Constant research is taking place to try to improve the treatment of mesothelioma and to help understand how new drugs improve the response of the disease to chemotherapy.
Following scientific trials, which are conducted in the laboratory, new drugs are often tested in clinical trials which involve people suffering from the disease and, if successful, new treatments are introduced.
Drugs that target cell growth
Mesothelioma cells need certain factors in the body to be able to grow and therefore research is being carried out to develop drugs which ‘block’ these to prevent the cells from growing.
Cancer cells also contain death receptors which are proteins that, when activated, actually kill the cell. Research is currently taking place to see if the cells in Mesothelioma will respond to any specific activation which may then kill them.
Protesome Inhibitors
Research is currently taking place to explore the activity of a drug called a Protesome Inhibitor and how this may help in the treatment of cancer. Protesome is present in the body and eliminates old proteins in normal cells. Protesome inhibitors, however, can affect this process and actually cause cells to die including cancer cells which are more sensitive to them.
It is possible that the development of this drug may help patients suffering from mesothelioma.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibition (HDACi)
HDACi allows genes that are often prevented from working, because of cancer, to operate again. It helps prevent uncontrolled cell growth and the further development of tumours.
Already research is being carried out to find out how HDACi may help prevent tumour growth and improve chemotherapy drug treatment of people suffering from Mesothelioma
Angiogenesis Inhibitors
Angiogenesis Inhibitors have already proved to be effective in treating other cancers like lung cancer. They work by slowing down the development of new blood vessels and, because malignant tumours like Mesothelioma need new blood vessels to grow, this can help to slow down their development.
Research is continuing into the effects of these Inhibitors and how they may be used in the treatment of mesothelioma.
Palliative care
Patients suffering from Mesothelioma should also be able to obtain palliative care which treats, and offers relief, to the physical pain of the disease without curing the causes.
The care is often given by specialist nurses not just to the patient themselves but also their loved ones.
Mesothelioma treatment studies
Find out about studies that are currently taking place to identify the effectiveness of certain treatments on mesothelioma patients - Click here.