Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Such drugs have been found to restrict the growth of new blood vessels and limit mesothelioma tumor growth by depriving the tumors of the nutrients they need.  Scientists have proven that this method can actually contribute to halting and even reversing this asbestos related disease.

And even slowing the progression of pleural mesothelioma would be a step in the right direction.  The disease is extremely aggressive and most patients succumb to it within months of diagnosis. 

Many experiments have been completed examining the results of individual and combination anti-angiogenesis drug therapies and some have had amazing results.  Yet so far no approach has produced the result necessary to achieve a widespread novel treatment for mesothelioma.

So why the renewed interest in this seemingly dead-end research?  Multiple studies dating back years have shown that angiogenesis (the development of blood vessels) plays a very important role in malignant pleural mesothelioma, but doctors are just now learning how to effectively target this process as a tactic to defeat mesothelioma. 

This Italian study retrospectively examined experiments using multiple anti-angiogenic agents including:

• bevacizumab
• tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and
• various other anti-VEGF inhibitors

They discovered that though anti-angiogenesis shows promise as a tool for fighting mesothelioma, it’s a line of research that has proven difficult in which to make headway. 

Researchers cite the “intrinsic complexity of neo-angiogenesis, and its redundant regulatory mechanisms” as reasons for the difficulty.  In essence, there is no one “smoking gun” that controls growth of new blood vessels.  It’s a process that depends on multiple compounds within the body and if one of those compounds is removed or hindered, others step in and fulfill the role of alternate.

Therefore, in order to have any success when using anti-angiogenic treatments against mesothelioma, the “weapon of choice” would have to be a very complex multifaceted combination of drugs and other chemicals in order to ensure that blood vessel growth and regeneration are effectively stunted. 

This group of researchers set out to compile the most effective methods of anti-angiogenic treatment in order to suggest new combination therapies for experimentation. 

The Italian researchers point to several ongoing studies examining the inner workings of the human body as evidence that the progression of modern medicine will soon make such a combined anti-angiogenic treatment possible.  They concluded their study by saying they are hopeful that advances in the “understanding of the molecular alterations and key pathways that underlie the resistance to VEGF inhibitors will allow for design studies of the combination of agents targeting these pathways with anti-VEGF therapies.”

For now though, this form of treatment for mesothelioma remains experimental.   If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, explore the option of clinical trials and alternative treatments to help extend survival times and increase quality of life.  If you have questions about how to cover the costs of such treatments, please call our mesothelioma law firm today at 1-800-440-4262 to speak with one of our asbestos attorneys who has been helping others coping with mesothelioma for over 30 years.