Cholesterol Drug Lovastatin Being Studied As Potential Mesothelioma Treatment

Researchers recently uncovered the potential of a cholesterol drug, introduced in the 1980s, that may offer mesothelioma victims an effective treatment for the deadly and incurable cancer. The drug, Lovastatin, is used to treat and control high levels of cholesterol among patients.

Early on, scientists found that in initial studies of the drug, dating back 20 years, it had an unexpected and very powerful effect on killing cancerous cells within humans. At that time, however, the anti-cancer effect was considered too risky to continue studying because of the extremely high doses that were needed to be given to a cancer patient. Researchers put the study on hold, according to news reports, until recently when scientists at a Nashville, Tenn., clinic started providing the drug to pleural mesothelioma patients.

Details of Lovastatin and its Cancer-Killing Potential
Researchers have given little notice to Lovastatin as a treatment for mesothelioma cancer even though a stage-four melanoma patient had received treatments of Lovastatin in 2000 and currently remains cancer-free, nearly nine years later. While researchers are unsure that they can find the same success of the melanoma patient, the use of Lovastatin may potentially reduce or slow the cancerous production of mesothelioma cells, which can kill an individual within as little as one year after symptoms appear.

A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that the cholesterol drug induces apoptosis on mesothelioma cells. Apoptosis is also described as “programmed cell death,” according to the Reproductive and Cardiovascular Disease Research Group. Apoptosis occurs when a stimuli is introduced to a variety of cells in which the cells begin to commit “cell suicide”. The study looked at the “morophologic changes, histologic evidence of nuclear condensation and degeneration, and flow- cytometric analysis of DNA content” of the mesothelioma cancer cells treated with Lovastatin and determined it a potentially sufficient treatment for mesothelioma.

What is Lovastatin?
Lovastatin is part of a group of drugs known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). The drugs decrease the production of bad cholesterol within the body. It is often prescribed to patients as an oral pill that is taken in low-doses — once every four weeks.

Lovastatin does have reported side effects, which have not been fully studied on mesothelioma patients, however, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) the side effects include:

* hives, rashes and itching
* loss of appetite
* flu-like symptoms
* nausea as well as pain in upper right part of stomach
* extreme tiredness
* yellowing of skin and eyes
* lack of energy
* difficulty breathing and swallowing
* swelling of face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles and lower legs/calf muscles
* muscle pain, tenderness or weakness
* fever
* unusual bleeding or bruising
* hoarseness
* constipation

What to do If Diagnosed With Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma cancer has become increasingly prevalent in the United States and around the world. Individuals who were exposed to a mineral known as vermiculite containing deadly asbestos may have had the condition for 20 or more years without any signs of the cancer within their bodies. Once researchers began discovering the link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, asbestos was banned in the United States and around the world. However, shipments of asbestos are still being imported into the United States and millions of Americans remain at risk for exposure because of the prevalence of asbestos in many homes, apartments, schools, universities, hospitals and government buildings.

Those who have suffered from mesothelioma cancer or feel they may have been a victim of asbestos exposure have the ability to consult a legal professional for a potential mesothelioma lawsuit. Such litigation may appear overwhelming to a victim, but can potentially offer monetary compensation for the heavy expenses associated with receiving mesothelioma medical treatments. Consulting a mesothelioma attorney is often a free legal service and may add peace of mind for mesothelioma victims, their families and friends.

A cholesterol controlling drug known as Lovastatin, which was initially released in the 1980s is being used on pleural mesothelioma patients. Mesothelioma is a deadly and rare form of lung cancer associated with the inhalation of asbestos fibers and is currently incurable.Early on, scientists found that in initial studies of the drug, dating back 20 years, it had an unexpected and very powerful effect on killing cancerous cells within humans. At that time, however, the anti-cancer effect was considered too risky to continue studying because of the extremely high doses that were needed to be given to a cancer patient. Researchers put the study on hold, according to news reports, until recently when scientists at a Nashville, Tenn., clinic started providing the drug to pleural mesothelioma patients.

Details of Lovastatin and its Cancer-Killing Potential

Researchers have given little notice to Lovastatin as a treatment for mesothelioma cancer even though a stage-four melanoma patient had received treatments of Lovastatin in 2000 and currently remains cancer-free, nearly nine years later. While researchers are unsure that they can find the same success of the melanoma patient, the use of Lovastatin may potentially reduce or slow the cancerous production of mesothelioma cells, which can kill an individual within as little as one year after symptoms appear.

A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that the cholesterol drug induces apoptosis on mesothelioma cells. Apoptosis is also described as ìprogrammed cell death, according to the Reproductive and Cardiovascular Disease Research Group. Apoptosis occurs when a stimuli is introduced to a variety of cells in which the cells begin to commit ìcell suicideî. The study looked at the ìmorophologic changes, histologic evidence of nuclear condensation and degeneration, and flow-cytometric analysis of DNA contentî of the mesothelioma cancer cells treated with Lovastatin and determined it a potentially sufficient treatment for mesothelioma.

What is Lovastatin?

Lovastatin is part of a group of drugs known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). The drugs decrease the production of bad cholesterol within the body. It is often prescribed to patients as an oral pill that is taken in low-doses — once every four weeks. Lovastatin does have reported side effects, which have not been fully studied on mesothelioma patients, however, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) the side effects include:

* hives, rashes and itching

* loss of appetite

* flu-like symptoms

* nausea as well as pain in upper right part of stomach

* extreme tiredness

* yellowing of skin and eyes

* lack of energy

* difficulty breathing and swallowing

* swelling of face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles and

* lower legs/calf muscles

* muscle pain, tenderness or weakness

* fever

* unusual bleeding or bruising

* hoarseness

* constipation

What to do If Diagnosed With Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma cancer has become increasingly prevalent in the United States and around the world. Individuals who were exposed to a mineral known as vermiculite containing deadly asbestos may have had the condition for 20 or more years without any signs of the cancer within their bodies.

Once researchers began discovering the link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, asbestos was banned in the United States and around the world. Unfortunately, asbestos is still used in many industries today and was so prevalent from the 1920s to the 1980s that millions of homes are contaminated with asbestos as well as hospitals, elementary schools and offices.

Those who have suffered from mesothelioma cancer or feel they may have been a victim of asbestos exposure have the ability to consult a legal professional for a potential mesothelioma lawsuit. Developing a mesothelioma lawsuit might assist a victim in paying for medical bills if they receive a monetary return on their damages incurred. Consulting a mesothelioma attorney is often a free legal service and may add peace of mind for mesothelioma victims, their families and friends.

Patient Care Technology Systems May Delay Cancer Patient Treatments

A survey recently conducted by Macmillan Cancer Support found that in the United Kingdom there was inconsistency among the primary care trusts (PCTs) systems as to which patients received funding and approval for treatment and which patients were refused.

The inconsistent patterns, according to the survey, may result in cancer patients, such as mesothelioma patients, suffering from delays in receiving treatments. Because mesothelioma cancer is a condition in which the life expectancy can be approximately 12 months from diagnosis, it is imperative that any treatments or clinical trials that a patient can participate in become available to them immediately as time is of the essence.
The survey also reported that at lest 76 percent of the time, treatment costs were taken into account before deciding to approve or refuse a patient. Mesothelioma cancer treatments can quickly become extremely expensive, with costs of continued treatment ranging in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to estimates from the Cancer Information Network and the American Cancer Society (ACS). One of the most common treatments used among malignant mesothelioma patients is the administration of Alimta and cisplatin, which cost approximately $4,100 for one cycle, and multiple cycles are almost always required for any effectiveness on decreasing signs and symptoms of the condition.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) describes mesothelioma as a cancer of the mesothelium, which is a membrane that “covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body.” When asbestos fibers are inhaled they begin to form cancerous cells on the lining of the mesothelium, which then becomes abnormal. Eventually, these cancer cells begin to metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body. The NCI has found that “most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum” within the body and that over the last 20 years the incidence of mesothelioma cancer have increased rapidly with approximately 2,000 additional cases of mesothelioma being diagnosed each year in the United States.
Often, mesothelioma cancer is misdiagnosed as a different condition, which delays the appropriate diagnosis and thus decreases an individuals life expectancy. The condition commonly remains dormant within the body for years, even decades, which is why it is important for an individual who may have previously worked with or been exposed to asbestos fibers or dust to know the signs and symptoms of mesothelioma. The following are several signs as described by Cancer Research UK, an educational non-profit site dedicated to bringing cancer information to patients that should prompt a potential mesothelioma victim to seek medical attention. Symptoms include:
* pain in lower back or side of chest
* persistent cough
* shortness of breath
* hoarse or husky voice
* severe loss of weight
* sweating and fevers
* difficulty swallowing
* pain in the abdomen
* swelling in the abdomen
* poor appetite
* feeling or being sick
* diarrhea
* constipation

Overcoming Mesothelioma

Because mesothelioma cancer is currently an incurable disease it is imperative that a mesothelioma patient partake in any of the clinical trials available as well as to contact an experienced environmental toxin attorney who can assist in developing litigation related to asbestos. Building a mesothelioma lawsuit can offer insight into receiving monetary compensation as a return on the damages incurred by a mesothelioma. Such a lawsuit may also provide a relief from the burden of expensive mesothelioma medical bills that often accompany the disease.