Researchers in the USA have developed a vaccine that may be able to fight mesothelioma and help sufferers to live longer.

The study was funded by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and involved giving three vaccines to ten mesothelioma patients. All patients displayed increased levels of antibodies and three showed signs that their tumours had decreased in size.

Side-effects did not seem to be as severe as those shown by people undergoing chemotherapy, although eight of the patients developed flu like symptoms that lasted for two days.

Scientists involved in the study hope that further research may eventually lead to a vaccine that could be given to people exposed to asbestos that would prevent them from developing mesothelioma.