As patients diagnosed with mesothelioma hold out hope, doctors, researchers and other medical professionals are seeking various treatments to fight the progression of the deadly cancer. In recent findings, a drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of alcoholism may have the ability to fight off malignant mesothelioma tumors as well. Any effective cancer fighting measures could have the impact of improving and prolonging life for a victim. Mesothelioma continues to be one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and is often unresponsive to traditional therapies.
Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest forms of cancer and is caused by asbestos exposure. Victims may have been exposed to asbestos years or even decades before they learn that the asbestos has led to a cancer diagnosis. Our Boston mesothelioma attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of victims and helping patients recover maximum coverage after asbestos exposure. We will investigate your case, identify potential sources of exposure and pursue compensation from responsible entities. Our priority is helping victims recover the financial compensation they deserve and in raising awareness to prevent future cases of mesothelioma.
Treatment of mesothelioma can be challenging and most doctors will resort to conventional forms of therapy including chemo. Now, an FDA approved drug, Disulfiram, also sold under the brand name Antabuse, may have the ability to fight mesothelioma tumors. The drug traditionally blogs the processing of alcohol in the body. New studies suggest that the drug has the ability to bind to copper, a mineral that is elevated in the blood of cancer patients. Binding with copper has the effect of anti-tumor properties and may make dangerous cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapy.
A team of cancer researchers at Wayne State University in Detroit administered the drug to mice afflicted by human mesothelioma. The injections inhibited the growth of the malignant tumors and triggered cancer destroying mechanisms in the test tube. The researchers have summarized their new findings in a PLoS One journal report. The authors see the findings as having huge potential in battling mesothelioma cells and using the drug as a potential cancer fighting agent.
Disulfiram has been used since the 1920s to fight alcoholism and to help addicts in the recovery process. Since then, it has been studied and applied in research to fight cocaine addiction, other forms of cancer, as well as AIDS and HIV infection. While the drug may give patients hope for potential future treatments, it is not yet available for this use in human subjects. Individuals who are suffering from mesothelioma should consult with their doctors to identify the best course of action in treating pleural mesothelioma.
Every year, 2,500 U.S. patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Patients who are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma are often given a grave prognosis and mere months or a few years to live. Mesothelioma is a rare, but dangerous cancer that is fatal in most cases. It is an aggressive form of cancer that starts in the lungs and its mortality rate has made it one of the most widely studied forms of cancer.
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential appointment at (617) 777-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Low Levels of Asbestos Exposure Can Cause Mesothelioma, Jan. 2, 2014, Boston Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog
Military Veterans at High Risk for Mesothelioma, Dec. 8, 2012, Boston Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog