Worldwide Mesothelioma Rate Higher Than Expected

The global rate of the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma is probably much higher than was previously thought.

A new study published in the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) environmental health sciences journal, Environmental Health Perspectives, estimates that for every four or five cases of mesothelioma worldwide, there is at least one more case that goes unreported.   

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that usually develops 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos, a mineral used for many years in a wide variety of products and applications.  The popularity of asbestos declined after it was associated with mesothelioma and other serious health problems in the 1980’s, but there is still no asbestos ban in the USA.  In addition, because it is cheap and plentiful, asbestos is especially popular in developing countries, many of whom continue to import and use it today, despite the risks.

To arrive at their numbers, the Environmental Health Perspective study’s authors looked at the correlation between asbestos use and mesothelioma deaths in 89 countries, which accounted for more than 82 percent of the world’s population in the year 2000.  The study assessed each country’s level of asbestos use between 1920 and 1970 and compared it with each country’s mesothelioma deaths between 1994 and 2008.  The United States, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan were the largest users of asbestos. Because many of the smaller, poorer countries that also use asbestos tend to have less reliable reporting practices, the authors cautioned that the actual numbers of mesothelioma cases may be even higher than the study suggests.  

“Our most important finding is the magnitude of unreported mesothelioma in countries that use asbestos at substantial levels but report no cases of the disease,” study co-author Ken Takahashi said in a press release. Takahashi says any country that uses asbestos is certain to have mesothelioma cases and countries whose use has increased, rather than decreased, since 1970 are likely to see a rise in cases in the coming decades.

Takahashi and his co-authors call on all countries to stop mining, using and exporting asbestos in order to prevent mesothelioma. The new study is the first to provide a global estimate of unreported mesothelioma cases based on asbestos use and reported mesothelioma cases. The prognosis for mesothelioma is usually poor.

Source:
  Mesothelioma

New Compound Proves Effective Against Mesothelioma in Mice

Japanese researchers believe they have found a powerful new compound to fight the aggressive cancer – malignant pleural mesothelioma.
 

The team at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Tokyo have had success using a novel therapeutic compound called JBIR-23 in mice. JBIR-23 is a natural compound first derived from the bacteria Streptomyces sp. AK-AB27 in 2008.  In laboratory test tube studies, its unique chemical structure appears to have a cytotoxic effect on mesothelioma cells and promote apoptosis (cell death).

 When the compound was tested on mice with mesothelioma, the effect was the same.  JBIR-23 appears to prevent the further growth of the tumor, without loss of weight or other observable side effects.

The news is promising in light off the fact that mesothelioma is considered an aggressive cancer that is difficult to cure with conventional therapies.  Mesothelioma is caused by long-term exposure to asbestos, a mineral used in construction, insulation and thousands of other products. When inhaled, microscopic fibers of the mineral can trigger a chain of physiological events that can lead to cancer decades later.

Although a number of compounds are being studied for their potential for fight mesothelioma, JBIR-23 is encouraging because, as the Japanese researchers write, “JBIR-23 not only prevents tumor growth but also leads to a reduction in the volume of tumors.”  In a report in a recent issue of Cancer Letters, the team concludes, “These results suggest the JBIR-23 is a promising lead compound for use in MPM-specific therapeutic drugs without any side effects.”

In the U.S., mesothelioma affects approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people every year and its incidence is still on the rise, due to the long latency of the disease.  Early, accurate diagnosis is crucial to initiating treatment in time to slow the tumor’s growth.  Currently, first line treatments for mesothelioma include cisplatin-based chemotherapy, surgery and/or radiotherapy. 

Source:
  Mesothelioma