UK -- The Health Protection Agency has published a report about the potential health impact and levels of asbestos exposures from large scale fires.
Asbestos causes a number of diseases and, in particular, is linked to the development of mesothelioma and lung cancer. The import, supply and use of asbestos was banned in 1999, but due to its extensive use in the building industry it is still found in many locations. Large scale fires involving materials containing asbestos are relatively common in the UK and can cause significant public concern. This report explores the potential public health consequences of such incidents by reviewing the available evidence.
Professor Gary Coleman, Head of the Agency's Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division said "The available evidence was reviewed and this indicates that the levels of exposure to asbestos experienced by members of the public, following fires involving materials containing asbestos, will be very small. There is no direct evidence of long-term health risks, such as development of mesothelioma and lung cancer, from fires involving materials containing asbestos, and this risk is thought to be minimal provided that appropriate clean-up operations are undertaken."
The report found that a number of factors help to reduce exposure of the general public to asbestos following a fire involving materials containing asbestos. For example, not all the materials containing asbestos in a building may be involved in a fire; fibres may become trapped in larger pieces of material stopping them from being released into the environment; asbestos fibres which can be breathed in only make-up a part of the total released; some fibres may disintegrate due to the high temperatures in the fire; the weather, such as wind and rain, will affect local air concentrations; and the duration of exposure to asbestos during a fire will usually be short.
Notes:
1. The Agency's Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE) comprises the Radiation Protection Division (formerly the National Radiological Protection Board) and the Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division. The Headquarters for the Centre is based at Chilton in Oxfordshire.
2. The Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division (ChaPD) provides advice to UK Government Departments and other Agencies on human health effects from chemicals in water, soil and waste. The Division also provides information and support to the NHS and health professionals on toxicology.
3. Asbestos is the name given to a small group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be readily separated into thin, strong fibres. These are divided into two sub-groups: serpentine (chrysotile), which is the most commonly used form of asbestos, and the amphiboles (amosite, tremolite, actinolite, anthophylite, and crocidolite), of which crocidolite is the most commonly used.
4. Former use of materials containing asbestos in the building industry included sprayed coatings/lagging, insulating boards, ropes, cloth, millboard, asbestos-cement sheets, coated metal, textured paints and reinforced plastics.
Source : http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/88295.php
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Mesothelioma Treatment - Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Mesothelioma is usually treated by injecting chemotherapy drugs into a vein (intravenous or IV). Researchers are also studying the effectiveness of delivering chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intrapleural or intraperitoneal delivery).
Historically, doxorubicin has been the most widely used single chemotherapy drug. Other newer drugs, including gemcitabine, cisplatin, carboplatin, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, vinorelbine, paclitaxel, and methotrexate, now are often preferred and are usually given in different combinations.
A new chemotherapy, pemetrexed (registered trade name Alimta®) is showing some promise in clincal research studies, but has not been evaluated by the FDA for approval.
Multimodality therapy, the combination of surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy, is a common therapeutic approach for early stage mesothelioma. Trimodality therapy, in which all three of these modalities are used, is considered the most effective aggressive approach.
Historically, doxorubicin has been the most widely used single chemotherapy drug. Other newer drugs, including gemcitabine, cisplatin, carboplatin, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, vinorelbine, paclitaxel, and methotrexate, now are often preferred and are usually given in different combinations.
A new chemotherapy, pemetrexed (registered trade name Alimta®) is showing some promise in clincal research studies, but has not been evaluated by the FDA for approval.
Multimodality therapy, the combination of surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy, is a common therapeutic approach for early stage mesothelioma. Trimodality therapy, in which all three of these modalities are used, is considered the most effective aggressive approach.
Another Type of Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma Symptoms
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is also known as Abdominal Mesothelioma.
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is an extremely rare condition. Only 100 to 500 cases are diagnosed in the US each year, making up less than 30% of all mesothelioma cases.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the abdominal lining, or peritoneum (paira-tin-e-um), which is why is is sometimes referred to as abdominal mesothelioma. This membrane supports and covers the organs of the abdomen.
The peritoneum is made of two parts, the visceral and parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum covers the internal organs and makes up most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract. Covering the abdominal cavity is the parietal peritoneum.
Cells in these linings secrete a fluid which allows organs to move against one another. For instance, as the intestines move food through the body. The cells of the mesothelium are designed to create fluid, but the cancer causes them to overproduce, creating a build up of excess fluid in the abdominal cavity.
Because pleural mesothelioma is more common and often spreads to the peritoneal cavity, it is important to determine if pleural mesothelioma is the primary cancer.
How does asbestos cause peritoneal mesothelioma?
Although there's no definitive explanation, it is widely believed that asbestos causes peritoneal mesothelioma in one of two ways. First, asbestos fibers may be ingested, and when in the intestinal tract, the fibers may work themselves into the peritoneal cavity and peritoneum. Second, they may be inhaled and transported through the lymph node system to the peritoneal cavity.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the abdominal lining, or peritoneum (paira-tin-e-um), which is why is is sometimes referred to as abdominal mesothelioma. This membrane supports and covers the organs of the abdomen.
The peritoneum is made of two parts, the visceral and parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum covers the internal organs and makes up most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract. Covering the abdominal cavity is the parietal peritoneum.
Cells in these linings secrete a fluid which allows organs to move against one another. For instance, as the intestines move food through the body. The cells of the mesothelium are designed to create fluid, but the cancer causes them to overproduce, creating a build up of excess fluid in the abdominal cavity.
Because pleural mesothelioma is more common and often spreads to the peritoneal cavity, it is important to determine if pleural mesothelioma is the primary cancer.
How does asbestos cause peritoneal mesothelioma?
Although there's no definitive explanation, it is widely believed that asbestos causes peritoneal mesothelioma in one of two ways. First, asbestos fibers may be ingested, and when in the intestinal tract, the fibers may work themselves into the peritoneal cavity and peritoneum. Second, they may be inhaled and transported through the lymph node system to the peritoneal cavity.
One Type of Mesothelioma - Pleural Mesothelioma
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, making up over two-thirds of all cases. Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lung and chest cavity known as the pleura.
The pleura is made up of the parietal and visceral pleura. The parietal pleura lines the chest wall and diaphragm while the visceral pleura lines the lungs.
Asbestos fibers work their way into the smallest passageways of the lungs and then into the pleura. Once there, an unknown chemical reaction causes cancerous cell development. As the cells begin to divide abnormally, the pleural lining thickens and excess fluid may accumulate. Pleural thickening gradually contracts the breathing space, causing shortness of breath—often the first symptom for pleural mesothelioma. The fluid, once carefully measured to allow smooth movement between the lungs and other organs, now causes increased pressure, further hindering breathing. This excess fluid is often seen on X-rays, and is referred to as a pleural effusion.
Pleural mesothelioma, like all kinds of mesothelioma, can be difficult to diagnose or easily misdiagnosed. If you are aware of prior asbestos exposure, it is important to inform your physician so that mesothelioma symptoms can be correctly identified.
While a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is certainly serious, it is not without options. A variety of new and novel mesothelioma treatments are available, as are a variety of clinical trials.
How does asbestos cause asbestosis?
Asbestos fibers inhaled into the lungs become imbedded in the delicate lining of the lungs. The fibers are so small and thin that they are able to beat the body's natural defenses. They accumulate in the lower portion of the lungs, becoming lodged into narrow airways. This causes scarring and inflammation, leading to a chronic cough and chest pain, the first symptoms of Asbestosis.
Asbestos, cancer, and smoking
While smoking increases your risk for a variety of other cancers, it does not by itself create a predisposition for pleural mesothelioma. In conjunction with asbestos exposure, however, smoking does increase the risk of developing pleural mesothelioma. The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure also increases the risk of developing lung cancer, as does prolonged exposure to asbestos.
Source: http://www.mesotheliomacenter.org/about/pleural-mesothelioma.php
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Pemextrexed Shows Promise in Peritoneal Mesothelioma
BARCELONA, SPAIN -- September 24, 2007 -- Pemetrexed alone or in tandem with a platinum agent shows good overall response and disease control rates in patients with peritoneal mesothelioma (PM), according to data presented here at the 14th European Cancer Conference (ECCO).
The study enrolled 109 patients with a histologic or cytologic diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma that was not amenable to curative surgery and was treated with pemextrexed alone or in combination with a platinum agent."
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cancer, with a yearly incidence of about one or two cases per million in the U.S. and Europe, while the incidence of pleural mesothelioma is 3- to 30-fold higher in different countries, said study presenter Giacomo Carteni, MD, Director, Oncology Division, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Few large studies have examined peritoneal mesothelioma, so treatment has largely been based on protocols used in patients with pleural mesothelioma, Dr. Carteni said in his poster presentation on September 24th.
The international Expanded Access Program (EAP) for pemetrexed in mesothelioma provided access to the drug before and during review by regulatory agencies.
In the trial, pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 alone or in combination with cisplatin 75 mg/m2 or carboplatin AUC 5 was given on day 1 of each 21-day treatment cycle as part of the EAP. All patients received standard supplementation with vitamin B12 and folic acid, and dexamethasone for prophylaxis.Patients were treated until they developed progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity, or until the investigator or patient decided to halt treatment.Pemetrexed and platinum combination was associated with a 20% or greater response rate and a 76% or greater disease control rate.Patients in the single-agent platinum group had a 12.5% overall response rate, a 50% disease control rate, and a 41.5% survival rate at 1 year. "This is in line with their worse prognostic factors like higher median age, higher percent of patients who had undergone prior chemotherapy, and lower performance status at baseline," Dr. Carteni said.
Hematologic toxicity was manageable in all groups and in agreement with earlier phase 3 findings, he said.These results reported for peritoneal mesothelioma are comparable to the pemetrexed EAP in the U.S., which involved 98 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma. In that report, the overall response rate was 26% and median survival exceeded 13 months.
The study was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company.
[Presentation title: Open-Label Study of Pemetrexed (P) Alone or in Combination With a Platinum in Patients With Peritoneal Mesothelioma (PM): Results From the International Expanded Access Program. Abstract P-6571]
Source: http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF6852573600043D8C0
The study enrolled 109 patients with a histologic or cytologic diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma that was not amenable to curative surgery and was treated with pemextrexed alone or in combination with a platinum agent."
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cancer, with a yearly incidence of about one or two cases per million in the U.S. and Europe, while the incidence of pleural mesothelioma is 3- to 30-fold higher in different countries, said study presenter Giacomo Carteni, MD, Director, Oncology Division, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Few large studies have examined peritoneal mesothelioma, so treatment has largely been based on protocols used in patients with pleural mesothelioma, Dr. Carteni said in his poster presentation on September 24th.
The international Expanded Access Program (EAP) for pemetrexed in mesothelioma provided access to the drug before and during review by regulatory agencies.
In the trial, pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 alone or in combination with cisplatin 75 mg/m2 or carboplatin AUC 5 was given on day 1 of each 21-day treatment cycle as part of the EAP. All patients received standard supplementation with vitamin B12 and folic acid, and dexamethasone for prophylaxis.Patients were treated until they developed progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity, or until the investigator or patient decided to halt treatment.Pemetrexed and platinum combination was associated with a 20% or greater response rate and a 76% or greater disease control rate.Patients in the single-agent platinum group had a 12.5% overall response rate, a 50% disease control rate, and a 41.5% survival rate at 1 year. "This is in line with their worse prognostic factors like higher median age, higher percent of patients who had undergone prior chemotherapy, and lower performance status at baseline," Dr. Carteni said.
Hematologic toxicity was manageable in all groups and in agreement with earlier phase 3 findings, he said.These results reported for peritoneal mesothelioma are comparable to the pemetrexed EAP in the U.S., which involved 98 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma. In that report, the overall response rate was 26% and median survival exceeded 13 months.
The study was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company.
[Presentation title: Open-Label Study of Pemetrexed (P) Alone or in Combination With a Platinum in Patients With Peritoneal Mesothelioma (PM): Results From the International Expanded Access Program. Abstract P-6571]
Source: http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF6852573600043D8C0
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