Source: Yahoo News

Dutch researchers have completed the first study looking at the emergence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in children with a parent who has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. The study enrolled children between the ages of 11 and 18 and tracked them throughout the course of their parent's illness. They found that nearly all showed some of the symptoms associated with PTSD and these manifested as "recurring nightmares, an inability to stop thinking about the disease as well as conscious efforts to avoid hearing or knowing anything about their parent's condition." After learning of the condition, almost 29 percent of the children experienced symptoms serious enough to justify psychological help.

Other results from the study concluded that girls were more likely to experience symptoms of PTSD than boys were and, while symptoms subsided after a year for most children, some of those had their symptoms recur. Also, the PTSD-like symptoms were more likely to be felt in children whose parents had cancer as opposed to children whose parents had another chronic illness-most likely because they feared that the cancer was more likely to cause the parent's death.

Labels: cancer

Source: Avemar Research

The proper identification of the histologic subtype of malignant pleural mesothelioma is an important element both in the diagnosis of the disease and the treatment regimen that a patient is given. There are three histological subtypes of the disease, each with a different average prognosis. The most common subtype is epithelial mesothelioma; this is also the type that tends to respond most favorably to treatment. The other two subtypes are sarcomatous mesothelioma and biphasic mesothelioma. The sarcomatous subtype generally has the worst prognosis, while biphasic mesothelioma tends to be somewhere in between epithelial and sarcomatous mesothelioma in terms of treatability.

A study was recently completed that looked at the ability of thoracoscopy to accurately diagnose the histological subtype of malignant pleural mesothelioma, specifically if it could be used to diagnose the difference between epithelial and biphasic mesothelioma. The results were not very favorable. 95 patients were enrolled in the study. Regarding those diagnosed with epithelial subtype by thoracoscopy before surgery, the positive predictive value was 86% and the negative predictive value of 37%. Regarding those with a biphasic diagnosis by thoracoscopy, the positive predictive value was 75% and the negative predictive value was 87%.

The study has concluded that while thoracoscopy is an integral procedure for the diagnosis and staging of pleural mesothelioma, it does not appear to be an efficient method of differentiating between the epithelial and biphasic subtypes of mesothelioma.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: DocGuide.com

A study presented at the 14th European Cancer Conference found that pemetrexed, marketed by Eli Lilly & Company as Alimta^®, used alone or with a platinum agent, shows good response rates and disease control rates in patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, the second-most common variant of mesothelioma.

The study is one of the first to look specifically at patients with peritoneal mesothelioma. While all forms of mesothelioma are rare in the general population, the most common type found, pleural mesothelioma, has been the most studied and is the only form of the disease where treatment regimens have been codified.

The present study looked at 109 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma and followed their course of treatment with pemetrexed alone or in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin, which are each platinum agents. All patients received the clinically standard supplements of vitamin B12 and folic acid, as well as dexamethasone for prophylaxis.

Patients who received the single agent pemetrexed treatment had a 12.5% overall response rate and a 50% disease control rate, while those who received the combination of pemetrexed and a platinum compound had a 20% or greater response rate and a 76% or greater disease control rate.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: CNN.com

The CNN.com Health section details a listing of healthy food types that should be an important part of everyone's diet. Eating well is an essential element of a healthy lifestyle and the foods listed are excellent sources of general nutrition.

1. Calcium. Calcium is a key element for healthy bones and many other body functions. While many people get calcium form milk and other dairy products, there are a variety of other food types that can one use to get calcium. These include:
   
   
   
   • Cornmeal
   
   
   • Wheat flour
   
   
   • Collards
   
   
   • Rhubarb
   
   
   • Sardines
   
   
   • Spinach
   
   
   • Soybeans
   
   
   • among others
   
   


2. Vitamin C. Vitamin is an excellent addition to any diet. It helps one's body repair itself when damaged or depressed and also provides preventative maintenance by helping the body fight diseases and possibly cancer. Sources of Vitamin C include:
   
   
   
   • Oranges/orange juice
   
   
   • Peppers (sweet and chili)
   
   
   • Grapefruit juice
   
   
   • Papayas
   
   
   • Strawberries
   
   
   • among others
   
   


3. Fiber. Fiber is an important element for the digestive system, as well as other internal organs, such as the heart. Sources of fiber include:
   
   
   
   • Barley
   
   
   • Bulgur
   
   
   • Beans
   
   
   • Peas
   
   
   • Wheat flour, whole-grain
   
   
   • Oat bran
   
   
   • among others
   
   
   
   
4. Anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are a type of chemical found in certain foods that research shows may help protect the body from a variety of serious ailments, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's. Sources of anti-oxidants include:
   
   
   
   • Beans
   
   
   • Blueberries
   
   
   • Cranberries
   
   
   • Artichokes
   
   
   • Blackberries
   
   
   • Prunes
   
   
   • among others
   
   
   
   
5. Folic acid.
Folic acid is found in certain foods and helps promote efficient mitosis (cell division) and red cell development. There is evidence that it can reduce the development of certain types of cancers. Sources of folic acid include:



• Turkey/chicken giblets


• Lentils


• Cowpeas/Black eyed peas


• Orange Juice


• Beans (specifically kidney, pinto, navy)


• among others




6. Iron. Iron is essential to the proper flow of oxygen in the blood. Iron deficiencies can lead to anemia, which leaves people weak and tired. Sources of iron include:
   
   
   
   • Mollusks, clams
   
   
   • Turkey or chicken giblets
   
   
   • Enriched whole wheat flour
   
   
   • Enriched rice
   
   
   • Soybeans
   
   
   • among others
   
   
   
   
   

Labels: cancer, general

Source: Eli Lilly

Eli Lilly has submitted an application with the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for the approval of Alimta^®, in combination with cisplatin, as a first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The EMEA has previously approved Alimta as a single agent, second-line therapy for advanced NSCLC.

The submission is based on the results of a recently-completed study that compared Alimta plus cisplatin to Gemzar^>® plus cisplatin and showed that the Alimta treatment regimen had similar efficacy to the Gemzar-based one, but had a better toxicity profile and greater convenience for the patient.

Gemzar is a leading first-line treatment for NSCLC.

Aside from its previously-approved use for NSCLC, Alimta has also been approved, when used with cisplatin, for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Labels: LungCancer, mesothelioma

Source: ScienceDaily.Com

Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a sensor that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mesothelin, a protein whose expression is strongly linked to a number of cancers—including mesothelioma, ovarian cancer and pancreatic cancer—in a simple blood sample taken in a doctor's office.

The sensor, known as the the ACuRay^TM chip, standing for ACoustic micro-arRay, works by vibrating at a specific frequency when a current is applied to it. The sensor is then coated with antibodies that a particular biomarker, in this case mesothelin, will bind with. When the blood sample is applied to the sensor, mesothelin, if present, will bind with the antibody coating and the frequency the sensor vibrates at will change—indicating that mesothelin has been found in the blood and, therefore, a more extensive cancer diagnostic procedure should begin. The researchers hope they can generalize this technology to allow doctors to detect the presence of other cancer biomarkers in a very immediate fashion.

The sensor is based on silicone, the same material used in the manufacture of computer chips, so it could be cheaply and efficiently mass-produced using existing fabrication techniques.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: Alfacell Press Release

Alfacell Corporation is currently conducting a Phase III-b clinical trial of Onconase^® in patients with unresectable malignant mesothelioma. Alfacell has developed Onconase^® using its proprietary ribonuclease (RNase) technology. The treatment compound is a protein derived from the leopard frog and has been shown in laboratory and clinical trials to attack cancer cells while ignoring healthy cells.

Alfacell's latest announcement is an update on the performance status of the trial. Enrollment in this trial will close on September 30, 2007. If the results of the trial are positive, Alfacell will then submit the final stages of the application for Onconase's New Drug Application (NDA).

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: Wall Street Journal

In a supplement published in the medical journal Chest, the American College of Chest Physicians offered the first comprehensive analysis on the use of alternative and complementary medicine in the treatment of lung cancer. The researchers examined over 100 published studies regarding alternative or complementary medicine in an attempt to quantify the benefits and to identify the problems regarding these modalities. Federal studies have shown that more than half of all Americans have used some type of alternative therapy in their lives and that number increases when cancer is involved. Historically, most doctors have not had the knowledge of these treatments to discuss them with their patients, so the publication of these guidelines represents a genuine advancement in the knowledge of cancer treatment.

The report showed that herbal supplements are, at best, generally not very effective and, at worst, possibly a real problem as some of them will interfere with chemotherapy, radiation or other standard cancer treatments. A notable exception to this warning is the use of vitamin B12 and folic-acid supplements for people being treated with the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed, which is marketed as Alimta^® and is the standard chemo drug for people with malignant mesothelioma. The report indicates that the published research on supplements isn't especially deep, so it does not say that all supplements should be stopped—it merely indicates that supplements need to be evaluated for potential side effects and interactions with other agents.

The report treats acupuncture and other "mind-body" modalities more favorably than supplements and recommends many of them for particular conditions. Acupuncture is recommended for pain relief and to control the nausea and vomiting that is associated with chemotherapy. However, patients who are prone to excessive bleeding should be cautious about the use of acupuncture and should only be treated by a professional with experience in treating cancer patients. Meditation is recommended to reduce stress, while yoga and other relaxation techniques may help improve sleep. Massage is recommended for general pain and anxiety, as is hypnosis, but like acupuncture, those with a tendency to bleed should avoid deep-tissue massage.

The publication of these new guidelines for alternative and complementary medicine is an important advancement in our knowledge of cancer treatment. It is hoped that patients will be well-served with this new knowledge.

Labels: cancer, LungCancer, mesothelioma

Source: CNNMoney.Com

Results from recent studies confirm that Alimta^®, Eli Lilly's FDA-approved drug for mesothelioma, does have clinical efficacy for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. The studies looked at Alimta given as a single agent and in combination with a platinum agent, such as cisplatin or carboplatin—which is the standard chemotherapy treatment for mesothelioma. The one-year survival rates were similar between single agent therapy and combination therapy, with Alimta alone showing a 58.6% one-year rate and then Alimta + cisplatin with a 63.1% rate and Alimta + carboplatin with a 64.0% rate. When looking at overall response rate, Alimta plus the platinum agents (26.3% for Alimta+cisplatin and 21.7% for Alimta+ carboplatin) showed a higher response than ALIMTA alone (10.5%).

The findings were presented at the 12th World Conference on Lung Cancer.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: Clinical Cancer Research

High levels of serum-soluble mesothelin family proteins (SMRP) have been associated as a possible biomarker for malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. A study was commissioned to look at SMRP levels in the largest population of thoracic cancers ever assembled. The study attempted to quantify if SMRP levels were of prognostic or diagnostic value for either malignant mesothelioma or lung cancer. Results indicated great promise for SMRP levels as a biomarker for mesothelioma and indicated possible promise for its diagnostic use with lung cancers.

Labels: mesothelioma

Source: MedPage Today

At a recent International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer meeting, a group of Nordic researchers released the surprising results of a study that showed certain mesothelioma patients can have a much longer life expectancy than is normally assumed. In the Nordic study, patients with the epithelial subtype of mesothelioma were shown to have the longest life expectancy. The researchers tracked 147 mesothelioma patients treated only with chemotherapy until death or for a minimum of 18 months. Of those surveyed, 108 patients (73%) were shown to have epithelial mesothelioma, while biphasic mesothelioma accounted for 21 patients (14%) and the sarcomatous subtype for 18 patients (12%). Epithelial patients had a median survival of 15 months, which is greater than the 9 to 12 months usually quoted patients in the U.S. When broken down further, 44% survived at least 18 months, 25% survived for two years, 9% lived three years or longer, and two patients remained alive after five years. No member of the other two group subtypes lived beyond two years.

These results indicate that chemotherapy used as the primary treatment modality for epithelial mesothelioma patients may be more effective than surgery, which is the standard modality for patients in the United States. While the study has not yet been replicated in a peer-reviewed journal, experts are excited about its results and hope it does indicate a more efficacious treatment mode for victims of mesothelioma.

Labels: mesothelioma