New Drug Treatment May Prolong Life of Pleural Mesothelioma Sufferers

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December 4, 2007

According to the results of a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a research drug called Vinflunine may prolong the life span of those suffering with pleural mesothelioma. Vinflunine, a microtubule inhibitor, is one of the first mesothelioma drugs that has shown the promise of extending the life span of mesothelioma sufferers. While other drugs both on the market and in research have helped with the symptoms of mesothelioma, Vinfluine is the first that may offer the hope of an extended lifespan to those who suffer from this debilitating disease.

The study results showed that Vinfluine prolonged the lifespan of mesothelioma sufferers by as few as three months and as much as a year. The median timeframe for all subjects treated was 10 months of additional life that would have been missed without treatment. The drug did not seem to cause many side effects in the study subjects. In fact, a reaction at the injection site seemed to be the worst noted side effect of treatment with Vinfluine. Researchers are hoping that their results will promote further clinical research into the effects of the drug on pleural mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most commonly-diagnosed form of asbestos cancer, and, while it is currently untreatable, there are more drugs available for pleural mesothelioma sufferers than for those who suffer from other forms of the disease. A recent trial in Oregon ended with Linda O’Donnell, a 66 year-old Oregon resident who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, being awarded $5.6 million dollars in a suit against the manufacturers of clay she used while she owned her own ceramics business. Research showed that the ceramics she used were contaminated with asbestos that caused her to become inflicted with mesothelioma later in life.

Until recently, it was mainly men that were diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer because they were the ones who worked in construction trades in the decades when asbestos was used in manufacturing. However, there has recently been a surge in the number of women diagnosed with mesothelioma. Many of these women contracted mesothelioma through exposure to asbestos particles while laundering their husband’s or son’s work clothing. However, many other women like O’Donnell contracted mesothelioma because of their own career pursuits in their youth.

Like all too many mesothelioma cases, the manufacturers of the ceramics in O’Donnell’s case knew as early as the 1970s that their product contained asbestos. They also knew it was dangerous. This negligence by some of the country’s major corporations has now resulted in as many as 4,000 individuals a year being diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. While most cases of mesothelioma are pleural – contained in the lining of the lungs—O’Donnell has a rare form of mesothelioma that is contained in the lining of her abdomen. This form of mesothelioma, known as peritoneal mesothelioma, does not have as many treatment options available to its sufferers. In fact, most individuals who are diagnosed with this disease are given, at most, a maximum of 18 months of life from its onset.

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