Mesothelioma Research

Mesothelioma research is an important part of winning our fight against this type of cancer. Though we are continually gaining new information and advancing towards our goals, there is still a lot of mesothelioma research needed.

Though a, like lung cancer, we have identified a major cause of mesothelioma. It is now known that exposure to asbestos is a factor in the development of this type of cancer. However, just as some individuals ignore the harmful affects of smoking, some countries have not put into place strict enough regulations to protect individuals from exposure.

On a brighter note, there is hope for individuals who are worried about this awful disease. There are three treatment methods currently undergoing mesothelioma research. multimodality therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy are on the foreground of mesothelioma research.

Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy have been used in mesothelioma treatment for some time. Multimodality therapy is a combination of those treatments put together as sort of an all around treatment strategy. These combinations and new chemotherapies are currently being conducted during mesothelioma research.

Gene therapy is also a new approach discovered during mesothelioma research. This new treatment is different in that it works by introducing a modified virus into the mesothelioma cells that effectively weakens the cell’s defenses. The cells are then more susceptible to drugs that would otherwise be unsuccessful.

Immunotherapy is fairly simple. As the name suggests, it is an approach that acts to strengthen the body’s immune system. In some instances substances that act in the same manner as hormones have been found to trigger an immune response.

Many strides are being made in mesothelioma research, but the road is long and the best way to fight mesothelioma is to stay informed, stay away from asbestos, and keep a watchful eye for symptoms of any health problems.