Mesothelioma Cancer - New Treatments
There are currently 3 traditional forms of treatment available for patients with malignant mesothelioma: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Often, doctors will use a combination of two or more of these treatment courses to maximize the likelihood of success.
In addition to these traditional treatments, other new methods for defeating mesothelioma are being tested and tried every day. Some of these are listed below:
Photodynamic Therapy
PDT is based on the theory that single-celled organisms will die when exposed to a particular frequency of light, if first treated with particular photosensitive drugs.
The photosensitizing drug is administered intravenously and after a few days the doctors expose the treated cancer cells to a certain laser light that activates the photosensitizing agent. An active form of oxygen is produced which destroys the surrounding cancer cells. Skin sensitivity is a major side effect of PDT.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is designed to use the patients own immune system to fight the mesothelioma.
The idea is to enhance and stimulate the immune system's own inbuilt natural anticancer qualities.
The substances used in immunotherapy (biological response modifiers) alter the body's interaction between the immune system's defenses and the cancer, thereby increasing the body's ability to fight disease.
The biological response modifiers currently being used in cancer treatments include interferons, interleukins, and cancer vaccines.
Heat Therapy
Heat therapy (or chemo hyperthermia) is the technique of heating chemotherapy agents before they are introduced to the tissue. Heating these chemicals has been shown to increase the penetration of the drugs and destroy more of the tumor cells. This new treatment is yielding good results in those with malignant mesothelioma.
Gene therapy
Researchers have met with some success in inhibiting cell growth by manipulating an individual's genes.
Many believe that correcting mesothelioma at the DNA level is the key to future treatments.
Studies are ongoing and optimistic.