A new study published in JAMA Network Open gives hope that a specific class of cholesterol-lowering drugs may boost the effectiveness of immunotherapy in ways that could benefit mesothelioma patients. Researchers found that patients with certain cancers treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors—the same class of drugs FDA-approved for mesothelioma—who also took PCSK9 inhibitors had a
Mesothelioma surgery is one of the most demanding procedures in thoracic oncology, and that’s why the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol is so important for those diagnosed with this rare, asbestos-related disease. ERAS is a multidisciplinary, evidence-based framework for patient care designed to minimize the physical stress of major surgery, to reduce complications, and
Despite opposition from mesothelioma and asbestos injury claimants, a U.S. bankruptcy judge has granted recognition of Canadian company Asbestos Corp. Ltd.’s bankruptcy filing. The victims of exposure to the Quebec asbestos mining company’s products argued that allowing the foreign case to move forward would deprive them of due process and a fair hearing. The company
A major international study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology reveals that specific genetic mutations in mesothelioma tumors significantly influence patient survival and, when combined with traditional staging, can improve the accuracy of survival predictions. This new information may impact how doctors predict outcomes and create treatment plans for the rare, asbestos-related cancer.
The University of Chicago is conducting a clinical trial testing whether partial pleurectomy and decortication can help relieve symptoms for mesothelioma patients whose cancer can’t be completely removed. If the results are positive, it will offer significantly improved quality of life, even when the rare, asbestos-related cancer is too advanced or inaccessible for curative surgery.
A comprehensive study analyzing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related deaths in the Americas from 1990 to 2023 shows that, though North America had the highest mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancer burden in 2023, incidence rates are also declining rapidly. At the same time, the report showed that there’s been an alarming increase among women in Southern Latin
Pleural mesothelioma surgery presents several risks, including a much higher risk of blood clots than in patients undergoing other surgeries. In a recent study, researchers from Harvard University identified biomarkers that could predict which mesothelioma patients face the highest risk. This discovery could reduce the current 11% mortality rate from post-operative venous thromboembolism (VTE) that
A large, multi-institutional analysis using the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) staging database shows that molecular alterations in mesothelioma cells significantly influence survival. Tracking these changes may also improve the ability to predict survival beyond what is currently being used for these assessments.
The USS Harold J. Ellison (DD-864) was a Gearing-class destroyer launched and commissioned in 1945. Over nearly four decades, her deployments included Cold War peacekeeping operations, combat duty in Vietnam, and participation in the early American space program. Unfortunately, those years also saw her crew members exposed to the many asbestos-containing materials found throughout the
The USS Harwood (DD/DDE-861) was a Gearing-class destroyer launched and commissioned in 1945. The ship served in the Far East, was sent on Cold War Mediterranean deployments, and participated in intense combat during the Vietnam War. Though many of these engagements put her crew at risk, perhaps the greatest hazard faced by those onboard was