By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    private
    Private Exchanges: Getting Ready for Individual Health Insurance to Be the Standard
    January 9, 2014
    valueable healthcare programs
    5 Most Valuable Healthcare Programs in 2023
    March 8, 2023
    Johnson & Johnson to Release Clinical Trial Data in Agreement with Yale Medical School
    February 4, 2014
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Mesothelioma Awareness Day: How Clinical Trials Make A Difference
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Mesothelioma Awareness Day: How Clinical Trials Make A Difference
Specialties

Mesothelioma Awareness Day: How Clinical Trials Make A Difference

Jamie Smith
Jamie Smith
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
  • A Difficult Disease to Diagnose
  • The Breakthrough Behind Immunotherapy
  • Progress in Gene Therapy

Each year, September 26th marks Mesothelioma Awareness Day, a time devoted to educating the public on this rare form of cancer and extending support to anyone that has been affected by the disease. A mesothelioma diagnosis is exceptionally rare and has placed the spotlight on targeted therapies within clinical trials in order to improve the poor prognosis. While many of these treatments are still in the experimental stages, certain therapies have shown success in improving patient survival rates and are making progress toward becoming a standard form of treatment.

A Difficult Disease to Diagnose

The only confirmed cause of mesothelioma is the worldwide use of asbestos; a fibrous mineral that is found throughout the natural environment in soil and rocks. When this mineral is disturbed, thousands of fibers can be released into the air. If inhaled, these fibers can cause internal scarring and may eventually lead to an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma. Although this disease can affect the lining of the heart and abdominal cavity, around 80 percent of cases occur in the lining of the lungs.

The cancer continues to present a challenge for patients and healthcare professionals. In some instances, patients do not know when or how they were exposed to asbestos and mesothelioma symptoms can suppress themselves for over 40 years, making an official diagnosis difficult to pinpoint. Usually, the cancer has progressed to the advanced stages by the time a physician identifies mesothelioma, leaving patients with less than one year to live. While the standard form of treatment includes chemotherapy and radiation, targeted therapies are becoming critical to finding a way to improve survival rate.

More Read

Pill Bottle Warnings Go Unnoticed
Body Pain: Causes, Prevention, And Treatment Tips To Know
Seven Common Plastic Surgery Complications People Tend To Ignore
A Personal Decision: Choosing to Undergo Bariatric Surgery
Body Pain And Chiropractic Care: How Are They Related?

The Breakthrough Behind Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy has made a name for itself within the field of oncology and continues to deliver encouraging outcomes for cancer patients. This treatment uses the body’s own immune system to recognize and fight off cancer cells. There are several forms of immunotherapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, cancer vaccines, and other non-specific immunotherapies.

Drug therapies targeting the PD-L1 protein have demonstrated success for many cancers, including malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) . Studies have found it to be effective for pleural mesothelioma patients as adjuvant drug therapies along with the standard multimodal approach. Pembrolizumab specifically targets PD-L1 and has shown promising results for MPM patients. However, more research is needed to make this a viable option not only for MPM patients, but for patients suffering with any form of mesothelioma.

Lastly, immunotherapy surrounding (CAR) T cells are also in effect for pleural mesothelioma patients, in which the patient’s immune cells are genetically modified to identify certain antigens within cancer cells.

Progress in Gene Therapy

Gene therapy introduces healthy genes into tumor cells to combat cancerous mutations and has shown potential for mesothelioma patients as well. This therapy is ultimately meant to reduce side effects of harsh treatments, such as chemotherapy, and improve their overall success. It’s worth noting that gene therapy has only been FDA-approved since 2017 and is only available through clinical trials.

Popular gene therapy methods for mesothelioma include oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes such as BAP1 and Neurofibromin (NF2). Researchers have specifically focused on a mutation in the tumor suppressor gene known as BAP1, which is often found in the chromosomes of patients who have a genetic predisposition for malignant pleural mesothelioma. There is also some research into “suicide gene therapy,” which is a form of chemotherapy that could target all infected cells through vector application. This would target all cancer cells and effectively kill them off without harming healthy cells, however, it has not been fully developed.

Researchers are also currently looking into immunogene therapy, where genetic material from a virus is used to stimulate a patient’s immune system to destroy cancer cells. Combining these immune stimulants through viral vectors has made some progress among mesothelioma patients, shrinking tumors and stabilizing their conditions.

Many clinical trials are still in the experimental stages and require patients to sign up and be accepted for treatment. This may require a patient to meet specific standards to be eligible, which is why it’s important to discuss your options with your primary physician. Despite the severity of mesothelioma, research among targeted therapies and clinical trials have shown a promising future for patients suffering from this aggressive cancer. Although alternative treatments may not be effective in all cases, it can help doctors determine the best combination of treatments for patients diagnosed with this often fatal disease, among so many others.

TAGGED:cancer treatmentclinical trialsmesothelioma
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Specialties

3 Ways DNA Testing Can Shed Light on Your Health

September 24, 2019

The Top Ten Myths about Heart Disease

August 30, 2011

Urinalysis Via Mobile App

February 28, 2013

Baby Boomer Bop: 15 Great Songs About Aging and Growing Older

July 6, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?