Asbestos Information Legal Mesothelioma Clinical

Fw: Characterization of human mesothelioma cell lines as tumor models for suicide gene therapy.

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: HubMed - mesothelioma <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
To: shell8377@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, March 7, 2008 8:10:45 PM
Subject: Characterization of human mesothelioma cell lines as tumor models for suicide gene therapy.

[1]Onkologie. 2008 Mar; 31(3): 91-6
Veldwijk MR, Berlinghoff S, Jauch A, Laufs S, Zeller WJ, Wenz F, Fruehauf S

BACKGROUND: The median survival time of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) remains poor. Therefore, novel therapeutic options are in high demand, and well characterized model systems for in vitro/vivo screening have to be established. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For this purpose, 3 MPM cell lines (H-Meso-1, MSTO211H, and NCI-H28) were characterized and tested for susceptibility to recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (rAAV2)-based vectors which have the potential for a loco-regional application. RESULTS: Using multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization, several recurrent chromosomal aberrations were observed for each of the MPM cell lines. Tumorigenicity of H-Meso-1 and MSTO-211H cells was shown in an intraperitoneal NOD/SCID mouse model, whereas NCI-H28 cells did not yield any tumors. Although all 3 cell lines were readily susceptible to rAAV2 vectors, differences in susceptibility were observed (H-Meso-1 > NCI-H28 > MSTO-211H). Furthermore, the efficacy of a potential suicide gene therapy using an rAAV2 suicide vector-transduced MPM cell line was determined in a proof-of-feasibility in vivo experiment. CONCLUSION: The characterized cell lines described here may serve as a model for in vitro and in vivo preclinical gene therapy for the treatment of MPM using rAAV2 suicide vectors.

___
Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18322411
--
~
Powered by [5]RssFwd, a service of [6]Blue Sky Factory, Inc

Health Wellness Sites and Info:

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

Fw: Health effects of atmospheric particulates: a medical geology perspective.

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: HubMed - mesothelioma <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
To: shell8377@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, March 7, 2008 8:10:44 PM
Subject: Health effects of atmospheric particulates: a medical geology perspective.

[1]J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2008 Jan-Mar; 26(1): 1-39
Duzgoren-Aydin NS

In this review, atmospheric particulates as composite airborne earth materials often containing both natural and anthropogenic components were examined in the context of medical geology. Despite a vast number of both experimental and epidemiological studies confirming the direct and indirect links between atmospheric particulates and human health, the exact nature of mechanisms affecting the particulate-induced pathogenesis largely remains unexplored. Future in depth research on these areas would be most successful if potential mechanisms are examined with reference to the physical (e.g., size, shape and surface), chemical, mineralogical and source characteristics of particulate matters. The underlying goal of this review was to present the relevant terminology and processes proposed in the literature to explain the interfaces and interactions between atmospheric particles and human body within the framework of "atmospheric particle cycles." The complexities of the interactions were demonstrated through case studies focusing on particulate matter air pollution and malignant mesothelioma occurrences due to environmental exposure to erionite-a fibrous zeolite mineral. There is an urgent need for a standard protocol or speciation methods applicable to earth-materials to guide and streamline studies on etiology of mineral-induced diseases. This protocol or speciation methods should provide relevant procedures to determine the level and extent of physical, chemical and mineralogical heterogeneity of particulate matters as well as quantitative in-situ particulate characteristics.

___
Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18322866
--
~
Powered by [5]RssFwd, a service of [6]Blue Sky Factory, Inc

Health Wellness Sites and Info:

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

Fwd: Concurrent trastuzumab with adjuvant radiotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer patients: acute toxicity analyses from the French multicentric study.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: HubMed - breast cancer <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Subject: Concurrent trastuzumab with adjuvant radiotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer patients: acute toxicity analyses from the French multicentric study.
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com

[1]Ann Oncol. 2008 Mar 15;
Belkacémi Y, Gligorov J, Ozsahin M, Marsiglia H, De Lafontan B, Laharie-Mineur H, Aimard L, Antoine EC, Cutuli B, Namer M, Azria D

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab (T) combined with chemotherapy has been recently shown to improve outcome in HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects of concurrent radiation therapy (RT) and T administration in the adjuvant setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of 146 patients with stages II-III HER2-positive BC were recorded. Median age was 46 years. In all, 32 (23%) and 114 (77%) patients received a weekly and a 3-week T schedule, respectively. A median dose of 50 Gy was delivered after surgery. Internal mammary chain (IMC) was irradiated in 103 (71%) patients. RESULTS: Grade >2 dermatitis and esophagitis were noted in 51% and 12%, respectively. According to the Common Toxicity Criteria v3.0 scale and HERA (HERceptin Adjuvant) trial criteria, respectively, 10% and 6% of the patients had a grade >/=2 of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decrease after RT. Multivariate analyses revealed two independent prognostic factors: weekly T administration (for LVEF decrease) and menopausal status (for dermatitis). Higher level of T cumulative dose (>1600 mg) was only borderline of statistical significance for acute esophagitis toxicity. CONCLUSION: We showed that weekly concurrent T and RT are feasible in daily clinical practice with, however, a decrease of LVEF. Cardiac volume sparing and patient selections for IMC irradiation are highly recommended. Longer follow-up is warranted to evaluate late toxic effects.

___
Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18344537
--
Powered by [5]RssFwd, a service of [6]Blue Sky Factory, Inc

Health Wellness Sites and Info:

Fwd: Feasibility of a screening programme for lung cancer in former asbestos workers.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: HubMed - asbestos cancer <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Subject: Feasibility of a screening programme for lung cancer in former asbestos workers.
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com

[1]Occup Med (Lond). 2008 Mar 15;
Mastrangelo G, Ballarin MN, Bellini E, Bizzotto R, Zannol F, Gioffrè F, Gobbi M, Tessadri G, Marchiori L, Marangi G, Bozzolan S, Lange JH, Valentini F, Spolaore P

BACKGROUND: Low-dose computed tomography (CT) has been found to detect more Stage IA lung cancer than chest x-ray. AIMS: To investigate whether lung cancer screening with CT was effective and acceptable in former asbestos workers. METHODS: CT scanning was carried out following the protocol previously described in the literature. A questionnaire was used to assess cumulative asbestos exposure. An economic analysis was also performed. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. RESULTS: A total of 1119 male asbestos workers (58% of invited) were examined, of whom 65% were smokers or ex-smokers. Mean age was 57.1 years with mean cumulative exposure to asbestos of 123 fibres/ml x years. Pleural plaques were found in 375 workers (32%), while 338 workers (29%) were included in the radiological follow-up, which led to 25 biopsies (13 of lung, 9 of pleura, 3 of both) and five screen-detected lung cancers (0.4%), one in Stage I. Incidence rate was 149 per 10(5), equal to that in the male general population of similar age. The expenses for diagnosis were 1014 and 244962 Euro per screened subject and screen-detected lung cancer case, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Screening adherence and frequency of detection were low, while costs and radiation dose were high. In spite of a high cumulative asbestos exposure, lung cancer risk was not increased relative to the general population. The screening programme was not felt to be cost-effective from the perspective of the government as a third-party funding agency.

___
Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18346953
--
Powered by [5]RssFwd, a service of [6]Blue Sky Factory, Inc

Health Wellness Sites and Info: