New phase 2 data suggest immunotherapy could stall mesothelioma progression—and that when it comes to Bristol-Myers Squibb’s checkpoint inhibitors, two might be better than one. Early results unveiled Monday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting showed that Bristol’s PD-1 med Opdivo and CTLA4 drug Yervoy slowed disease growth … [Read more...]
Chest pain and recurrent chylothorax: an unusual presentation of malignant pleural mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma presenting with recurrent chylous effusion is rare. We describe the case of a 34-year-old female Macedonian immigrant who presented with central chest pain and subsequently a left-sided chylous pleural effusion. The diagnosis was made on pleural biopsy via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Our case demonstrates the … [Read more...]
Employee’s Wife May Sue for Her Own Exposure to Asbestos
The widow of an oil company employee who claimed she developed mesothelioma—a type of cancer—after being exposed to asbestos fibers that her husband carried home on his work clothing can sue the company, the California Court of Appeal ruled. The duty of employers to exercise ordinary care in their use of asbestos includes preventing exposure to … [Read more...]
Trial tests nivolumab to combat mesothelioma
A pair of research teams are testing nivolumab to determine if the drug can be used to target mesothelioma. Scientists at the University of Southampton and the University of Leicester are conducting trials at the University of Southampton’s Centre for Cancer Immunology, which will be the UK’s first and only facility dedicated to cancer … [Read more...]
‘This house killed me’: DIY home renovators the third wave of asbestos victims
It was a winter's day when Herman Maifoffer walked out of his home for what he knew would be the last time. He had helped build the small three-bedroom house in Cabramatta where his three children had grown up and where he had lived for 40 years. As he was wheeled into an ambulance, his wife Rosemary asked if he wanted one last look around. … [Read more...]
Immunotherapy may slow growth of relapsed mesothelioma
Nivolumab alone or in combination with ipilimumab demonstrated encouraging activity in patients with relapsed malignant pleural mesothelioma, according to results of the randomized, phase 2 IFCT-1501 MAPS2 trial presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting “Our findings suggest that immunotherapy may provide new hope to patients with relapsed … [Read more...]
Malignant pleural mesothelioma: an update on investigation, diagnosis and treatment
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive malignancy of the pleural surface, predominantly caused by prior asbestos exposure. There is a global epidemic of malignant pleural mesothelioma underway, and incidence rates are predicted to peak in the next few years. This article summarises the epidemiology and pathogenesis of malignant pleural … [Read more...]
Primary pericardial mesothelioma and asbestos exposure: a rare fatal disease
A 73-year-old woman without a history of cardiovascular disease was admitted to the hospital with progressive dyspnoea on exertion during the past several weeks, bilateral lower extremity oedema, orthopnoea and paroxistic nocturnal dyspnoea. She lived a few metres away from a badly preserved building containing asbestos for 50 years. Estimated … [Read more...]
Midkine is a potential novel marker for malignant mesothelioma with different prognostic and diagnostic values from mesothelin
Background We evaluated possible diagnostic and prognostic values of serum midkine in malignant pleural mesothelioma in comparison with those of serum mesothelin, a well-established diagnostic biomarker. Methods Serum mesothelin and midkine levels were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We examined specimens from 95 Turkish … [Read more...]
Asbestos expert warns ageing population will drive surge in mesothelioma deaths
AN ASBESTOS expert has warned that the number of men dying from a lethal lung disease caused by exposure to the mineral is likely to triple over the next 30 years. Robin Howie said official predictions had "vastly underestimated" the death toll from mesothelioma, an incurable cancer, because they fail to take account of future improvements in life … [Read more...]