Malignant
Mesothelioma due to Environmental Exposure to Asbestos: Follow-Up of
a Turkish Cohort Living in a Rural Area, Metintas S, Metintas M, Ucgun
I, Oner U. Chest, 2002 Dec;122(6):2224-9.
This article describes a study of the incidence of malignant plural mesothelioma
in 11 Turkish villages. The villagers had been environmentally exposed to
asbestos through the use of asbestos-contaminated soil mixtures known as
white soil. The results of the study were compared to the incidence of MPM
through occupational exposure and between women and men as determined in
previous studies throughout the world.
Women
and Mesothelioma, Smith DD. Chest, 2002 Dec;122(6):1885-6.
This is a discussion of the results of a study to determine the incidence
of malignant pleural mesothelioma due to environmental exposure to asbestos-contaminated
soil mixtures in regions of Turkey. The relative risk of MPM was found to
be greater in women than in men. The discussion centers around the possible
explanations for the higher risk levels fond for women in the Turkish study
versus higher risk levels found for men in previous North American, Australian,
and European studies.
Trends
in U.S. Pleural Mesothelioma Incidence Rates Following Simian Virus 40
Contamination of Early Poliovirus Vaccines, Strickler HD, Goedert JJ,
Devesa SS, Lahey J, Fraumeni JF Jr, Rosenberg PS. J Natl Cancer Inst, 2003
Jan 1;95(1):38-45.
Simian virus 40 DNA sequences have reportedly been detected in pleural mesotheliomas.
This article examines the incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma in
patients who were exposed to polio vaccines contaminated with the simian
virus 40. No increased incidence of MPM was found.
Diffuse
Malignant Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum and Pleura, Analysis of Markers,
Jacqueline K Trupiano, Kim R Geisinger, Mark C Willingham, Paul Manders,
Nora Zbieranski, Doug Case and Edward A Levine. Modern Pathology,
(2004) 17, 476-481.
In this study, the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) expression was
more pronounced in peritoneal tumors compared to pleural tumors. The increased
expression
of EGFR in the peritoneal lesions may be of clinical significance with the
recent emergence of epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapies.
Phase II Study
of Pemetrexed With and Without Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 as Front-Line
Therapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, Giorgio V. Scagliotti,
Dong-M. Shin, Hedy L. Kindler, Michael J. Vasconcelles, Uwe Keppler,
Christian Manegold, Howard Burris, Ulrich Gatzemeier, Johannes
Blatter, James T. Symanowski, James J. Rusthoven. Journal of Clinical
Oncology,
2003 April; 121 (8): 1556-1561.
Single-agent pemetrexed (Alimta) resulted in moderate response rates and
was well-tolerated, particularly in patients who received low-dose folic
acid and vitamin B12 supplements.
Activity
of chemotherapy and immunotherapy on malignant mesothelioma: a systematic
review of the literature with meta-analysis, Berghmans T, Paesmans
M, Lalami Y, Louviaux I, Luce S, Mascaux C, Meert AP, Sculier JP. Lung
Cancer, 2002 Nov;38(2):111-21.
This article reviews studies involving chemotherapy or immunotherapy in
malignant mesothelioma that were published between 1965 and mid 2001. The
methods of evaluation are described in detail throughout the article. A combination
of the chemotherapy drugs cisplatin and doxorubicin produced the highest
antitumoral response rate. Cisplatin was the most active single-agent treatment.
Chemotherapy
for malignant pleural mesothelioma: past results and recent developments,
Tomek S, Emri S, Krejcy K, Manegold C. Br J Cancer, 2003 Jan 27;88(2):167-74.
This article describes the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of mesothelioma
and summarizes the results of phase I, II and III studies on the newest chemotherapy
drugs
Alimta
(pemetrexed disodium): a multitargeted antifolate for the treatment
of mesothelioma, Green MR. Lung Cancer, 2002 Nov;38 Suppl 2:S55-7.
The results of phase I and II studies of pemetrexed disodium are described
in this article. The results of phase III were presented at ASCO 2002.
Interferons
and Their Application in the Diseases of the Lung, Antoniou KM, Ferdoutsis
E, Bouros D. Chest, 2003 Jan;123(1):209-16.
This is a review of a family of cytokine mediators known as interferons
(INF’s) and their clinical use in the treatment of patients with diseases
of the lungs including malignant pleural mesothelioma. Interferons are derived
form human cells and normally fight viral infections by preventing the multiplication
of viruses in cells. Two types of interferons have been used in studies involving
patients with MPM. One type has potential anti-tumor properties and may reduce
other systemic manifestations of the disease possibly by altering the behavior
of malignant cells. The second type of interferon was used in combination
with other chemicals and also produced positive results.
Inactivation
of p16INK4a expression in malignant mesothelioma by methylation,
Wong L, Zhou J, Anderson D, Kratzke RA. Lung Cancer, 2002 Nov;38(2):131-6.
A common abnormality in the structure of chromosomes in mesothelioma cell
lines and tumors involves disruption of certain gene products which help
to regulate cell cycles. This article focuses on the loss of one of these
gene products, p16INK4a (a protein) through a process called methylation.
Re-expression of this protein can be brought about by a process called hypermethylation.
This process was studied as a potential therapeutic target for mesothelioma
treatment.
Experimental
photodynamic therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma with pagylated
mTHPC, Krueger T, Altermatt HJ, Mettler D, Scholl B, Magnusson L, Ris
HB. Lasers Surg Med, 2003;32(1):61-8.
Photodynamic therapy destroys cancer cells through a chemical reaction caused
by the interaction between laser light and a chemical substance that makes
cells more sensitive to light. This article describes an experiment using
a particular substance called PEG-mTHPC.
Ifosfamide,
carboplatin and etoposide combined with 41.8 degrees D whole body hyperthermia
for malignant pleural mesothelioma, Bakhshandeh A, Bruns I, Traynor
A, Robins HI, Eberhardt K, Demedts A, Kaukel E, Koschel G, Gatzemeier U,
Kohlmann T, Dalhoff K, Ehlers EM, Gruber Y, Zumschlinge R, Hegewisch-Becker
S, Peters SO, Wiedemann GJ. Medical University of Lubeck, Ratzeburger Allee
160, 23538, Luebeck, Germany.
In this phase II study, three chemotherapy drugs were administered while
the patient’s body temperature was elevated to 41.8 degrees C. The
article discusses the results of the study.
Surgical
Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, van Ruth S, Baas P, Zoetmulder
FA. Chest, 2003 Feb;123(2):551-61.
Treatment for mesothelioma can involve surgery alone or in combination with
external radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or photodynamic therapy. This article
describes the different surgical procedures and their effectiveness as well
as the effectiveness of surgery in combination with other therapies.
Cytoreductive
surgery combined with intraoperative hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy
for stage I malignant pleural mesothelioma, van Ruth S, Baas P, Haas
RL, Rutgers EJ, Verwaal VJ, Zoetmulder FA. Ann Surg Oncol, 2003 Mar-Apr;10(2):176-82.
This article describes a study involving a surgical process combined with
chemotherapy. This surgery was performed with the intent of reducing the
size of the cancerous tumor. Chemotherapy is performed during surgery by
pouring warm chemicals into the chest cavity and leaving them for 90 minutes.