Microgene Therapy Offers New Hope for Mesothelioma Patients

Australian Bradley Selmon says climbing the stairs used to leave him breathless because of breathing complications from mesothelioma. But Selmon, 51, says he can now go bushwalking across Australia thanks to a breakthrough response to a new gene therapy to treat the asbestos-related cancer. “I can do whatever I like,” Selmon recently told ABC, an Australian news agency. After only eight weeks in a clinical trial that uses small genes called microRNA to suppress tumor growth, Selmon’s scan showed him almost clear of tumors after eight separate injections to his right lung. “He immediately started to feel better. Ninety-five percent of the cancer disappeared and a marked improvement in his lung function means he can walk upstairs and do what he couldn’t do before,” Glen Reid, Ph.D., senior research scientist for the Asbestos Disease Research Institute told Asbestos.com. Reid says this is only phase I of the trial held for the express purpose to determine trial safety and optimum dosage. Selman’s response was unexpected. Six other people with mesothelioma or lung cancer also are part of the trial, but they didn't respond as well as Selmon. The full report was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Gene Deficiency Discovered The trial follows a discovery that some mesothelioma patients may be deficient in the microRNA gene 16, which inhibits tumor growth. Reid worked...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Treatment & Doctors Source Type: news