Mesothelioma is one of the most challenging forms of cancer to treat. The rare, asbestos-related disease is notoriously resistant to traditional treatments, leaving few options and short survival times for its victims. But the results of a new study conducted on lung cancer patients may point to a powerful new method of selecting the best possible treatment approach for each patient.
Mesothelioma Patients Have Few Treatment Options
When a person is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, there are few effective treatment options available. The most commonly offered protocol is a multi-modality combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy that has been shown to offer some improvements to quality of life and incremental extensions to overall survival.
In recent years, developments in immunotherapy have offered a new option for mesothelioma patients, and a combination of immunotherapy drugs has been added to the list of FDA-approved treatment protocols. Physicians have struggled to identify which treatment will be most effective for each patient, and with a painfully short period of time to work with, ineffective treatment can cost valuable months of life.
Scientists Identify Genes Within Tumors that Predict Impact of Chemotherapy
A study conducted by researchers at the Francis Crick Institute may offer improved treatment for mesothelioma patients. Working with lung cancer patients, the scientists identified different gene signatures within patients’ tumors that were predictive of whether chemotherapy would benefit the patient or not.
Speaking of their research, which was published in the journal Nature Communications, co-lead author and postdoctoral research scientists Sophie de Carné said, “With many cancer therapies on offer, and more drugs on trial, it is a challenge to predict which treatment has the highest chance of success for a particular patient. Because we know that RAS signaling is involved in various drug-resistance mechanisms, we hope our gene signature will help define groups of patients who could benefit from specific therapies.”
For more information on research that can help those diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
