Japanese Study Shows Treatment Reduces Size of Mesothelioma Tumors in Mice

A recently published study by Japanese researchers appears to show that a novel type of cancer immunotherapy helped shrink tumors in lab mice, which could bode as a promising treatment for mesothelioma cancer and other serious types of cancers. The study examined the use of near-infrared photoimmunotherapy, a type of technology that uses a chemical to make some cells more sensitive to light and then targets the cancer cells with focused light beams.

Through the course of their study, the Japanese team exploited certain proteins which mesothelioma tumors overexpress. By targeting these proteins with the photoimmunty treatments, researchers were able to shrink the size of the mesothelioma tumors in the mice studied. Furthermore, when the tumor cells exploded, the lab subject’s immune system was able to identify the remaining cancer cell tissues as foreign bodies and attack them in response to destroy the cancer.

Researchers believe that by using a combination of surgery to remove the tumor and photoimmunotherapy to destroy remaining tumor cells, doctors can make great strides in treating cancer. While surgery and chemotherapy have been the traditional methods used to treat mesothelioma, various types of immunotherapy have shown great promise to treat mesothelioma and other forms of aggressive cancers.

Mesothelioma is a particularly aggressive form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Asbestos is a naturally occuring mineral which was once commonly used in industrial, military, construction, and even cosmetic applications. Asbestos was often used for the particular purpose of creating heat resistant components, such as pipe fittings, gaskets, and insulation. Unfortunately, throughout the decades, hundreds of thousands of people were unknowingly exposed to a deadly carcinogen.

It was not until the mid 1970s that the federal government finally took action to effectively ban the use of asbestos because of the dire health consequences associated with exposure to the mineral. However, companies using asbestos in parts or construction already knew for decades about the risks that workers could face and chose not to provide these individuals with any warnings.

Even though nothing can undo a mesothelioma diagnosis, victims can still hold wrongdoers accountable by filing claims in both courts of law and against certain mesothelioma trusts. Both means can help patients recover compensation for the vital medical treatment necessary to treat the disease and hopefully live a longer and more comfortable life. Even in cases in which the victims have passed away from mesothelioma, the law generally gives surviving family members the right to carry on claims on their behalf and hold asbestos companies responsible.

Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.