Targeting Blood-Clotting Pathway Improves Mesothelioma Treatment

A team of researchers at the Cancer and Vascular Biology Research Center in Haifa, Israel, and the Langone Medical Center in New York collaborated on research of a common blood-clotting pathway. Targeting this pathway may offer a unique avenue for improving existing mesothelioma treatments. Researchers said the standard first-line chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma — a combination of Alimta (pemetrexed) and cisplatin — offers little benefit to most mesothelioma patients. “This treatment regimen confers a median progression-free survival of 5.7 months,” according to the study published December 2018 in Oncotarget. “No alternative can be offered when this treatment fails, thus underscoring the urgent needs for novel treatment modalities.” The focus on a blood-clotting pathway to target mesothelioma tumors has yielded promising early results. The findings point to the need for additional research and human clinical trials. Role of Natural and Synthetic Blood-Clotting Substances Heparin is a substance produced by the body. It prevents blood clots from forming in the wrong place at the wrong time. It can be given as a medication to prevent blood clots, too. Heparanase — the substance that breaks down heparin — promotes blood clot formation. Like heparin, the heparanase enzyme also is produced in the body and can be used as a drug to treat certain health conditions. In essence, these two substances work in opposition to one another: Heparin prevents b...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news