Research into the treatment and prevention of malignant mesothelioma is a highly active field of study, with new discoveries occurring every day.
While many mesothelioma research scientists doubt that a single “silver bullet” cure for mesothelioma exists, the possibility that the disease may be defeated by some combination of mesothelioma treatments is real.
The most promising new approach in the fight against mesothelioma is the immunological approach. To this end, a variety of new biological and immunological techniques for fighting mesothelioma are currently being investigated. These include:
- Interleukin-2 (IL-2)-activated killer cells
- tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)
- suicide gene therapy using the herpes simplex virus
- gene therapy
- cytokine gene transfer
- angiogenesis inhibitors, such as Thalidomide
New surgical techniques are also being investigated. One such technique is internal photodynamic therapy, which uses a type of endoscope equipped with powerful beam of light to attack tumors within the body that have been treated with a photosensitizing drug. When illuminated by this light, the photosensitive chemicals in the cancer cells cause an oxygen-producing reaction to occur; this free oxygen then reacts with and destroys the photosensitized cancer cells while having no effect on adjacent healthy cells.
In the end, prevention of mesothelioma by eliminating environmental asbestos is the only “cure” for which we can hope. For those who have already contracted the disease, however, these new approaches represent the best chance for life.
