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| '''For patient information click [[{{PAGENAME}} (patient information)|here]]''' | | '''For patient information click [[{{PAGENAME}} (patient information)|here]]''' |
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| {{Infobox_Disease | | | {{Mesothelioma}} |
| Name = Mesothelioma |
| | {{CMG}}{{AE}}{{FT}}{{PSD}}, {{SR}} |
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| Caption = |
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| DiseasesDB = 8074 |
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| ICD10 = C45 |
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| ICD9 = {{ICD9|163}} |
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| ICDO = 9050-9055 |
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| OMIM = 156240 |
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| MedlinePlus = 000115 |
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| eMedicineSubj = med |
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| eMedicineTopic = 1457 |
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| MeshID = |
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| {{Search infobox}} | |
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| {{Editor Help}} | | {{SK}} Mesotheliomas; Benign mesothelioma; Malignant mesothelioma; Peritoneal mesothelioma; Pericardial mesothelioma; Pleural mesothelioma; Malignant pleural mesothelioma; Mesothelioma of the pleura |
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| ==Overview== | | ==[[Mesothelioma overview|Overview]]== |
| '''Mesothelioma''' is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to [[asbestos]].<ref name="dhs">United States Department of Health and Human Services.</ref> In this disease, malignant cells develop in the [[mesothelium]], a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the [[pleura]] (outer lining of the [[lung]]s and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the [[peritoneum]] (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the [[pericardium]] (a sac that surrounds the [[heart]]).<p>
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| Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement products. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking <ref name="muscat">"Cigarette smoking, asbestos exposure, and malignant mesothelioma" by Muscat JE, Wynder EL in ''Cancer Research'' (1991) volume 51 pages 2263-7 {{Entrez Pubmed|2015590|}}</ref>.
| | ==[[Mesothelioma historical perspective|Historical Perspective]]== |
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| In an effort to raise awareness of this form of cancer, the Meso Foundation has declared [http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/393759/september_26th_is_national_meso_mesothelioma.html September 26th] '''National Meso Awareness Day'''.
| | ==[[Mesothelioma classification|Classification]]== |
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| ==Signs and symptoms== | | ==[[Mesothelioma pathophysiology|Pathophysiology]]== |
| Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.
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| Symptoms of [[peritoneum|peritoneal]] mesothelioma include weight loss and [[cachexia]], abdominal swelling and pain due to [[ascites]] (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, [[anemia]], and [[fever]]. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
| | ==[[Mesothelioma causes|Causes]]== |
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| These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.
| | ==[[Mesothelioma differential diagnosis|Differentiating Mesothelioma from other Diseases]]== |
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| Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms: | | ==[[Mesothelioma epidemiology and demographics|Epidemiology and Demographics]]== |
| * chest wall pain
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| * pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
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| * shortness of breath
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| * fatigue or anemia
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| * wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
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| * blood in the [[sputum]] (fluid) coughed up
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| In severe cases, the person may have many [[tumor]] masses. The individual may develop a [[pneumothorax]], or collapse of the [[lung]]. The disease may [[metastasize]], or spread, to other parts of the body.
| | ==[[Mesothelioma risk factors|Risk Factors]]== |
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| Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:
| | ==[[Mesothelioma screening|Screening]]== |
| * abdominal pain
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| * [[ascites]], or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
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| * a mass in the abdomen
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| * problems with bowel function
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| * weight loss
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| In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:
| | ==[[Mesothelioma natural history|Natural History, Complications and Prognosis]]== |
| * blood clots in the veins, which may cause [[thrombophlebitis]]
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| * [[disseminated intravascular coagulation]], a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
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| * [[jaundice]], or yellowing of the eyes and skin
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| * low blood sugar level
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| * pleural effusion
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| * pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
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| * severe ascites
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| A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.
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| ==Diagnosis== | | ==Diagnosis== |
| Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by [[chest X-ray]] and often [[spirometry|lung function tests]]. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A [[computed tomography|CT]] (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by [[cytology]] if this fluid is [[Needle aspiration biopsy|aspirated]] with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a [[pleural tap]] or [[chest drain]], in ascites with an [[paracentesis]] or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with [[pericardiocentesis]]. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. [[tuberculosis]], [[heart failure]]).
| | [[Mesothelioma staging|Staging]] | [[Mesothelioma history and symptoms|History and Symptoms]] | [[Mesothelioma physical examination|Physical Examination]] | [[Mesothelioma laboratory tests|Laboratory Findings]] | [[Mesothelioma chest x ray|Chest X Ray]] | [[Mesothelioma CT|CT]] | [[Mesothelioma MRI|MRI]] | [[Mesothelioma other diagnostic studies|Other Diagnostic Studies]] |
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| If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a [[biopsy]] is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a [[histopathology|pathologist]]. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a [[thoracoscopy]]. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.
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| If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a [[laparoscopy]]. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
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| {| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center"
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| |+'''Typical [[immunohistochemistry]] results'''
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| |- | |
| |style="width:300px"|'''Positive'''
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| |style="width:300px"|'''Negative'''
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| |-
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| |EMA (epithelial membrane antigen) in a membranous distribution
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| |CEA ([[carcinoembryonic antigen]])
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| |-
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| |WT1 (Wilms' tumour 1)
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| |B72.3
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| |-
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| |Calretinin | |
| |MOC-3 1
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| |-
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| |Mesothelin-1
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| |CD15
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| |-
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| |Cytokeratin 5/6
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| |Ber-EP4
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| |-
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| |HBME-1 (human mesothelial cell 1)
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| |TTF-1 ([[thyroid transcription factor-1]])
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| |} | |
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| == Screening ==
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| There is no universally agreed protocol for screening people who have been exposed to asbestos. However some research indicates that the [[blood plasma|serum]] [[osteopontin]] level might be useful in screening asbestos-exposed people for mesothelioma. The level of soluble mesothelin-related protein is elevated in the serum of about 75% of patients at diagnosis and it has been suggested that it may be useful for screening.<ref name="smrp">"Soluble mesothelin-related protein--a blood test for mesothelioma" by B. W. Robinson, J. Creaney, R. Lake, A. Nowak, A. W. Musk, N. de Klerk, P. Winzell, K. E. Hellstrom and I. Hellstrom in ''Lung Cancer'' (2005) volume 49, pages S109-S111 {{Entrez Pubmed|15950789}}.</ref>
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| == Staging ==
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| Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs. | |
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| ==Pathophysiology==
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| The [[mesothelium]] consists of a single layer of flattened to cuboidal cells forming the [[epithelium|epithelial]] lining of the serous cavities of the body including the [[peritoneum|peritoneal]], [[pericardium|pericardial]] and [[pleura]]l cavities. Deposition of asbestos fibres in the parenchyma of the lung may result in the penetration of the visceral pleura from where the fibre can then be carried to the pleural surface, thus leading to the development of malignant mesothelial plaques. The processes leading to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma remain unresolved, although it has been proposed that asbestos fibres from the lung are transported to the abdomen and associated organs via the [[lymphatic system]]. Additionally, asbestos fibres may be deposited in the gut after ingestion of sputum contaminated with asbestos fibres.
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| Pleural contamination with asbestos or other mineral fibres has been shown to cause cancer. Long thin asbestos fibers (blue asbestos, [[amphibole]] fibers) are more potent carcinogens than "feathery fibers" ([[chrysotile]] or white asbestos fibers).<ref name="fibertypes">"Malignant mesothelioma and occupational exposure to asbestos: a clinicopathological correlation of 1445 cases" by V. L. Roggli, A. Sharma, K. J. Butnor, T. Sporn and R. T. Vollmer in ''Ultrastruct Pathol'' (2002) volume 26 pages 55-65 {{Entrez Pubmed|12036093}}.</ref> However, there is now evidence that smaller particles may be more dangerous than the larger fibers.[http://www.mesothel.com/pdf/Suzuki-Yuen-01-IndHealth.pdf][http://www.mesothel.com/pdf/Suzuki-Yuen-02-AnnNYAS.pdf] They remain suspended in the air where they can be inhaled, and may penetrate more easily and deeper into the lungs. "We probably will find out a lot more about the health aspects of asbestos from [the World Trade Center attack], unfortunately," said Dr. Alan Fein, chief of pulmonary and critical-care medicine at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Dr. Fein has treated several patients for "World Trade Center syndrome" or respiratory ailments from brief exposures of only a day or two near the collapsed buildings.[http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2001Q4/junkman.html]
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| Mesothelioma development in rats has been demonstrated following intra-pleural inoculation of phosphorylated chrysotile fibres. It has been suggested that in humans, transport of fibres to the pleura is critical to the pathogenesis of mesothelioma. This is supported by the observed recruitment of significant numbers of [[macrophage]]s and other cells of the [[immune system]] to localised lesions of accumulated asbestos fibres in the pleural and peritoneal cavities of rats. These lesions continued to attract and accumulate macrophages as the disease progressed, and cellular changes within the lesion culminated in a morphologically malignant tumour. | |
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| Experimental evidence suggests that asbestos acts as a complete carcinogen with the development of mesothelioma occurring in sequential stages of initiation and promotion. The molecular mechanisms underlying the malignant transformation of normal mesothelial cells by asbestos fibres remain unclear despite the demonstration of its oncogenic capabilities. However, complete in vitro transformation of normal human mesothelial cells to malignant phenotype following exposure to asbestos fibres has not yet been achieved. In general, asbestos fibres are thought to act through direct physical interactions with the cells of the mesothelium in conjunction with indirect effects following interaction with inflammatory cells such as macrophages.
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| Analysis of the interactions between asbestos fibres and DNA has shown that phagocytosed fibres are able to make contact with [[chromosome]]s, often adhering to the [[chromatin]] fibres or becoming entangled within the chromosome. This contact between the asbestos fibre and the chromosomes or structural proteins of the spindle apparatus can induce complex abnormalities. The most common abnormality is [[monosomy]] of chromosome 22. Other frequent abnormalities include structural rearrangement of 1p, 3p, 9p and 6q chromosome arms.
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| Common gene abnormalities in mesothelioma cell lines include deletion of the [[tumor suppressor gene]]s:
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| * [[Neurofibromatosis]] type 2 at 22q12
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| * P16<sup>INK4A</sup>
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| * P14<sup>ARF</sup>
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| Asbestos has also been shown to mediate the entry of foreign DNA into target cells. Incorporation of this foreign DNA may lead to mutations and oncogenesis by several possible mechanisms:
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| * Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes
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| * Activation of [[oncogene]]s
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| * Activation of [[oncogene#proto-oncogene|proto-oncogenes]] due to incorporation of foreign DNA containing a [[promoter]] region
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| * Activation of DNA repair enzymes, which may be prone to error
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| * Activation of [[telomerase]]
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| * Prevention of [[apoptosis]]
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| Asbestos fibres have been shown to alter the function and secretory properties of macrophages, ultimately creating conditions which favour the development of mesothelioma. Following asbestos phagocytosis, macrophages generate increased amounts of hydroxyl [[radical (chemistry)|radicals]], which are normal by-products of cellular anaerobic metabolism. However, these free radicals are also known [[clastogenic]] and membrane-active agents thought to promote asbestos carcinogenicity. These oxidants can participate in the oncogenic process by directly and indirectly interacting with DNA, modifying membrane-associated cellular events, including oncogene activation and perturbation of cellular antioxidant defences.
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| Asbestos also may possess [[immunosuppressant|immunosuppressive]] properties. For example, chrysotile fibres have been shown to depress the in vitro proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes, suppress natural killer cell lysis and significantly reduce [[lymphokine-activated killer cell]] viability and recovery. Furthermore, genetic alterations in asbestos-activated macrophages may result in the release of potent mesothelial cell mitogens such as [[platelet-derived growth factor]] (PDGF) and [[transforming growth factor]]-β (TGF-β) which in turn, may induce the chronic stimulation and proliferation of mesothelial cells after injury by asbestos fibres.
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| ==Epidemiology==
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| ===Incidence===
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| Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. The incidence is approximately one per 1,000,000. For comparison, populations with high levels of smoking can have a [[Lung cancer#Epidemiology|lung cancer]] incidence of over 1,000 per 1,000,000. Incidence of malignant mesothelioma currently ranges from about 7 to 40 per 1,000,000 in industrialized Western nations, depending on the amount of asbestos exposure of the populations during the past several decades.<ref name="robinson2005">"Advances in Malignant Mesothelioma" by Bruce W. S. Robinson and Richard A. Lake in ''The New England Journal of Medicine'' (2005) volume 353 pages 1591-1603 {{Entrez Pubmed|16221782}}.</ref> It has been estimated that incidence may have peaked at 15 per 1,000,000 in the United States in 2004. Incidence is expected to continue increasing in other parts of the world. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. Approximately one fifth to one third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal.
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| Between 1940 and 1979, approximately 27.5 million people were occupationally exposed to asbestos in the United States [http://www.rand.org/pubs/documented_briefings/DB397/DB397.pdf]. Between 1973 and 1984, there has been a threefold increase in the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma in Caucasian males. From 1980 to the late 1990s, the death rate from mesothelioma in the USA increased from 2,000 per year to 3,000, with men four times more likely to acquire it than women. These rates may not be accurate, since it is possible that many cases of mesothelioma are misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the lung, which is difficult to differentiate from mesothelioma.
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| ===Risk factors===
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| Working with [[asbestos]] is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure exists in almost all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In rare cases, mesothelioma has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such as erionite.
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| Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
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| The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the airways ([[lung cancer]], bronchial carcinoma). The Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first few years of production in the 1950s and some cases of mesothelioma have resulted. Smoking modern cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma.
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| Some studies suggest that simian [[virus]] 40 ([[SV40]]) may act as a [[cofactor (biochemistry)|cofactor]] in the development of mesothelioma.<ref name="sv40">"SV40 in human tumors: new documents shed light on the apparent controversy" by D. S. MacLachlan in ''Anticancer Res'' (2002) volume 22, pages 3495-3499 {{Entrez Pubmed|12552945}}.</ref>
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| ===Exposure===
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| Asbestos was known in antiquity, but it wasn't mined and widely used commercially until the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not publicly known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace, and created guidelines for engineering controls and respirators, protective clothing, exposure monitoring, hygiene facilities and practices, warning signs, labeling, recordkeeping, and medical exams. By contrast, the British Government's [[Health and Safety Executive]] (HSE) states formally that any threshold for mesothelioma must be at a very low level and it is widely agreed that if any such threshold does exist at all, then it cannot currently be quantified. For practical purposes, therefore, HSE does not assume that any such threshold exists. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
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| ====Occupational====
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| Exposure to asbestos fibres has been recognised as an occupational health hazard since the early 1900s. Several epidemiological studies have associated exposure to asbestos with the development of lesions such as asbestos bodies in the sputum, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, asbestosis, carcinoma of the lung and larynx, gastrointestinal tumours, and diffuse mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum.
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| The documented presence of asbestos fibres in water supplies and food products has fostered concerns about the possible impact of long-term and, as yet, unknown exposure of the general population to these fibres. Although many authorities consider brief or transient exposure to asbestos fibres as inconsequential and an unlikely risk factor, some epidemiologists claim that there is no risk threshold. Cases of mesothelioma have been found in people whose only exposure was breathing the air through ventilation systems. Other cases had very minimal (3 months or less) direct exposure.
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| Commercial asbestos mining at Wittenoom, Western Australia, occurred between 1945 and 1966. A cohort study of miners employed at the mine reported that while no deaths occurred within the first 10 years after crocidolite exposure, 85 deaths attributable to mesothelioma had occurred by 1985. By 1994, 539 reported deaths due to mesothelioma had been reported in Western Australia.
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| ====Paraoccupational Secondary Exposure====
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| Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibres, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.
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| ====Asbestos in buildings====
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| Many building materials used in both public and domestic premises prior to the banning of asbestos may contain asbestos. Those performing renovation works or diy activities may expose themselves to asbestos dust. In the UK use of [[Chrysotile|Chrysotile asbestos]] was banned at the end of 1999. Brown and blue asbestos was banned in the UK around 1985. Buildings built or renovated prior to these dates may contain asbestos materials.
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| ====Environmental Exposure====
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| Incidence of mesothelioma had been found to be higher in populations living near Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA).
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| ==Treatment== | | ==Treatment== |
| Treatment of MM using conventional therapies has not proved successful and patients have a [[median]] survival time of 6 - 12 months after presentation. The clinical behaviour of the malignancy is affected by several factors including the continuous mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which favours local metastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue and other organs within the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latency period between asbestos exposure and development of the disease. | | [[Mesothelioma medical therapy|Medical Therapy]] | [[Mesothelioma surgery|Surgery]] | [[Mesothelioma summary of treatment for pleural mesothelioma|Summary of Treatment for Pleural Mesothelioma]] | [[Mesothelioma summary of treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma|Summary of Treatment for Peritoneal Mesothelioma]] | [[Mesothelioma primary prevention|Primary Prevention]] | [[Mesothelioma secondary prevention|Secondary Prevention]] | [[Mesothelioma cost-effectiveness of therapy|Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy]] | [[Mesothelioma future or investigational therapies|Future or Investigational Therapies]] |
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| === Surgery === | | ==Case Studies== |
| Surgery, either by itself or used in combination with pre- and post-operative adjuvant therapies has proved disappointing. A pleurectomy/decortication is the most common surgery, in which the lining of the chest is removed. Less common is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in which the lung, lining of the inside of the chest, the hemi-[[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]] and the [[pericardium]] are removed. It is not possible to remove the entire mesothelium without killing the patient.
| | [[Mesothelioma case study one |Case #1]] |
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| === Radiation === | | ==External Links== |
| For patients with localized disease, and who can tolerate a radical surgery, radiation is often given post-operatively as a consolidative treatment. The entire hemi-thorax is treated with radiation therapy, often given simultaneously with chemotherapy. This approach of using surgery followed by radiation with chemotherapy has been pioneered by the thoracic oncology team at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. <ref name="sugarbaker">"Resection margins, extrapleural nodal status, and cell type determine postoperative long-term survival in trimodality therapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma: results in 183 patients." by D. Sugarbaker in ''J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg'' (1999) volume 117, pages 54-63 {{Entrez Pubmed|9869758}}.</ref> Delivering radiation and chemotherapy after a radical surgery has led to extended life expectancy in selected patient populations with some patients surviving more than 5 years. As part of a curative approach to mesothelioma, radiotherapy is also commonly applied to the sites of [[chest drain]] insertion, in order to prevent growth of the tumor along the track in the chest wall.
| | http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma |
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| | {{Soft tissue tumors and sarcomas}} |
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| Although mesothelioma is generally resistant to curative treatment with [[radiotherapy]] alone, palliative treatment regimens are sometimes used to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel. Radiation therapy when given alone with curative intent has never been shown to improve survival from mesothelioma. The necessary radiation dose to treat mesothelioma that has not been surgically removed would be very toxic.
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| === Chemotherapy ===
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| In February 2004, the United States [[Food and Drug Administration]] approved [[pemetrexed]] (brand name Alimta) for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pemetrexed is given in combination with [[cisplatin]]. [[Folic acid]] is also used to reduce the side-effects of pemetrexed.
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| === Immunotherapy ===
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| Treatment regimens involving immunotherapy have yielded variable results. For example, intrapleural inoculation of [[Bacillus Calmette-Guérin]] (BCG) in an attempt to boost the immune response, was found to be of no benefit to the patient (while it may benefit patients with [[bladder cancer]]). Mesothelioma cells proved susceptible to in vitro lysis by LAK cells following activation by [[interleukin-2]] (IL-2), but patients undergoing this particular therapy experienced major side effects. Indeed, this trial was suspended in view of the unacceptably high levels of IL-2 toxicity and the severity of side effects such as fever and cachexia. Nonetheless, other trials involving interferon alpha have proved more encouraging with 20% of patients experiencing a greater than 50% reduction in tumor mass combined with minimal side effects.
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| === Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy ===
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| A procedure known as heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was developed by Paul Sugarbaker at the Washington Cancer Institute.<ref name="sugarbaker">"A review of peritoneal mesothelioma at the Washington Cancer Institute" by P. H. Sugarbaker, L. S. Welch, F. Mohamed and O. Glehen in ''Surg Oncol Clin N Am'' (2003) volume 12, pages 605-621 {{Entrez Pubmed|13782506}}. Online manual: [http://www.surgicaloncology.com/gpmtitle.htm Management of Peritoneal Surface Malignancy].</ref> The surgeon removes as much of the tumor as possible followed by the direct administration of a chemotherapy agent, heated to between 40 and 48°C, in the abdomen. The fluid is perfused for 60 to 120 minutes and then drained.
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| This technique permits the administration of high concentrations of selected drugs into the abdominal and pelvic surfaces. Heating the chemotherapy treatment increases the penetration of the drugs into tissues. Also, heating itself damages the malignant cells more than the normal cells.
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| ==Prevention & Expectations==
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| ===What can be done to prevent the disease?===
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| Since the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have regulated the asbestos industry in the U.S. In the past, asbestos was used as a fire retardant and an insulator. Other products are now used in its place. The controversy involving exposure to different forms of asbestos continues.
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| There are two major types of asbestos: [[chrysotile]] and [[amphibole]]. It is thought that exposure to the amphibole form is more likely to cause mesothelioma. However, [[chrysotile]] has been used more frequently, hence many mesotheliomas are caused by chrysotile.
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| Removal is taking place in schools and other public buildings throughout the U.S. The hope is that these measures will greatly reduce the occurrence of this cancer.
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| ===What are the long-term effects of the disease?===
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| A mesothelioma is a highly aggressive tumor that is generally deadly. Current treatment of malignant mesothelioma is designed to make the person with cancer comfortable. Although long-term survival cannot usually be expected, the case of famed paleontologist [[Stephen Jay Gould]] is a noted exception.
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| ===What are the risks to others?===
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| Mesothelioma is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another. The exposure to the asbestos that caused the cancer occurred many years to several decades before the disease appeared. People who live with asbestos workers have a higher risk of getting this cancer.
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| ===What happens once treatment is over?===
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| Although mesothelioma is very unpleasant it's still important for person after treatment is over to keep up all follow-up appointments and that's vital because further testing is always needed to check whether cancer is coming back or to examine possible side effects that could be rather unpleasant and what's even worse permanent.
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| ==Legal issues==
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| {{main|asbestos and the law}}
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| The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this [[Asbestos#Asbestosis and cancer|as early as 1898]]). The liability resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached billions of dollars. The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been the source of many court cases, and government attempts at resolution of existing and future cases.
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| ==History==
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| The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers was brought in 1929. The parties settled that lawsuit, and as part of the agreement, the attorneys agreed not to pursue further cases. It was not until 1960 that an article published by Wagner et al first officially established mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to crocidolite asbestos.<ref name="marchand">"Diffuse pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in the North Western Cape Province" by J. C. Wagner, C. A. Sleggs and P. Marchand in ''Br J Ind Med.'' (1960) volume 17, pages 260-271 {{Entrez Pubmed|13782506}}.</ref> The article referred to over 30 case studies of people who had suffered from mesothelioma in South Africa. Some exposures were transient and some were mine workers. In 1962 McNulty reported the first diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma in an [[Australia]]n asbestos worker.<ref name="mcnulty">"Malignant pleural mesothelioma in an asbestos worker" by J. C. McNulty in ''Med J Aust'' (1962) volume 49, pages 953-954 {{Entrez Pubmed|13932248}}.</ref> The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in [[Wittenoom, Western Australia|Wittenoom]] from 1948 to 1950.
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| In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. In 1965 an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighbourhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.
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| Despite proof that the dust associated with asbestos mining and milling causes asbestos related disease, mining began at Wittenoom in 1943 and continued until 1966. In 1974 the first public warnings of the dangers of blue asbestos were published in a cover story called "Is this Killer in Your Home?" in Australia's ''Bulletin'' magazine. In 1978 the Western Australian Government decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom, following the publication of a Health Dept. booklet, "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom", containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of worldwide medical information.
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| By 1979 the first writs for negligence related to Wittenoom were issued against CSR and its subsidiary ABA, and the Asbestos Diseases Society was formed to represent the Wittenoom victims.
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| ==References==
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| {{Reflist|2}} | |
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| == See also ==
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| * [[Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation]]
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| * [[Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America]]
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| == External links==
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| * [http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/asbestos/cover2.html ATSDR Case Studies in Environmental Medicine: Asbestos Toxicity]
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| * [http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers] from the U.S. [[National Cancer Institute]]
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| * [http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/malignantmesothelioma Cancer.gov: Malignant Mesothelioma] from the U.S. [[National Cancer Institute]]
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| * [http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=29 American Cancer Society] from the [[American Cancer Society]]
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| * [http://www.cancer.org/downloads/PUB/DOCS/SECTION28/89.pdf Malignant Mesothelioma] review article from the [[American Cancer Society]]
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| * [http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Cancertype/Mesothelioma CancerBACUP: Mesothelioma Information Centre]
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| * [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mesothelioma.html Medlineplus: Mesothelioma] from [[MEDLINE]], part of the [[United States National Library of Medicine]]
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| * [http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/institute/level2/course21/lecture95/l95_04.asp Worksafe, Western Australia], from Western Australia's Department of Consumer and Employment Protection
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| * [http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/training/oshasbes.htm US Nat'l Institute for Occupational Safety and Health], from the [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]]
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| ==Sources==
| | [[Category:Disease]] |
| ''The first version of this article was adapted from a public domain U.S. [[National Cancer Institute]] fact sheet at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/mesothelioma ''
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| <br>
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| {{Soft tissue tumors and sarcomas}}
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| {{SIB}}
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| [[Category:Pulmonology]] | | [[Category:Pulmonology]] |
| [[Category:Types of cancer]] | | [[Category:Types of cancer]] |
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| [[Category:Oncology]] | | [[Category:Oncology]] |
| | | [[Category:Mature chapter]] |
| [[de:Pleuramesotheliom]]
| | [[Category:Up-To-Date]] |
| [[es:Mesotelioma]]
| | [[Category:Oncology]] |
| [[fr:Mésothéliome]]
| | [[Category:Medicine]] |
| [[is:Miðþekjuæxli]]
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| [[it:Mesotelioma]]
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| [[pl:Międzybłoniak opłucnej]] | |
| [[sv:Malignt mesoteliom]] | |
| [[tr:Mezotelyoma]]
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| [[zh:间皮瘤]]
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