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New developments in mesothelioma research and treatments
Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2011 by admin
Research and development is an ongoing process. In the area of treatment mesothelioma researchers focus on improvement of traditional treatments, as well as facilitate new techniques of patients developed. New chemotherapy agents and combination are now the new hope of mesothelioma patients and increase the survival rate among them. Several recent advances have improved diagnosis and treatment of the incurable disease. Hope for a cure in the near future is therefore not a little surreal.
CT scans
Computed tomography of scans are not only a diagnostic tool in mesothelioma treatment. CT scans enable the surgical team for the precise determination now the location of tumors in the patient's anatomy. This Cytoreduction can be more effective. Reasonable Cytoreduction is essential to improve the chances of survival of patients. The greater the number of tumor cells, which are removed, is less the chances the cancer grows and propagates.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Photodynamic therapy is one of the latest mesothelioma treatments are researched. A Photosensitizer uses PDT. This is a drug which produces active oxygen at a certain wavelength of light. Active oxygen destroyed all the adjacent cells. If the patient with the Photosensitizer (e.g. with Porfimer sodium) is treated, invades the drug the whole body. Remains connected to cancer cells for a longer period but due to the nature of the molecule. Therefore, it is after a period of 24-72 hours, if the agent was removed from the normal cells, the tumor suspended light (usually a laser transfer, carried out the fabric by a fiber cable through an endoscope). Active oxygen destroyed the tumor cells with minimal damage to normal cells. PDT will help shrink tumors also indirectly through the blood vessels that supply tumors to destroy and activation of the immune system against the tumour.
The advantage of PDT is that it can be used repeatedly with far fewer side effects than other treatments. The biggest disadvantage is that the light can achieve typically tumor cells are more than 1 cm deep. PDT is therefore the most effective to the skin cancer and cancer in the lining of the internal organs or cavities found. Fortunately, mesothelioma falls into that category.
Angiogenesis inhibitors
Angiogenesis refers to the development of new blood vessels. Blood vessels is a critical factor in the growth of tumors. All malignant tumors develop their own circulatory system, the nutrients from the blood of tumor, its growth is. Control the development of this cardiovascular systems was an important strategy in the fight against Mesothelioma Cancer. Angiogenesis inhibitors are drugs that block angiogenesis. This cuts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tumor, whose Wachstum is immediately suspended.
The advantage of angiogenesis inhibitors is that they don't like the most other chemotherapy drugs are toxic. You can be given to the patient to continuously and are thus more effective in the fight against cancer. An example of an anti-angiogenic therapy under clinical trial for mesothelioma is bevacizumab (AVASTIN).
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Category Article developments, Mesothelioma, research, treatments