With the goal of improving treatment for mesothelioma, a lethal asbestos-related cancer, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has announced that it will be holding the Second International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma in Las Vegas at the Caesars Palace convention center on October 6 through 8.
Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor that most commonly develops in the linings of the lungs, abdomen and heart. The research to find the cure for mesothelioma has been under way for decades and a
lot of progress has been made over the last few years. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a non-profit organization whose goal is to put an end to mesothelioma as a life-threatening disease, has established an annual symposium to review and communicate such progress. Similarly to last year?s symposium, this year?s agenda includes valuable information for the patient and advocacy communities as well as presentations by the leading specialists in mesothelioma treatment.
The symposium will begin with the presentation outlining the scope of the disease and the threat it still brings to the community. It will be held by Dr. Stephen Levin from the well-known Mount Sinai Irving Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a renowned author and Pulitzer winner Andrew Schneider, as well as mesothelioma experts Michael Harbut and Michele Carbone.
Lectures held specifically for patients and their families will cover many aspects of mesothelioma treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, pain management as well as other newly developed treatments. Additionally, emotional, physical and psychological aspects of the disease will be covered as well as their effect on patients and caregivers.
Some other scientific topics covered at the symposium will include early detection, and diagnostics of the disease. Treatment options such as surgery, radio and chemotherapy will be covered for both peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma types. Chemotherapy options will also be covered including such topics as Alimta/Cisplatin treatment. Novel treatment approaches will be presented including some of the new developments in scientific research against the disease. Attending medical professionals will receive CME credits for these sessions, however, all are welcome to attend.
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation will award its Pioneer Awards to those organizations investing in mesothelioma research. In addition, the winner of the annual "Congressman Bruce Vento Hope Builder Award" established by MARF will be announced
Showing posts with label best case disease Mesothelioma patients. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best case disease Mesothelioma patients. Show all posts
2009/01/16
Levels of Osteopontin to Help Diagnose Patients with Early Stages of Mesothelioma
Specialists from several medical research facilities have identified that serum osteopontin levels can help diagnose people exposed to asbestos that may or may not have mesothelioma. Detailed information about this study is provided in the October 13, 2005 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
The primary cause of mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer, is exposure to asbestos.
Between 2000 and 3000 new cases are reported in the United States every year, which is an increase compared to previous years. The urgency to fight the deadly disease has prompted researchers to conduct more clinical trials aimed at finding the cure. In England alone, the number of mesothelioma-related deaths is expected to top 3000 by the year 2020. Since almost all cases of mesothelioma are related to the patients’ exposure to asbestos, it is projected that the peak in mesothelioma cases will not be seen until next decade.
Mesothelioma is typically detected as pleural nodules or diffuse involvement of the pleura. However, in some cases it occurs in the abdomen. The most effective treatment for mesothelioma so far has been surgery, however, due to the seriousness of the disease and the rate at which it spreads, it is often much too late even for surgery to have a positive outcome. Close to 70% of all cases of mesothelioma are too advanced at the time of diagnosis and are fatal. Therefore, any test that would allow doctors to diagnose mesotheloma at its early stages would greatly increase the survival rate of patients. A study conducted recently suggested that by measuring mesothelin-related proteins doctors would be able to differentiate between mesothelioma and benign conditions in patients exposed to asbestos. A new study measured the levels of osteopontin, which is over-expressed in lung, gastric, ovarian, breast, and colorectal cancer.
Specialists conducting the study examined 69 patients with benign disease and 76 patients with pleural mesothelioma by measuring their serum osteopontin levels. It was detected that levels of osteopontin were highly elevated in patients with pulmonary plaques and fibrosis but not in those who had normal X-rays. Additionally, levels of osteopontin were elevated in patients with pleural mesothelioma, but not those exposed to asbestos without contracting the disease. Based on these results, most mesothelioma cases would be detected at the first stage of the disease, when it is still treatable.
The primary cause of mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer, is exposure to asbestos.
Between 2000 and 3000 new cases are reported in the United States every year, which is an increase compared to previous years. The urgency to fight the deadly disease has prompted researchers to conduct more clinical trials aimed at finding the cure. In England alone, the number of mesothelioma-related deaths is expected to top 3000 by the year 2020. Since almost all cases of mesothelioma are related to the patients’ exposure to asbestos, it is projected that the peak in mesothelioma cases will not be seen until next decade.
Mesothelioma is typically detected as pleural nodules or diffuse involvement of the pleura. However, in some cases it occurs in the abdomen. The most effective treatment for mesothelioma so far has been surgery, however, due to the seriousness of the disease and the rate at which it spreads, it is often much too late even for surgery to have a positive outcome. Close to 70% of all cases of mesothelioma are too advanced at the time of diagnosis and are fatal. Therefore, any test that would allow doctors to diagnose mesotheloma at its early stages would greatly increase the survival rate of patients. A study conducted recently suggested that by measuring mesothelin-related proteins doctors would be able to differentiate between mesothelioma and benign conditions in patients exposed to asbestos. A new study measured the levels of osteopontin, which is over-expressed in lung, gastric, ovarian, breast, and colorectal cancer.
Specialists conducting the study examined 69 patients with benign disease and 76 patients with pleural mesothelioma by measuring their serum osteopontin levels. It was detected that levels of osteopontin were highly elevated in patients with pulmonary plaques and fibrosis but not in those who had normal X-rays. Additionally, levels of osteopontin were elevated in patients with pleural mesothelioma, but not those exposed to asbestos without contracting the disease. Based on these results, most mesothelioma cases would be detected at the first stage of the disease, when it is still treatable.
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