The experience of chemotherapy for lung cancer show promising potential

Mazen Al Najjar

The experience of treatment using a Japanese real estate experienced chemotherapy for the treatment of various cancerous tumors, they were together a promising alternative to conventional treatment or standard of cases of advanced lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Research, published the outcome of the experiment patrolling “Clinical Cancer Research.”

The clinical trial was conducted in several centers, and in the second phase of the experiment involved 56 patients with advanced cases of lung cancer commonly.

The results of the experiment of using real estate and S-1 Irenotikan in terms of the level of response, and the continued aggravation of the lives of patients without cancer, and the total length of stay, similar or better results for the treatment of the standard chemotherapy regime Platini.

Platinum toxic treatment

Because they are single-track experience, with all the participants received the same experimental treatment, without addressing the treatment group compared to standard chemotherapy, the researchers could not directly compare the benefits of both methods of treatment.

However, they did not mention whether the experimental treatment side effects less severe than those caused usually the standard treatment. It seems that the patients and their doctors rejecting the toxicity of chemotherapy, the platinum standard, given the lack of usefulness in the life of patients, which reinforces the need for effective treatments, the least toxic effects.

The author of the study and professor of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Osaka created kinky Isamu Okamoto of Japan should conduct a remedial “dual track” for a direct comparison between the experimental treatment and to establish the standard treatment of any benefits in prolonging the survival of patients with the use of real estate and S-1 Irenotikan.

Three mechanisms of action

The drug S-1 has approved its use in Japan and Korea, which showed significant benefit in the treatment of cancer of the digestive system, but it is still under clinical trials in other countries, such as Europe and the United States.

This multi-faceted real estate available in the form of capsules, the three different mechanisms. Disintegrate in one to Vrurassel (5-FU), as soon as his body. The Alvrurassel chemotherapy drug often used to treat cancers of the colon and rectum, and others.

There is a second part of the drug S-1 will continue in the production of Vrurassel fixed, while the third is designed to address the effects of toxic Vrurassel, Kalgthian and vomiting.

Irenotikan The drug is injected intravenously, and was originally developed and tested in Japan, the United States was approved in 1994, and is often used to treat colon cancer. And is currently being used in Japan to treat lung cancer, but it is not used in such other countries.

Level of response and survival

Japanese researchers believe that the combination of real estate and S-1 provides Irenotikan impact of solidarity. When tested the drug S-1 as the first chemotherapy treatment for advanced lung cancer cases, the level of response was 22%, while continuing to stay at an average of 10.2 months.

For the completion of the study, enrolled in this trial patients with advanced lung cancer cases did not receive any treatment, in 14 treatment centers in Japan, where they received an average of five sessions of the experimental treatment. The level of response was 28%, and the average stay about the worsening of cancer five months, and the average overall survival of 15 months.

Okamoto believes that these positive results when compared with the results of testing two-way platinum chemotherapy treatment, levels of response ranged between 17 and 33%, and the survival periods ranged from the worsening of cancer cases between three and five months, and the average total stay of seven to 14 months.

The researcher, this experimental treatment promising alternative, but needs more tests of the random testing during the two-way.
Source: aljazeera

This Informations Collected And Translated From Arabic Language By Mesothelioma Guide

January 8, 2009 | Filed Under Mesothelioma News | 2 Comments

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 â€œprogrammed cell death,â€ 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 â€œcell suicideâ€. The study looked at the â€œmorophologic changes, histologic evidence of nuclear condensation and degeneration, and flow- cytometric analysis of DNA contentâ€ 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.

About the Author

Peter Kent is the best-selling author of 50 books and hundreds of articles for magazines and newspapers. He manages Legalview.com, a website hosting a variety of information on legal issues, including Mesothelioma