Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer affecting mesothelial cells. It’s primarily caused by exposure to asbestos, used in construction materials and other products. Some common symptoms of Mesothelioma include shortness of breath, chest pain and pleural effusions. Diagnosing mesothelioma can be difficult due to the lack of traditional imaging techniques, such as X-rays or CT scans, used for more common forms of cancer [1].
In recent years, research has shown that stem cell therapies may effectively treat mesothelioma. Isolated and activated cells have been used to identify biomarkers associated with the disease and create personalized cancer treatments tailored specifically to each patient’s needs.
Several risk factors can affect the chances of getting pleural mesothelioma. Should be noted that having one or several of these risk factors, doesn’t automatically result in someone getting cancer. Asbestos exposure is the leading risk factor for mesothelioma and accounts for over 75 percent of all cases.
Other risk factors include:
Asbestos is a well-established cause of a multitude of health problems. Asbestos-related diseases and cancers include:
Occupational asbestos exposure is the leading common cause of mesothelioma. Patients in construction, factories, mechanics, mining, shipbuilding, defense, military or other manufacturing industries have the highest risk. Asbestos exposure can also happen by disturbing materials containing asbestos during construction or remodeling. Environmental asbestos exposure occurs when naturally occurring asbestos in soil or rocks is released into the air [2].
The development of mesothelioma can take between 10 to 50 years to develop. The peritoneal, pleural and mesothelium (pericardial lining) is a thin protective covering for organs. The Mesothelium layer is made from mesothelial cells & tissue that react negatively when exposed to asbestos. The asbestos fibers cause mesothelial tissue to inflame, resulting in the formation of scar tissue plaques on the surface of the lining. Malignant mesothelioma tumours begin to grow inside this scar tissue.
As mentioned previously, symptoms of Mesothelioma vary from patient to patient and usually develop gradually over very long periods. Some symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma (lungs) include:
If you have one or more of these symptoms, please visit your primary care doctor and tell them about any exposure to asbestos you might have had.
If your doctors suspect mesothelioma cancer, they will likely refer you to an oncologist for some diagnostic tests. There are several types of tests for mesothelioma that will be needed, including:
These tests are generally the first line used to diagnose mesothelioma and to check for stage, severity or metastasis. The key to successful treatment and cancer recovery is an accurate early diagnosis with early intervention. Traditional radiology tests sometimes cannot detect mesothelioma tumour until it has already metastasized, making it difficult for most patients to diagnose at its early stages. New testing technology, including genetic screenings, has helped change this by providing a unique method of identifying biomarkers associated with mesothelioma at much earlier stages.
Samples from patients with mesothelioma can be analyzed to look for genetic mutations associated with the disease that would not be detected through traditional diagnostic methods. This allows oncologists to get an accurate picture of how far cancer has spread before treatment begins and make treatment decisions based on the current stage. Additionally, clinical trials for mesothelioma are exploring new ways to use stem cells to generate “organoids” (miniature organs) from patient cells to predicatively test how specific treatment combinations will affect individual patients’ outcomes before they are given the actual treatment.
Over the last two decades, stem cell therapy and functional healthcare techniques started being used as a treatment component for various types of cancers, including those affecting the lungs and abdomen (mesotheliomas). Mesenchymal stem cell therapy involves isolating, expanding and transplanting healthy stem cells into patients to replace damaged or diseased tissue. The goal of such treatments is restoring normal immune function or slowing down tumor growth. It is essential to understand that hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells provide different benefits and must be tailored to each patient’s current medical needs.
Hematopoietic (bone marrow) cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are two types of (adult) stem cells that can work synergistically when combined with chemotherapy agents or immunotherapy medications like PD-1 inhibitors. Combining various kinds of cells can help improve outcomes by slowing down tumor growth more effectively than either would on its while also helping reduce side effects associated with chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs used alone. Additionally, using adult stem cells (instead of embryonic cells) does not carry any ethical concerns surrounding research involving human embryos since they are much easier to collect without causing harm or trauma.
As advancements continue within cancer stem cells, this technology will become increasingly important in diagnosing and treating various cancers, including those affecting the lungs and abdomen (mesotheliomas) [5]. By combining different treatments, researchers hope to develop more effective ways of fighting off cancer while minimizing side effects potentially caused by chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs used alone. The Regeneration center already uses enhanced mesenchymal stem cells to treat autoimmune diseases. Several recent trials have shown that mesenchymal stem cell therapy can be used in treating thymoma cancer (thyroid gland) and lung cancer.
NK T cells can be harvested from various tissues in the patients body, including bone marrow, and offer a unique ability to home and migrate to desired locations when modified and activated. In some cases, the Regen Center provides a combination of NK cells and activated chimeric antigen receptors (CARS) to make the protocol even more targeted to the circulating cancer cells. NK cell therapy is somewhat similar to CAR T-cell therapy as both can enhance a patient’s immune system to fight cancer better using isolated cells from the patient.
A tightly integrated approach in the treatment of mesothelioma, our non-toxic anti-cancer protocols continue to improve remission rates year after year. With discoveries through cancer research & clinical trials, new protocols are being developed to treat stage 1 – stage 4 mesothelioma. The Regeneration Center is a pioneer in regenerative healthcare and can apply the latest bioengineering techniques to manage malignant tumours better and help our patients live cancer-free lives with minimal toxicity and without fear of remission.
To determine eligibility and treatment opinions from our medical team, we will need to better understand the patient’s needs via recent histological results, Biopsy scans, blood tests, x-rays, scans and medical documents from your primary care oncologist.
Being diagnosed with the big “C” does not have to be the last stand. Even if traditional mesothelioma treatments have reached their limits, Our team can offer options that bring you one step closer to the latest alternative mesothelioma treatment and living a cancer-free life. Our mesothelioma treatment protocol can help you and your family get past the disease using safe and research-based treatment options. To learn more, please contact us today.
[1] ^Klampatsa A, Haas AR, Moon EK, Albelda SM. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM). Cancers (Basel). 2017 Sep 1;9(9):115. doi: 10.3390/cancers9090115. PMID: 28862644; PMCID: PMC5615330.
[2] ^Makarawate P, Chaosuwannakit N, Chindaprasirt J, Ungarreevittaya P, Chaiwiriyakul S, Wirasorn K, Kuptarnond C, Sawanyawisuth K. Malignant mesothelioma of the pericardium: a report of two different presentations. Case Rep Oncol Med. 2013;2013:356901. doi: 10.1155/2013/356901. Epub 2013 Aug 21. PMID: 24027648; PMCID: PMC3763578.
[3] ^Patarapadungkit N, Jangsiriwitayakorn P, Chaiwiriyakul S, Sirivech P, Thongbor R, Phanomsri EO, Nititarakul L. Modified Liquid-Based Cytology Technique for Immunocytochemistry in Effusion Specimen. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2019 Sep 1;20(9):2611-2617. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.9.2611. PMID: 31554354; PMCID: PMC6976855.
[4] ^Kindler HL, Ismaila N, Armato SG 3rd, Bueno R, Hesdorffer M, Jahan T, Jones CM, Miettinen M, Pass H, Rimner A, Rusch V, Sterman D, Thomas A, Hassan R. Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2018 May 1;36(13):1343-1373. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.76.6394. Epub 2018 Jan 18. PMID: 29346042; PMCID: PMC8058628.
[5] ^Mutti L, Peikert T, Robinson BWS, Scherpereel A, Tsao AS, de Perrot M, Woodard GA, Jablons DM, Wiens J, Hirsch FR, Yang H, Carbone M, Thomas A, Hassan R. Scientific Advances and New Frontiers in Mesothelioma Therapeutics. J Thorac Oncol. 2018 Sep;13(9):1269-1283. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2018.06.011. PMID: 29966799; PMCID: PMC6643278.