New Treatment Option for Mesothelioma Patients May Extend Survival Time

Malignant mesothelioma sufferers may find relief in the form of a vaccine. British scientists at Liverpool University are researching the effectiveness of a vaccine studied on pancreatic patients. Dubbed the "TeloVac jab," the vaccine is part of a set of new drugs that use the body's own defense system to kill cancer cells.

The vaccine works by using the human body's own defense. This enzyme strengthens cancer cells to be invulnerable, allowing them to divide and spread. Coordinator of the British clinical trial, Liverpool University Professor Neoptolemos, said that the results are looking very promising. Many subjects in the trial have asserted that the treatment added extra years to their lives. However, conclusive results of the study are not yet available. Presently, there are 1,000 people with late-stage pancreatic cancer who are engaging in the study.

The scientists hope that the vaccine will be an effective option for treatment against other cancers such as skin, liver, and lung, resulting in an amazing universal vaccine that can be applied in many different situations and patients.

Dr. The founder of the Korean company, GemVax, that is developing the TeloVac vaccine, Jay Sangjae Kim, said they "strongly believe this has the potential to overcome the limits of other current cancer vaccines and become part of the standard of care not only for pancreatic cancer but for various other types of cancers."

Mesothelioma and pancreatic cancer are two of the most aggressive forms of cancer with few treatment options. Although chemotherapy and radiation can ease the symptoms of the patients, the cancers metastasize too quickly, leaving them with minimal survival time. Furthermore, people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma may not see or feel any symptoms for up to thirty years after they were first exposed to asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos is the most common cause of mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers are consumed or inhaled they become lodged in the linings of the lungs, abdomen, and heart. Once this happens, these tissues become inflamed, causing mutations in the genes and resulting in unrestricted cell growth and division. Victims who are diagnosed with stage three or higher are only estimated to live from around six months to a year, and many who are diagnosed fit into this group.

Mesothelioma cancer is most commonly found in construction workers from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, when asbestos was utilized most often as ceiling tiles, insulation, and floors.

A couple of clinical tests, including a hopeful one from the Memorial-Sloan Cancer Center, have been done to find a vaccine for people who have been exposed to asbestos to help prevent mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Up to now, none are available outside of clinical trials.

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