Drug Improves Long-Term Heart Health for Child Cancer Patients

Child cancer patients who have been treated with the chemotherapy drug anthracycline are three times more likely to suffer from cardiac death 30 years after treatment than children not treated with the drug. Now, a complementary drug given during the time of chemotherapy has been shown to significantly improve long-term heart health, according to researchers of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Childhood ALL Consortium.

Anthracycline is a common class of cancer drug that is used to treat everything from leukemias and lymphomas to breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer. In child cancer cases, anthracycline drugs such as doxorubicin are commonly associated with the treatment of such cancers as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). More than half of all child cancer patients receive treatment via anthracycline.

While often remarkably effective, anthracycline results in internal oxidation that can damage the tissue of the heart. However, the Dana-Farber study shows that patients given dexrazoxane in combination with doxorubicin maintained healthy heart function well beyond the time of treatment.

Just as important, dexrazoxane does not appear to reduce the effectiveness of anthracycline chemotherapy treatments.

These findings are based on a 15-year study led by Dr. Steven Lipshultz of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. From 1996 to 2000, he and his colleagues enlisted 205 child cancer patients to take part in the study. Over those four years, patients were split into two groups – one that received a high-dose of doxorubicin only and one that received an infusion of dexrazoxane prior to doxorubicin treatment.

For the next several years, the research team followed up with patients by monitoring their heart function with the help of echocardiograph equipment. Each patient’s heart health was compared to age-appropriate predicted measurements.

At the 5-year follow-up mark, children given dexrazoxane showed no statistically significant differences in heart function when compared to healthy peers. In contrast, patients who received doxorubicin alone were found to have significantly reduced heart function.

When looking at gender of patients, researchers report that females may enjoy greater benefits from dexrazoxane than males. This may be due to the fact that anthracycline has historically been more detrimental to female hearts than male hearts.

Previous studies have shown the short-term benefits of dexrazoxane in relation to heart health. Additional long-term follow-ups are required to further validate the efficacy and effectiveness of dexrazoxane over the long-term. Dr. Lipshultz also encourages researchers to initiate cooperative group trials that expand the study beyond the small scale.

Findings of the study were published in the September 16th online edition of Lancet Oncology. The research was funded in part by the National Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Survivorship.

Source:
http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/092110/page2

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 28th, 2010 at 4:05 pm and is filed under cancer treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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Legal Options & Rights for Mesothelioma Patients

Many Americans are diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer every year. The overwhelming amount of cases is due to wrongdoing on the part of asbestos manufacturers and those that made profits from its use. Citizens that have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer must know the legal options and rights for Mesothelioma patients. Of late, Mesothelioma cancer lawsuits have helped many with monetary compensation to assist with the high medical cost associated with the illness, lost revenue and punitive damages.

Mesothelioma cancer, which only known cause is asbestos exposure, is caused by the abhorrent behavior of corporations and firms that manufactured asbestos containing products and knew of the risks of asbestos exposure. However, these entities decided to ignore this fact and keep it from their employees. They also hid this fact from the public. It is has been establish in U.S. courts that manufactures of asbestos containing products knew of the dangers of the substance since the early part of the last century.

In the 1930s and 1940s, researchers and doctors recorded the fact that asbestos exposure lead to lung disease and deadly cancers. After asbestos manufactures became aware of this, many chose not to stop using the material due to the profits involved with asbestos materials. Mesothelioma lawsuits exist now because of this historic legal fact. They are justice for the dishonest deeds of asbestos producers and they insure that these culprits are held accountable for the suffering of Mesothelioma cancer victims.

The majority of those diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer have the legal the right to seek compensation by filing a Mesothelioma lawsuit. Filing a Mesothelioma lawsuit against a corporation that caused the asbestos exposure can get them compensation in these areas:

Medical costsPain and sufferingLost incomeDamages

A Mesothelioma attorney can look into many expenses that maybe covered under a Mesothelioma lawsuit. It is very important that Mesothelioma cancer sufferers keep medical and financial records, which concern the cancer because of this. Presenting these records the attorneys and answering questions should be the only thing a victim needs to do. A proper Mesothelioma attorney will be able to handle everything else.

In order to be fully aware of the Legal Options and Rights for Mesothelioma Patients they must retain and stay in contact with a Mesothelioma lawsuit attorney and take heed to his or her instructions and advice. They are the experts in this field. To understand the legal rights and options related to a Mesothelioma lawsuit find a law firm that specializes in these lawsuits today.

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Mesothelioma relapse patients may benefit from pemetrexed-based treatment

Italian researchers are testing pemetrexed-based drugs as a second-line treatment option for mesothelioma relapse. Pemetrexed inhibits cellular formation of DNA and RNA, which cells need to survive and to grow. A study published in medical journal, Lung Cancer, covered study details.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of lung lining and lining of other abdominal cavities. It is caused almost exclusively by asbestos fibers, which, once inhaled, can begin a mutation process leading to growth of irregular malignant tumors. Mesothelioma affects a rising fifteen to twenty thousand people worldwide; it is believed that thousands of additional cases go unreported, particularly in developing countries where asbestos use high and minimally regulated.

Mesothelioma is characterized by a long latency period, between twenty and fifty years. When symptoms demonstrate they include coughing, wheezing and signs reflective of a respiratory infection. Mesothelioma treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and palliative care. There is no known cure for mesothelioma.

In the Italian study, researchers specifically found that pemetrexed drugs benefited mesothelioma patients as a second-line treatment when the same patient had benefited from same-type first-line treatments.

Thirty-one patients who had received pemetrexed-based drugs for mesothelioma at least once before where administered the same drug for relapse occurrences between 2004 and 2009. All of these patients were 3 months or more beyond their last treatments. Fifteen received pemetrexed-based drugs alone, while 16 were treated with a combination of pemetrexed-based and the current standard platinum-based drugs.

Forty-eight percent of patients tested showed shrunken tumors or tumors that had stopped growing. A 10.5 month average progression-free survival time also followed for the 48% of patients responding well to treatments. This additional survival time was consistent for patients who had experienced an average of 12 months progression-free survival time following first-line same-type treatments. Patients that did not experience as much as 12 months progression-free survival time after first-line treatments averaged only 2.5 months following second-line same-type treatments.

A Japanese study published in the International Journal of Clinical Oncology reported similar findings. Patients who responded well to pemetrexed-based drugs as a first-line treatment benefited from the same type second-line treatments.

Study authors concluded, however, that more research is necessary to better decide how to treat relapse in mesothelioma cases.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 18th, 2011 at 8:14 AM and is filed under General, Treatments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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50 Percent of Cancer Patients May Benefit From Oxygen-Carrying Compounds

Engineered proteins that help carry oxygen to cancer tumors may improve the odds of successful treatment for approximately half of all cancer patients. Scientists have long known that low levels of oxygen are a main source of a tumor’s resistance to radiation.

It is estimated that 50 percent of all cancer patients have tumors that exhibit insufficient oxygen levels (a state referred to as hypoxia). Now, a small startup based out of San Francisco known as Omniox is working to improve the effectiveness of current radiation treatments through the use of oxygen-carrying compounds.

Previous studies suggest that the vast majority of cancer tumors exhibit hypoxic regions. These oxygen-starved regions occur due to the rapid growth of tumor cells. As the tumor grows, it requires higher and higher levels of oxygen-rich blood to properly feed the growth of cells. To accomplish this, the tumor stimulates the growth of new blood vessels.

However, the growth of new blood vessels often has difficulty keeping up with the growth of the tumor. Such a fact reduces the effectiveness of radiation – a treatment option that relies heavily on the flow of oxygen.

Radiation therapy works by generating free radicals within the body that damage and kill tumor cells. Since free radicals require oxygen to survive, a hypoxic region often receives insufficient damage to completely kill off the tumor.

The issue of improving oxygen flow to tumors has been studied since the 1950s. Unfortunately, a variety of attempted solutions have proven unsuccessful. Omniox hopes to reverse this trend with the introduction of oxygen-carrying proteins.

These proteins have been augmented to cling to oxygen molecules and hold onto them until they have arrived inside hypoxic tissue. These proteins differ from previous oxygen-carrying options in that the proteins are not based on hemoglobin. Hemoglobin has previously been identified as unsuccessful because nitric oxide (an oxygen-killing material) also clings to such molecules.

Previous studies have shown that Onniox’s proteins effectively accumulate in the tumors of living animals and serve to improve oxygen levels in hypoxic regions.

The National Cancer Institute is working in conjunction with Omniox to further develop and research the oxygen-carrying proteins. The NCI recently awarded the startup with $3 million in funding.

Source:

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/26772/page2/

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New Site Launched for Mesothelioma Patients

The mesothelioma law firm of Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason is pleased to announce the launch of its new and improved website located at http://www.mesothelioma-attorney.com/.  The new site offers even more comprehensive information about exposure to asbestos, the dangers of asbestos, and sites where exposure most commonly occurred in the United States.   The new site is easier to access, has more in-depth articles and headline news, and includes everything one would need to know in terms of mesothelioma treatments and helping patients diagnosed with an asbestos related disease.

In addition, the new website has a dedicated section to veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma.  This section was created as part of an ongoing effort to provide veterans exposed to asbestos with the necessary legal information regarding how to receive compensation and help with medical costs if diagnosed with an asbestos related disease due to time in service.  Thousands if not millions of veterans from all branches of the U.S. military services, including Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Army, were exposed to asbestos during the course of duty.

The Veterans Health Administration can help provide some assistance to retired servicemen diagnosed with asbestos related illnesses, but it can also be very challenging to get compensation from the VA in a timely and successful manner.  An experienced asbestos law firm can help you explore whether filing a VA claim or a mesothelioma lawsuit directly against the manufacturers of the asbestos products that made you sick is the best option given your circumstances.

Clapper Patti Schweizer & Mason specializes in asbestos lawsuits and has received hundreds of settlements and multi-million dollar awards on behalf of clients diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases.  If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our hearts go out to you as we have witnessed how devastating and challenging this cancer and its treatment can be.  Please visit our new site and contact our offices for support, referrals, and expert legal representation.

Clapper Patti Schweizer & Mason website was designed and implement by our marketing team, WebSight Design, who are dedicated to providing up-to-date and helpful information to our clients in the most user-friendly way.  We encourage you to visit our new site.  If you have any questions regarding our services or our new site, please call toll free at 1-866-784-1148 or fill out the “Free Evaluation” form on the home page.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 27th, 2010 at 9:37 am and is filed under Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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What can affect life Expectancy of Mesothelioma Patients?

There are various factors that can affect the prognosis and life expectancy (survival) of mesothelioma patients. Some of the factors have greater affect on the survival of mesothelioma patients than others. The common factors that influence survival and life expectancy of a mesothelioma patiets are:

Type of mesothelioma:

Generally three types of mesothelioma are common and they are pleural, peritoneal (lining of abdomen) and pericardial (covering of heart is known as pericardium) mesothelioma. There can also be other uncommon types of mesothelioma like testicular mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the commonest type which affects the pleura or the lining or the coverings of lungs. Generally patients with pleural mesothelioma lives longer, because it is the commonest form of mesothelioma and most of the research and treatment studies are done on pleural mesothelioma in compare to other less common types.

Age of patient at diagnosis:

Most (more than 75% of total) of the mesothelioma cases occur in older age group of 55 years or above. But recent reports suggest that the average age of onset of mesothelioma is declining, may be due to mesothelioma occurring in secondary exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma occurring in older individuals may succumb to the disease earlier than younger patients due to associated chronic and severe diseases like heart disease or chronic lung disease. The general health condition of older people also less favorable for better prognosis and better life expectancy.

Smoking:

Smoking can reduce the life expectancy of mesothelioma patient to a great extent, especially in pleural mesothelioma patients. Smoking can affect the disease process in a negative way. The ill effects of smoking on health are well known to all.

The period taken to develop mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos also affects the prognosis and life expectancy of mesothelioma patienst. Sometimes it may take more than 30 years after the last exposure to asbestos to develop mesothelioma. The long latency period can cause difficulty in diagnosing the disease as well as delay in diagnosis. Most of the cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed when it is in the last stage when it may not be amenable to surgery. If diagnosis is in the late stage generally the treatment is only palliative to reduce suffering.

Psychological aspect:

The psychological status of the mesothelioma patient can influence the life expectancy (at least to some extent) of mesothelioma patient, as is the case in most of the chronic and serious diseases. A patient with sound psychology to withstand the serious disease like mesothelioma can have a positive effect on the outcome.

Other associated chronic and serious diseases as well as the type of symptoms mesothelioma produce can affect the prognosis and quality of life of patient.

Categories: Mesothelioma  Tags:

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Female Mesothelioma Patients Live Longer After Surgery

Mesothelioma Law Blog: Female Mesothelioma Patients Live Longer After Surgery Mesothelioma Law Blog« Test May Detect Mesothelioma |Main| Mesothelioma Treatment Improved with the Addition of Tomudex to Cisplatin Therapy »

Female Mesothelioma Patients Live Longer After Surgery

According to researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, women with malignant pleural mesothelioma may have a greater survival rate after surgery than men.

Though men tend to develop the deadly cancer more than women, women are still at risk for mesothelioma due to “second hand” asbestos. Rather than being directly exposed to asbestos fibers through industrial jobs, such as ship building or military service , women sometimes develop the cancer through asbestos fibers their husbands bring home on their clothing after work. When the wife does the laundry, sits with her husband at dinner, or even gives him a hug when he comes home, she may be exposed to the asbestos fibers on her husband’s clothing and, sadly, at risk for mesothelioma.

The Brigham and Women’s study found that women with epithelial malignant pleural mesothelioma, meaning a cancer of the epithelial tissue, a membrane that lines that lung, survive longer than men of the same age with the cancer.

Source

October 04, 2010 in Mesotheliom Research | Permalink

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