Category: Treatments
Pairing Machine Learning with PET Scans Can Help Predict Mesothelioma Outcomes
The EJNMMI Research medical journal recently published an article entitled “FDG PET versus CT radiomics to predict outcome in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients” that outlines a study wherein 72 patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) at the University Hospital Zurich underwent pre-treatment FDG PET and CT scans alongside curative treatments. In the study, Swiss researchers discovered that using machine-learning radiomics models in conjunction with PET scans to track tumor progress can help doctors better predict outcomes of malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and makes up 60 to 70 percent of all cases. MPM occurs when tumors develop in the lining of the lungs and chest cavity (called the pleura).
To obtain imaging that will help them diagnose mesothelioma and prescribe treatment for patients, doctors use both CT scans, which combine several x-ray scans from different angles, and PET scans, which use a radioactive tracing fluid to demonstrate tissue and organ functions.
While they did not have the same results with CT scans, the Swiss research team was able to develop a quantitative model using machine learning to more effectively analyze PET scans and predict the movement of tumors.
Because treating mesothelioma often involves varying approaches and exposes patients to many chemicals, it is critical that doctors are able to determine a course of action for each patient that is most responsive to their individual cancer. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that spreads rapidly, so it is imperative that patients begin receiving treatment as quickly as possible.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, reach out today for a free consultation. Our experts can assist you with medical resources as well as options for compensation from those responsible.
Mesothelioma Patients Can Safely Get Treatment Through Telehealth and Video
The COVID-19 virus has disrupted all of our lives and routines. Things that we always did and places we always went are no longer available. The pandemic has forced us to all look at things we routinely do and challenged us to do them differently.
Like in business, in medicine sometimes small disruptions can lead to larger innovative changes. In the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, disruptors have led the way. Over the years we have seen doctors challenging the previously held belief that there was no treatment for malignant mesothelioma time and time again. The treatment options and longer quality of life that many mesothelioma patients are now able to be part of was not an option 20 years ago.
Before the pandemic, having a doctor’s visit for the vast majority of people involved going to the office or clinic at an appointed time, waiting, and meeting with the doctor. Patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma had the option of travelling to a Mesothelioma Center of Excellence to consult with experts in the field. Since the pandemic, with social isolation and doctors offices and clinics closed to prevent the spread of the virus, there has been a surge of tele-health visits.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for the Advancement of Telehealth promotes the use of telehealth technology for health care. Their definition of tele-health is “the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration. Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications.”
In 2018, tele-health was 0.1 percent of all medical claims filed. Since the pandemic those numbers are exploding.
Tele-health has made possible consults and reviewing of scans and meetings with mesothelioma experts. As things are starting to open back up, so are the patients coming back to the mesothelioma centers for in-person consultations.
Like any new technology telehealth has pros and cons. Some people have commented that you have the MD’s full attention without the distractions of an office and other responsibilities. Other people have missed the personal interaction and meeting in person with their doctor.
The coronavirus has brought to the forefront a technology that can benefit a lot of people as they search for the best advanced personalized care for themselves or loved ones with mesothelioma. Tele-health can help malignant mesothelioma patients connect with a mesothelioma center without having to travel. It will take awhile to assess how tele-health will be accessed and have the best results for patients. For patients, their satisfaction with tele-health will need to be studied and evaluated to continue to efficiently access tele-health with the best results.
If you or a family member is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma reach out, either electronically or in person for the best possible care. Our experts can help connect you with both the medical and legal resources you need to move forward.
New Study Shows LMB-100 Can Be Even More Effective Paired with Keytruda for Mesothelioma Treatment
A new study published by the Science Translational Medicine journal showed that, for a small cohort, LMB-100 could be even more effective when paired with Keytruda for treating patients with mesothelioma. Researchers saw a median survival rate of almost a year, with a handful of clinical trial participants continuing to show progress after more than three years.
Following this success, the National Cancer Institute is currently accepting clinical trial participants for phase 2 of the study.
LMB-100 is an immunotoxin drug designed to help the immune system find and destroy cancer and mesothelioma cells.
Keytruda, an antibody drug used in cancer immunotherapy manufactured by Merck and also known as Pembrolizumab, has been approved by the FDA over the years for several treatments including solid tumor cancers and non-small cell lung cancer.
The study showed that patients taking both LMB-100 and Keytruda (pembrolizumab) could result in more effective treatment.
“In some of the patients, receiving pembrolizumab after LMB-100 resulted in greater efficacy than what would be expected from pembrolizumab alone,” said Raffit Hassan, M.D., Chief of the Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch at the National Cancer Institute.
Patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma are encouraged to speak with their oncologist or consult with a Mesothelioma Center of Excellence to determine whether Keytruda or other medications can be an effective treatment, or whether they might be a candidate for a clinical trial. We at MesotheliomaHelp.org are always available to assist you.
Keytruda Approved by FDA for Further Potential Treatments of Mesothelioma
Keytruda, an antibody drug used in cancer immunotherapy manufactured by Merck and also known as Pembrolizumab, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of solid tumor cancers. Previously, the drug had only been approved to treat non-small cell lung cancer. This is an important development for certain mesothelioma patients.
In a press release, the FDA said that clinical trials showed an effective response rate for 29 percent of patients with mesothelioma and other applicable tumors that displayed high levels of mutation. While there is still no cure for mesothelioma, of those who participated in the trial, half saw a benefit for an additional year, while the other half demonstrated benefit for an additional two years.
The drug works by targeting the cellular pathway of proteins found on the body’s immune cells and some cancer cells. By blocking this pathway, Keytruda may help the body’s immune system fight cancer cells.
The previous FDA approval in 2015 came after a U.S. clinical trial found Keytruda to be effective in controlling mesothelioma tumors in three-fourths of patients, leading researchers to say the results are “encouraging.”
Like lung cancer, pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is challenging to treat. Pleural mesothelioma can take decades to display symptoms and can leave patients with life-threatening complications. The asbestos-caused cancer affects the lining of the lungs and often leaves patients with less than 18 months to live after diagnosis.
Patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma are encouraged to speak with their oncologist or consult with a Mesothelioma Center of Excellence to determine whether Keytruda can be an effective treatment. We at MesotheliomaHelp.org are always available to assist you.
New Treatment Using Transarterial Chemoperfusion Shows Promise for Mesothelioma Patients
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