapex's cleanup of the former Agway building in DeWitt, New York. Aapex and the U.S. Labor Department, which OSHA is a member of, are now entering a litigation period. If they are unable to agree to a settlement, both parties will be able to present their cases to a judge in the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Labels: asbestos

Source: News-Medical.Net

Researches from the Ireland Cancer Center have discovered a mutation in the epidermal growth factor protein (EGFR) that causes resistance in lung cancer cells to targeting agents, such as Tarceva, that attempt to halt the spread of cancer cells by disrupting the receptor responsible for tumor growth. Tarceva has been successfully deployed in clinical settings, with approximately 10 percent of patients achieving complete remission, but if the cancer returned, it was no longer successful in blocking tumor growth. The researchers discovered that a mutation altered the shape of the protein's drug-binding pocket so Tarceva no longer "fit" the pocket and, therefore, was not able to properly bind to the site to suppress tumor growth. The researches have developed compounds to avoid this resistance through an innovative use of different combinations of medicines. It is thought that the next generation of Tarceva-like drugs, some of which are already in development and starting clinical trials, will overcome these problems and prove even more effective for cancer treatment.

The research term, led by Balazs Halmos, MD, a lung cancer specialist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, received an award for its research at the recent American Association for Cancer Research meeting.

Labels: lung cancer

Source: Rosetta Genomics

The NYU Medical Center, one of the world's premier academic medical institutions, has partnered with Rosetta Genomics, a leader in the development of microRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics, to jointly-develop early detection diagnostic tools for lung cancer and mesothelioma. Dr. Harvey Pass, Professor and Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology at NYU Medical Center, describes a test "... that will be able to detect cancer at an ealy stage using a simple blood draw...." The test will use a proprietary protocol developed by Rosetta Genomics to extract microRNAs, which are a recently-discovered form of RNAi that act as protein regulators and have shown promise as biomarkers for a variety of cancers.

Labels: lung cancer, mesothelioma

Source: Billings Gazette

Libby, Montana is the location of what the EPA calls "the worst case of community-wide exposure to a toxic substance in U.S. history." One of Libby's major revenue sources was its vermiculite mine, but in 1990 it was discovered that the mine was contaminated with asbestos and that this contamination had exposed thousands of people to the many dangers of asbestos exposure, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. There have now been over 192 deaths and 345 other cases of people made ill because of exposure to the asbestos-contaminated mine.

The primary responsibility for care and screening for these victims has been The Center for Asbestos Related Disease, a 2003 spin-off from the hospital in Libby. While the Center's main goal has been the care and screening of more than 1500 patients, the Center is also dedicated to researching new treatments and diagnostic techniques. The Center works in conjunction with other organizations, such as the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, on a variety of research projects. One of its current projects is studying the actual asbestos-subtype found in Libby, as it differs in significant ways from the most common form of asbestos, chrysotile. Unlike chrysotile, whose fibers are serpentine-shaped and flexible, the type of asbestos found in Libby has hard, needlike fibers.

In 2001 the federal Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry completed a study which found that fully 19 percent of the population in and around Libby had physical signs of health-related abnormalities consistent with asbestos exposure.

Labels: asbestos, lung cancer, mesothelioma

Source: Cancer Monthly

Mesothelioma with conventional treatment has a median survival rate of 9 to 12 months after diagnosis, which is one of the worst survival rates of any cancer. Yet, there are examples in the medical literature of patients who've lived much longer than this after their diagnosis. Doctors and researchers do not understand why some individuals seem to live so much longer than the average, but they are beginning to look at the role of the immune system as a possible answer.

Paul Kraus is among the most famous of these mesothelioma survivors. In 1997 he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and only given months to live. After consulting with a variety of physicians and refusing to accept the very limited prognosis he faced with conventional treatment modalities, he embarked on a personal research project and developed his own treatment regimen which was based on boosting his immune system's response to the malignancy. Now, ten years later, he's a regular speaker at mesothelioma events and has written a highly-regarded book about his journey and his method: Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide.

Like Mr. Kraus, other patients have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and have lived years after the doctors said they would, but these are still minority examples in the literature. As scientists begin to study the effects of immunotherapy on mesothelioma, they are finding the results of some clinical trials quite promising. In one study of immunotherapy used in conjunction with chemotherapy, median survival was reported at 29.2 months, greatly exceeding the average survival rate.

Many questions still remain unanswered, but the promising results of these immunotherapy trials offer hope that more effective mesothelioma treatment options are on the horizon.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

Scientists from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of the major cancer research centers in the United States, announced significant results in their latest research into the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Karmanos researches studying the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic (UPP) pathway determined that protein ubiquitination and degradation are essential elements in the progression of mesothelioma. 33 of the 241 genes involved in the UPP pathway are differentially expressed among epithelioid and biphasic mesothelioma [two of the three mesothelioma sub-types]. These findings prompted Anil Wali, a Ph.D. and the Karmanos assistant professor who led th study, to conclude that "...if we can develop a therapy to target this pathway, we will be one step closer to halting this disease."

The results of the Karmanos research were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting in Los Angeles, CA. Funding for the study was provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

More information on the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic (UPP) pathway can be found at the Wikipedia entry for proteasomes.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: NY Post

John Kielbasa, a pipefitter with twenty-one years of experience in the Department of Education, alleges that even though he discovered loose asbestos in at least seven public schools and one DOE office, the Department won't remove the cancer-causing agent because of cost issues. When DOE spokeswoman Marge Feinberg insisted that the city's schools were safe, Mr. Keilbasa and his attorney, Peter Gleason, hired a lab to collect samples and conduct a site analysis of the areas Mr. Keilbasa identified as contaminated. According to Mr. Kielbasa, the lab confirmed the presence of asbestos at each location.

The site locations where the asbestos was allegedly found:

1. PS 102, 315 E. 113th St. in Manhattan
2. PS 72, 131 E. 104th St, in Manhattan
3. PS 18, 502 Morris Ave. in The Bronx
4. Manhattan Center HS, 116th Street and Pleasant Avenue in Manhattan
5. Park East HS, 230 E. 105th St. in Manhattan
6. Samuel Gompers HS, 455 Southern Blvd. in The Bronx
7. South Bronx HS, 701 St. Ann's Ave
8. The Division of School Facilities' headquarters, Vernon Boulevard in Queens

Labels: asbestos

Source: BusinessWire

European developer and marketer CISBIO has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved MESOMARK® Assay, the first in-vitro test for managing patients with mesothelioma, for use. The test is now available for monitoring patients who suffer from epithelioid or biphasic mesothelioma. The introduction of a minimally invasive monitoring agent with a greater diagnostic capacity is a key element in the ongoing treatment of mesothelioma, as treatment monitoring has traditionally been costly and quite invasive.

The test has been developed and manufactured by Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc. and is being marketed by CISBIO.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: StarNewsOnline.com

This article profiles Glen Long, a mesothelioma survivor who has responded favorably to his treatment regimen. Mr. Long was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2006 and has completed a series of chemotherapy treatments. His cancer has since stabilized and he notes that he's been able to return to some of this activities.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: ScrippsNews

The Utah Department of Health has concluded that people who lived within two miles of two old vermiculite plants with heavy asbestos contamination in Salt Lake City have a fifty percent greater chance of developing lung cancer than people who live in other parts of the state. While the data didn't conclusively establish a causative relationship between the asbestos contamination and the lung cancer incidents, the high correlation rate has prompted the state to become more concerned about the potential health risks posed by these old plants. Two years ago the state, along with federal agencies, spent more than $7 million in a Superfund cleanup of the two plants.

Utah's Department of Environmental Quality, in partnership with the EPA, is now launching a search for people who have worked at the plant or lived in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The vermiculite plants received their stock from Libby, Montana, whose vermiculite mining industry was destroyed when large-scale asbestos contamination was discovered in its vermiculite ore mine in 1990. There have been more than 200 asbestos-related casualties from the mine itself, and many others have been sickened by the asbestos exposure. The EPA declared Libby, Montana to be the "worst-case of community-wide exposure to a toxic substance in U.S. History."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libby,_Montana)

Labels: asbestos, lung cancer, mesothelioma

Source: eMaxHealth

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is embarking on two long-term studies of mining activities in the northeastern part of the state.

The first study will be a detailed account of the health of mine workers in the region. There have been over 50 diagnoses of mesothelioma among people who worked these mines between the 1930s and the 1980s. This new study follows one completed in 2003 that showed 17 cases of mesothelioma among mine workers. The 2003 study was the first to conclusively show the presence of mesothelioma among Minnesota miners. Since that time, an additional 35 cases of mesothelioma have occurred, prompting the State to begin this second, more comprehensive study. MDH plans to seek federal funds from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, as well as other sources. The study is expected to last three years.

The second study that MDH is pursuing involves documenting the health risks associated with airborne mineral fragments released during the mining of ore. The study has been commissioned to provide data for the development of regulatory controls regarding exposure limits for these airborne mineral fragments.

Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma

Source: PRWeb

Paul Kraus is an inspiration to many victims of mesothelioma. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1997 and only given months to live. Now, 10 years later, he is still alive and well and still giving speeches on his journey. He has even written a highly-regarded book, Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide, that describes his treatment regimen and his, thus far, successful battle against mesothelioma.

Mr. Kraus recently delivered a teleconference presentation, one of many he does every year, where he spoke with other victims of mesothelioma about regaining hope and the non-conventional treatment choices he credits with his better-than-average health ten years after his diagnosis.

Mr. Kraus's website is www.survivingmesothelioma.com.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: PhillyBurbs.com

Pennsylvania State Rep. John T. Galloway has demanded that developer Stephen Ifshin of DLC Management Corp offer "immediate health examinations" and "pay all medical costs" to firefighters who performed a training exercise at Levittown Town Center, a 50-acre worksite owned by DLC and fined by the EPA for improper handling of asbestos, if the firefighters are found to have suffered from the exposure.

In 2002, members of various Bucks County fire companies took part in a training exercise where they had to cut through the Center's roof and fight a blaze inside of the building. The exercise took place after the EPA had found asbestos "strewn" over the entire site and had leveled a large fine against DLC and the subcontractor that worked the site. Even though the EPA had fined DLC, state, county and borough officials were never informed of the potential health risk and DLC let the scheduled exercise take place on their site without any warning.

Labels: asbestos

Source: TheHill.com

The Architect of the Capital (AOC), which is the organization responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex, has announced that some of the Capital Power Plant tunnel workers who've been working in asbestos-contaminated tunnels below the Capital Complex, and are now showing signs of asbestos-related disease, will be reassigned to other duties.

The announcement comes in the wake of increasing congressional pressure on the AOC to transition this tunnel crew into less hazardous worksites. The AOC was made aware of the asbestos problems in some tunnels in 2000, but did not provide the requisite protective gear for the workers until 2006. Many of these workers are now exhibiting regular symptoms of asbestos-related diseases and members of Congress have become increasingly vocal in their criticism of how the AOC has handled the situation.

Labels: asbestos

Source: Insurance Journal

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) has fined Aapex Environmental Services Inc. for $57,000 for allegedly violating six occupational health standards relating to asbestos exposure. The violations that allegedly took place during the contractor's work at the former Agway building in Dewitt, New York include:

1. Failure to conduct the required monitoring of employee exposure to asbestos, even though the company's records indicated the monitoring had taken places;
2. Failure to collect short term air sampling;
3. Failure to keep accurate exposure monitoring records;
4. Failure to notify employees of sampling results;
5. Failure to establish an asbestos containment system by trained employees;
6. Failure to prevent the leak of asbestos-contaminated water from a worksite.

Aapex has an upcoming meeting with OSHA to discuss the disciplinary actions.

These fines follow the recent admissions of a former Aapex supervisor regarding the improper disposal of asbestos fibers where fibers drained into pubic sewers and contaminated construction debris. The supervisor, Everette Blatche, has pled guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and will face sentencing in August.

Labels: asbestos

Source: The Citizen of Laconia

Town officials from Meredith, New Hampshire have fined an unidentified group of individuals after discarded asbestos was found in the town's transfer station. After the asbestos was discovered and then identified as such by the town's Code Enforcement Officer, it was traced back to the vehicle from where it was improperly disposed of. The owners of this vehicle have been charged with the costs of removing and disposing the sheet of asbestos. The vehicle itself has been impounded by the police.
New Hampshire law strictly regulates the handling, packaging and disposal of asbestos.

Labels: asbestos