Whats New in Malignant Mesothelioma Research and Treatment?
SOURCE: American Cancer Society – March, 2007 Causes and Prevention Much of the research on mesothelioma has focused on learning exactly how asbestos changes mesothelial cells and their DNA to cause these cancers. Understanding how these fibers produce cancer might help us develop ways to prevent those changes. The risk of asbestos in developing mesothelioma is a definite public health concern. We are continuously learning more about which fibers can produce cancer, how they cause these cancers, and what levels of exposure can be considered safe. Now that we know about the dangers of asbestos, we can limit or stop exposure in homes, public buildings, and the workplace. Unfortunately, regulations protecting workers from asbestos exposure are much less stringent in some countries and nonexistent in others. Research is also underway to clarify the role (if any) of SV40, a virus that has been linked to mesothelioma in some studies. New Drugs Because chemotherapy drugs have not been very ef
