Jun 25, 2012 - Mesothelin a Promising Target for Mesothelioma Treatment
Raffit Hassan, a noted oncologist, has been studying mesothelin and its association with mesothelioma for over 15 years. He now believes more strongly than ever that mesothelin can indeed provide a novel approach to immunotherapy treatments for mesothelioma.
Hassan, chief of the Solid Tumor Immunotherapy Section, of the National Cancer Institute has begun clinical trials for mesothelioma based on his past research and is very hopeful about the expected results.
Mesothelin is a protein that naturally occurs on the surface of cells. However, mesothelioma cancer cells have unusually large concentrations (overexpression) of this protein on their surfaces. Because this sets them apart from other cells, Hassan believes that by using mesothelin as a targeting agent, a treatment can be developed that would specifically attack malignant cells while leaving nearby healthy ones undamaged. If true, this could revolutionize the way mesothelioma is treated.
Currently, accepted approaches to mesothelioma treatment include “traditional” cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. However, scientist have been working hard to discover new forms of treatment that would minimize the harmful side effects of such frontline therapies. The main danger besides the higher risk of death and morbidity associated with radical mesothelioma treatments is the side effects of chemotherapy. Traditional chemotherapy attacks cells indiscriminately, causing a wide variety of unpleasant, unhealthy, and painful side effects. Even targeted chemotherapy such as intraperitoneal chemotherapy can have unintended side effects.
However, an immunotherapy treatment targeting mesothelin would use the body’s own immune system to recognize and attack just the damaged cancer cells. Such a treatment would not only be more effective, but may also be less costly and could see much faster response rates.
Hassan was quick to point out that “there’s a lot more work to do, but there is reason for optimism.” In fact, Hassan has stated previously that if the correct combination of drugs can be created or discovered, treatment could add years to a mesothelioma patient’s life expectancy.
He’s based his current research and trials on previous successes with a drug called SS1P. It has been used with varying success and can be combined with other chemotherapy drugs for a cumulative response.
“We’ve treated more than 100 patients with the drug,” Hassan said. “If it binds to the tumor, it will kill it.”
The National Cancer Institute is comprised of multiple facilities around the United States and is widely regarded as the premiere research entity in the fight against cancer. Hassan notes that while funding for cancer research has dried up over the past few years, the NCI prioritizes it’s funding and because his previous research has shown such promise, the NCI is committed to seeing his continued research through to conclusion.
Back to Treatment Research Listing