There’s good news from Geneva for patients suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma. In a recent presentation at the European Lung Cancer Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, researchers reported success with a new immunotherapy program that combines live bacterium with traditional chemotherapy. Doctors involved in the study reported a 90% rate of illness control and a 59% reaction rate in patients treated with the new immunotherapy protocol, offering new hope for an increased survival rate to those suffering with terminal pleural mesothelioma.
In the trial, 38 patients received a combination of live bacterium immunotherapy and traditional chemotherapy. After a nine-month follow-up of patients that received the treatment, researchers involved in the study declared a successful outcome with minimal complications. The combination of live bacterium with traditional chemotherapy had chemically killed active cancer cells while activating the body’s natural immune system to fight developing cancer cells.
The CRS-207 drug is a genetically modified version of Listeria, which is bacteria commonly found in soil, water, and in some animals. CRS-207 goes to work by recognizing mesothelioma cancer cells and stimulating T-cells to kill these specific cancer cells. One of the benefits to CRS-207 is that they continue to work with the body’s natural immune system long after the vaccine is introduced into the body.
Candidates for the CRS-207 immunotherapy are those who have not responded well to traditional treatments of surgery and chemotherapy. Success in immunotherapy programs tends to focus on management of the mesothelioma as opposed to eradicating the disease from the body. Immunotherapy treatments are less toxic and damaging to healthy cells in the body, and can prolong life expectancy in some patients.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. It is directly related to asbestos exposure, and a person’s average life expectancy is 12 months following diagnosis. Until now, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation were the treatments of choice for patients with the disease, but with research, more and more medical advances have been made that offer patients with the disease a chance to prolong survival .
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers at Shein Law Advocate for Victims of Asbestos Exposure
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a devastating disease that offers limited treatment and compromised survival rates to victims of asbestos exposure. Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Shein Law are committed to helping patients collect compensation to offset the physical and financial hardships this disease presents.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our experienced and dedicated team at 877-SHEIN-LAW (743-4652), or submit our online contact form to schedule a consultation today. Our offices are conveniently located in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey serving clients throughout Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware.