Mesothelioma Help Cancer News
NYU Langone Researchers Identify Biomarker to Target for New Mesothelioma Treatment
Internationally renowned mesothelioma expert Dr. Harvey Pass has dedicated his career to the treatment, research and advocacy of mesothelioma. He knows that the key to finding a new, effective treatment for mesothelioma requires extensive research focusing on specific genetic characteristics of the disease.
In the September issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Dr. Pass and a team of researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center reported that they did just that and identified a protein that was overexpressed in each of the malignant mesothelioma tumors tested.
The Ephrin type-B receptor 2 (EPHB2) protein, or genetic marker, according to the researchers, was significantly elevated in malignant pleural mesothelioma tumor tissue compared with matched normal peritoneum. The protein was not elevated in benign mesothelial cells. EPHB2 controls a variety of cellular processes including the process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels.
However, when additional blood vessels develop in cancer cells, more food and oxygen are supplied to the cancer cells causing them to grow. Mesothelioma, a fast-growing cancer caused by past asbestos exposure, has limited treatment options, and finding a way to stop metastasis, tumor growth, is critical to improving survival and quality of life in mesothelioma patients.
The study showed that “knockdown” of EPHB2 in mesothelioma cancer cells induced apoptosis, or cell death. This led the researchers to conclude that “targeting EPHB2 might provide a novel therapy to improve the prognosis in people suffering from malignant mesothelioma.”
Dr. Pass, Chief of Thoracic Oncology, NYU Cancer Center and Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery, NYU Langone Medical Center, is a past winner of the Pioneer Award from the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation for his dedication to mesothelioma research.
“We need to believe in a cure. I do think it will happen,” said Dr. Pass upon receiving the Pioneer Award.
This project was partially funded through a grant from Belluck and Fox, LLP. Belluck & Fox, LLP, a nationally recognized New York law firm dedicated to advocacy for mesothelioma patients and their families, is a long-time supporter of Pass and his work. The NYU Langone Medical Center’s Cancer Institute previously purchased a highly advanced molecular analysis system for cancer research with funds donated by Belluck & FoxBelluck & Fox, LLP.
“We know Dr. Pass and his team are fighting for a cure for mesothelioma, and we hope our support will lead to better treatments and, one day, a cure for mesothelioma,” said Joseph Belluck, founding partner of Belluck & Fox, LLP.
Don Smitley Finds Comfort Spending Time with His Dog, Charley
I have mentioned my parents’ dog, Charley, in several posts. It’s time he got some attention! Charley is a five-year-old poodle-terrier mix who has become a light in Mom’s and Dad’s lives. He is sort of goofy (truth be told!) and always makes them laugh and smile.
The relationship between Dad and Charley is an interesting one. Throughout Dad’s mesothelioma, Charley has been his constant companion, never letting Dad out of his sight. He follows both Mom and Dad around the house. But once Mom leaves for work, they become a dynamic duo spending a lot of time playing, walking, watching TV, and napping in the recliner that they share.
Dogs tend to be a lot of company, and Charley is no exception. When you talk to him, he seems to understand every word that you say. So… we all find ourselves carrying on conversations with him from time to time.
He also seems to sense when you’re not feeling your best. Charley is usually pretty hyper, jumping on your lap and demanding attention. It was interesting that when Dad returned from his pleurectomy last February, Charley was extremely gentle and spent a lot of time just resting with him.
My husband and I also have a dog, Gus. He’s been a great source of comfort for us as well, always bringing happiness to our lives. Put Gus and Charley together, and you have a comedy show!
These animals are just one more aspect of our lives that we have to be thankful for. God works in mysterious ways; maybe he brought us our dogs to make us smile and realize that maybe laughter is the best medicine after all!
Nurturing Weekend Retreat for Mesothelioma Patients and Their Families
When dealing with any kind of cancer, especially a rare cancer such as mesothelioma, patients and their families often need emotional support as they come to terms with the diagnosis. While support groups are helpful, they often meet for just one hour weekly or sometimes less often. The Living Well With Cancer weekend workshop, however, offers cancer patients three days of nurturing and healing.
The Living Well conference is held August 16-18 at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York in the Hudson Valley. The lineup of presentations and sessions offer attendees information designed to “educate, and empower you on your cancer journey as you learn how to take care of your body while honoring and embracing all aspects of your humanity,” according to the website.
Presenters during the event include:
- Jeffrey Geffen, oncologist, author of The Journey Through Cancer: Healing and Transforming the Whole Person and the founder of Geffen Visions International, Inc. Geffen developed The Seven Levels of Healing.
- Kathy LaTour, breast cancer survivor, author and performer of her one-woman show, One Mutant Cell.
- Sandra Gilbert, yoga professional and coordinator for YCat: Yoga Therapy in Cancer and Chronic Illness.
- Sharon A. Bray, EdD, writer, educator, and author of two books on writing and health, When Words Heal: Writing Through Cancer and A Healing Journey: Writing Together Through Breast Cancer.
During the two and one-half day conference, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in yoga sessions, and group walks. They will be entertained by comedian Scott Burton, and Kathy LaTour as she performs “One Mutant Cell.” Most importantly, though, cancer patients will learn skills “that create a high-quality life while living with cancer and afterward.”
Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart caused by past exposure to asbestos. Nearly 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer each year. Research has shown that patients who focus on the power of the mind-body connection and choose to be optimistic and positive will realize a higher quality of life and may respond better to treatments. In addition, cancer patients who practice yoga and stay active by walking and getting outside are shown to have less stress and anxiety than those who remain sedentary.
The organizers of the weekend realize that the financial commitment for an event like this may prevent some cancer patients from attending. As a result, tiered pricing is available to help make this affordable for all.
See the Living Well With Cancer website for pricing and registration information.
Do-It-Yourself Home Renovators Urged to be Cautious Around Mesothelioma-Causing Asbestos
The National Safety Council has designated June National Home Safety Month. The organization offers the safety month as a time “to educate and influence behaviors around leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths.” This year’s theme, “Safety Starts with Me,” is especially pertinent for do-it-yourselfers who are at risk for exposure to asbestos. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said, “Asbestos is a human carcinogen with no safe level of exposure.”
Asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and other respiratory diseases. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are entirely preventable by eliminating unsafe asbestos-handling practices. Although most home products today do not contain asbestos, until the 1970s, many types of building products and insulation materials used in home construction contained asbestos. So it’s not uncommon for older houses to have some asbestos.
Common products include steam pipes and furnace ducts insulated with an asbestos blanket or asbestos paper tape, vinyl asbestos floor tiles, soundproofing or decorative material sprayed on walls or ceilings, and asbestos cement roofing shingles.
When asbestos is present in structures it often does not present a hazard unless it is disturbed, causing the fibers to become airborne. When the fibers are breathed into the lungs, they then become lodged in the thin membrane that lines and encases the lungs, leading to respiratory diseases. As a result, it is important for homeowners to be educated about asbestos and to know where to look for information.
The British Lung Foundation (BLF) offers the following questions to ask yourself to avoid exposure to asbestos before beginning any DIY project:
- What is asbestos?
- Where and when was asbestos used?
- What does asbestos look like?
- What if I find asbestos in my home?
- Where can I get all the facts?
Answers to all of these questions can be found on the BLF website.
http://www.blf.org.uk/Home
In 2011, researchers in Australia reported there is an increase in the number of mesothelioma diagnoses and other asbestos-related diseases among do-it-yourself (DIY) home renovators. However, DIYers can take steps to avoid potentially dangerous exposure.
When planning on making renovations or changes to a house that could cause asbestos fibers to be released into the air, it is essential to have a trained professional either encapsulate or remove the asbestos materials first. Asbestos professionals can conduct home inspections, take samples of suspected asbestos material, and design corrective action plans for homeowners.
Close to 3,000 Americans die from the cancer yearly, and just as many are diagnosed with the disease. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
To find out more about National Home Safety Month visit the National Safety Council’s website.
Sources:
- National Home Safety Month
http://www.nsc.org/act/events/Pages/national-safety-month.aspx - (2011, researchers in) Australia
https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2011/195/5/increasing-incidence-malignant-mesothelioma-after-exposure-asbestos-during-home
European Commission Grants Orphan Status to Mesothelioma Drug
Once again the European Union has taken the lead in medical care by granting orphan status to a drug touted as bringing a new treatment option to patients with mesothelioma. On June 13, Verastem, Inc. announced its investigational drug VS-6063 received orphan medicinal product designation from the European Commission for use in mesothelioma.
Last year, the European Commission was applauded for bringing a new era to medicine in the Western world by approving gene therapy for the treatment of certain rare disorders. This approval paved the way for breakthrough treatments for diseases with a very high unmet medical need, such as mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare, highly aggressive cancer that develops over decades after exposure to asbestos. Designated a rare, or orphan, disease in both the United States and Europe, mesothelioma is diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans and nearly 2,400 Brits each year. Britain has more deaths from asbestos-related diseases than any other country. Treatment for the disease is limited and currently, there is no cure for the disease.
Verastem, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat cancer by the targeted killing of cancer stem cells. VS-6063 is indicated for use in mesothelioma patients that are lacking the Merlin protein. Merlin is believed to play a role in controlling cell shape, cell movement, and communication between cells. Merlin also functions as a tumor suppressor protein, which prevents cells from growing and dividing too fast or in an uncontrolled way.
According to Verastem, approximately 40-50% of mesothelioma patients lack Merlin. Studies by Verastem and others have shown that Merlin-low mesothelioma cells and tumors appear to be particularly sensitive to focal adhesion kinase inhibition, or FAK, which VS-6063 addresses.
Verastem held a mesothelioma briefing session with Dr. Dean Fennell at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting held in early June. According to the company’s press release, the discussion focused on the role of cancer stem cells and the tumor suppressor Merlin in mesothelioma progression. Verastem noted that the current mesothelioma treatments fall short when it comes to killing the cancer cells because they do not get to the heart of the cancer cells, the cancer stem cells, which VS-6063 targets. Various studies have shown that cancer stem cells can survive the effects of anti-cancer drugs and continue to grow and divide causing the cancer to metastasize.
“Mesothelioma is a devastating disease with limited treatment options,” said Dr. Joanna Horobin, Verastem Chief Medical Officer. “We are moving quickly to bring new treatment options to patients with mesothelioma.”
Verastem is working in conjunction with LabCorp to develop a biomarker test to identify those mesothelioma patients low in Merlin. In addition to the upcoming mesothelioma study, VS-6063 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/1b trial in combination with paclitaxel in patients with ovarian cancer.
Sources
- Verastem, Inc
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=250749&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1829497&highlight= - American Society of Clinical
http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/mesothelioma/statistics
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