Mesothelioma Patients Under Age 40 Display Unique Traits

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have uncovered some distinct differences in mesothelioma among a unique subset of patients under the age of 40, providing insight that could lead to a better understanding of this complex disease. Malignant mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in older patients who were exposed to asbestos decades ago in an occupational setting, but researchers recently isolated a smaller, much younger group and found some startling trends. These people survived much longer, were more likely to be female, and more likely to have peritoneal mesothelioma. The findings were in stark contrast to the typical mesothelioma patient. "We were surprised, really surprised at some of the things we found," NIH Medical Oncology Branch researcher Vinay Prasad, M.D., told Asbestos.com. "You have to look at this group in a different light." The research team used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program database from 1999 to 2010. SEER is a National Cancer Institute program. The study, published in Oncotarget in June, included 12,345 mesothelioma patients. Two percent of those were under the age of 40 when first diagnosed. The Numbers "These differences may tell you that the biology of the cancer is different. It's different possibly on a molecular level, and maybe it should be treated differently," Prasad said. "We need investigators to roll up their sleeves and really study it with trials aimed at this specific group." Here are the...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Research & Clinical Trials Source Type: news