New Mesothelioma Approach

These methods include:

Angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis drugs

Although progress has been made in early detection of cancer, and treatment options, improved once cancer is diagnosed, there are still many types of cancer, including mesothelioma, which can not be cured and it remains difficult to treat effectively . In recent years, researchers have learned a lot about how cancer cells differ from normal cells and, in an effort to find potential drugs without severe side effects of chemotherapy, they discovered drugs aimed at itself, while Why tumor sparing the body's normal cells. One such group is anti-angiogenesis drugs.

Learn more about anti-angiogenesis agents in the treatment of mesothelioma.

Immunotherapy, sometimes called biological therapy, uses the body's own immune system to protect against disease. Researchers have found that the immune system may be able to recognize the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells and eliminate those that become cancerous. Immunotherapy is designed to repair, stimulate or improve the immune system's natural anticancer function.

Substances used in immunotherapy, called biological response Modifiers (BRMs) alter the interaction between the body's immune defenses and cancer, improving the body's ability to fight disease. Some BRMs, such as cytokines and antibodies, occur naturally in the body, however, it is now possible to make BRMs in the laboratory that can imitate or influence natural immune response agents. These BRMs may:

Strengthen the immune system to fight cancer cell growth.
Eliminate, regulate, or suppress body responses that permit cancer growth.
Make cancer cells more sensitive to destruction by the immune system.
Alter cancer cell growth models to behave like normal cells.
Block or reverse the process that changes in a cell of cancer cells.
Prevent cancer cells from spreading to other sites.

Many BRMs used in the treatment of cancer, including Interferons, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, colony-stimulating factors, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and cancer. More on immunotherapy for mesothelioma.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a type of cancer treatment based on the premise that a single celled organisms, if first treated with certain photosensitive drugs, will die when exposed to light at a specific frequency. PDT destroys cancer cells by using this fixed frequency light to activate photosensitizing drugs which have accumulated in body tissues.

In PDT, a photosensitizing drug is administered intravenously. In a certain period of time (usually a matter of days), the drug selectively concentrates in diseased cells, while being rapidly cleared from normal cells. Treated cancer cells are then exposed to a laser light chosen for its ability to activate the photosensitizing agent. This laser light is delivered to the cancer site (in case of mesothelioma in the pleura), through a fiberoptic device that allows the laser light to be manipulated by the physician. As agent treated cells absorbs light, a form of oxygen destroys the surrounding cancer cells. Light exposure must be timed carefully so that it occurs when most of the photosensitizing drug has left healthy cells but is still present in the cancer.

The main side effect of PDT is skin sensitivity. Patients undergoing this type of therapy are usually advised to avoid direct and indirect, even sunlight for at least six weeks. Other side effects may include nausea, vomiting, metallic taste in mouth, eyes and sensitivity to light. These symptoms may sometimes following the injection of photosensitizing agent.
Gene therapy is an approach to treating potentially fatal or disabling diseases by altering the expression of an individual's genes toward a therapeutic goal. Premise of gene therapy based on correcting disease at the DNA level and compensating for the abnormal gene.

Replacement gene therapy replaces a mutated or missing gene, most often a tumor suppress gene, normally with a copy of the gene that serves to keep cell growth and division control. The p53 gene, the most common mutated gene in cancer has become a prime target for gene replacement, has achieved some success in inhibiting cell growth, inhibiting angiogenesis (the development of tumors of blood), and induce apoptosis ( cell death).

Knock-out targets for gene therapy products oncogenes (a gene that can induce the formation of tumors) in an effort to make them inactive cells and reduces growth.

With constantly expanding knowledge of genes associated with cancer, their functions and delivery systems used in managing these genes, gene therapy has a promising future.
Alternative and complementary medicine covers a wide range of healing philosophies which conventional medicine often does not accept or make available to its patients. Some of these practices include the use of acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, therapeutic massage, and far Eastern medicine to treat health conditions.

These treatments can only be used as an alternative to conventional medicine, or in addition to conventional medicine, in which case they are referred to as complementary. Many are considered holistic, meaning their focus to treat the whole patient - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. These treatments are not widely taught as part of the medical curriculum, are not generally used in hospitals and, for the most part, are not covered by insurance policies.

Many cancer patients try various complementary and / or alternative medicine techniques in their treatment and, although they may not work for everyone, some patients benefit from managing their symptoms or side effects. An important objection is to discuss any complementary or alternative treatment can be considered with your doctor to be sure not to interfere with your conventional care. For example, food supplements such as herbs or vitamins may be "natural" but not necessarily "safe." They can reduce the effectiveness of certain anticancer drugs, or when taken with other medicines or in high doses can actually cause harm. Because such supplements are not regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and a prescription is not necessary to buy, it is up to consumers to make conscientious decisions regarding their use.

Your personal physician may be able to advise on the use of complementary and alternative treatments and therapies, and how they relate to mesothelioma. Combinaton of the complementary and conventional therapies is sometimes called integrative medicine.

Unconventional methods ofa cancer treatment make claims that can not be proven scientifically. They often claim to be effective against cancers that are considered incurable, and treatments Tout with relatively few, if any, side effects.

Use of these unconventional methods may result in loss of valuable time and opportunity to receive potentially effective therapy. It is always important to remain in the care of a qualified doctor who uses accepted methods of treatment or participating in scientifically designed investigational therapies.