Friday, June 13, 2008

Fw: Erlotinib plus bevacizumab in previously treated patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.



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From: HubMed - mesothelioma <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
To: shell8377@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 11:18:43 PM
Subject: Erlotinib plus bevacizumab in previously treated patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

[1]Cancer. 2008 Jun 9;
Jackman DM, Kindler HL, Yeap BY, Fidias P, Salgia R, Lucca J, Morse LK, Ostler PA, Johnson BE, Jänne PA

BACKGROUND.: We conducted a phase 2, multicenter, open-label study of erlotinib plus bevacizumab in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who had previously received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen. These agents have activity in non-small cell lung cancer, but their role in mesothelioma is unclear. The primary endpoint is response rate. Secondary endpoints include time to progression, survival, and toxicity. METHODS.: Eligible patients with mesothelioma who had previously received 1 chemotherapy regimen were treated with erlotinib 150 mg per os daily and bevacizumab 15 mg/kg administered intravenously on Day 1 of a 21-day cycle. Treatment continued until disease progression or development of significant toxicity. Tumor response was assessed after every 2 cycles using previously established mesothelioma response criteria from Byrne and Nowak. RESULTS.: Twenty-four eligible patients initiated therapy with erlotinib and bevacizumab between February 2004 and October 2006. There were no complete or partial responses, although 12 patients achieved stable disease for at least 2 cycles of treatment. The median time to progression was 2.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 months-5.9 months). The median survival was 5.8 months (95% CI, 2.8 months-10.1 months). The most common toxicities were rash and diarrhea. There were no treatment-related deaths, intracranial bleeding, or hemoptysis. CONCLUSIONS.: The combination of erlotinib and bevacizumab was tolerated reasonably well, but there was no evidence of radiographic response. This study demonstrates the feasibility of conducting trials in mesothelioma patients who have failed first-line therapy. More therapeutic studies with effective agents are needed for these patients. Cancer 2008. (c) 2008 American Cancer Society.



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Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18543326
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Fw: Cisplatin and vinorelbine first-line chemotherapy in non-resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma.



----- Forwarded Message ----
From: HubMed - mesothelioma <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
To: shell8377@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 11:18:43 PM
Subject: Cisplatin and vinorelbine first-line chemotherapy in non-resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma.

[1]Br J Cancer. 2008 Jun 10;
Sørensen JB, Frank H, Palshof T

The aim was to evaluate the activity of cisplatin and vinorelbine in previously untreated, inoperable patients having histologically verified malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), normal organ function, and performance status 0-2. Treatment was vinorelbine 25 mg m(-2) i.v. weekly and cisplatin 100 mg m(-2) i.v. every 4 weeks with hydration and standard prophylactic antiemetic treatment. Patients gave written informed consent. Characteristics of 54 consecutive patients were: males 85%, epithelial subtype 74%, IMIG stages III and IV 35 and 46%, performance status 0, 1, and 2, 26, 69, and 6%, and median age 63 years (31-78 years). CTC grade 3 or 4 toxicity occurred with respect to leukocytopenia (48% of patients, grade 4 in 13%), nausea (13%), neurotoxicity (11%), nephrotoxicity (4%), and other toxicities (9%). There were no toxic deaths. The median number of cycles was four. The fraction of patients alive at 1-, 2-, and 3-years were 61, 31, and 4%, respectively, and median survival and median time to progression were 16.8 months (0.5 to 46.4 +months) and 7.2 months (1.6 to 40.6 + months). There were two CRs and 14 PRs (response rate 29.6%). Cisplatin and intravenous vinorelbine is a highly active regimen in MPM with a response rate and survival comparable to the most active regimens so far reported.British Journal of Cancer advance online publication, 10 June 2008; doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6604421 www.bjcancer.com.



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Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18542078
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Fw: Pemetrexed plus carboplatin in elderly patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: combined analysis of two phase II trials.



----- Forwarded Message ----
From: HubMed - mesothelioma <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
To: shell8377@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 11:18:43 PM
Subject: Pemetrexed plus carboplatin in elderly patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: combined analysis of two phase II trials.

[1]Br J Cancer. 2008 Jun 10;
Ceresoli GL, Castagneto B, Zucali PA, Favaretto A, Mencoboni M, Grossi F, Cortinovis D, Conte GD, Ceribelli A, Bearz A, Salamina S, De Vincenzo F, Cappuzzo F, Marangolo M, Torri V, Santoro A

The incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in elderly patients is increasing. In this study, pooled data from two phase II trials of pemetrexed and carboplatin (PC) as first-line therapy were retrospectively analysed for comparisons between age groups. Patients received pemetrexed 500 mg m(-2) and carboplatin AUC 5 mg ml(-1) min(-1) intravenously every 21 days with standard vitamin supplementation. Elderly patients were defined as those >/=70 years old. A total of 178 patients with an ECOG performance status of /=70 years (27%). Grade 3-4 haematological toxicity was slightly worse in >/=70 vs 

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Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18542071
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Fwd: Underestimation of Low-Dose Radiation in Treatment Planning of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy.



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: HubMed - mesothelioma cancer <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 1:34 AM
Subject: Underestimation of Low-Dose Radiation in Treatment Planning of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy.
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


[1]Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2008 May 29;
Jang SY, Liu HH, Mohan R

PURPOSE: To investigate potential dose calculation errors in the low-dose regions and identify causes of such errors for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: The IMRT treatment plans of 23 patients with lung cancer and mesothelioma were reviewed. Of these patients, 15 had severe pulmonary complications after radiotherapy. Two commercial treatment-planning systems (TPSs) and a Monte Carlo system were used to calculate and compare dose distributions and dose-volume parameters of the target volumes and critical structures. The effect of tissue heterogeneity, multileaf collimator (MLC) modeling, beam modeling, and other factors that could contribute to the differences in IMRT dose calculations were analyzed. RESULTS: In the commercial TPS-generated IMRT plans, dose calculation errors primarily occurred in the low-dose regions of IMRT plans (

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Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18513883
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Fwd: Asbestos-death mystery - Halifax Today



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From: asbestos cancer - Live Search News <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 1:34 AM
Subject: Asbestos-death mystery - Halifax Today
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


An 86-year-old woman was killed by an asbestos-related cancer despite never knowingly coming into contact with the killer dust, an inquest heard. Mary Jessop was living at Overgate Hospice, Elland, when she died on December 1, 2007. She was diagnosed ...

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT

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Source: http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Asbestosdeath-mystery.4148392.jp
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Fwd: Ranpirnase as a potential antitumor ribonuclease treatment for mesothelioma and other malignancies.



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: HubMed - mesothelioma cancer <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 1:34 AM
Subject: Ranpirnase as a potential antitumor ribonuclease treatment for mesothelioma and other malignancies.
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


[1]Future Oncol. 2008 Jun; 4(3): 341-9
Beck AK, Pass HI, Carbone M, Yang H

Ranpirnase, originally isolated from oocytes of the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens), is a member of the pancreatic RNase A superfamily of ribonucleases. Ranpirnase exerts antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects in vitro and in vivo and has been shown to act synergistically with different cancer therapeutic agents. The cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of ranpirnase are the consequence of tRNA degradation that results in the disruption of protein translation and the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Ranpirnase has been shown to target malignant cells both in human cancer cell lines and in animal models, and has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of several human cancers in clinical studies. Most clinical studies have been conducted in patients with malignant mesothelioma, and a confirmatory Phase IIIb trial is currently underway for the treatment of this disease. Owing to its selective destruction of malignant cells and favorable toxicology profile, ranpirnase is a promising antitumor agent with ideal attributes that are generally lacking in conventional cytotoxic drugs.



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Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18518759
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Fwd: High Court begins hearing asbestos test case - Times Online



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: asbestos cancer - Live Search News <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 1:34 AM
Subject: High Court begins hearing asbestos test case - Times Online
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


Families of workers who have died from the fatal asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma, launched a crucial High Court battle yesterday with insurers who say they are not liable to pay compensation. The nine-week hearing is aimed at settling a fierce ...

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:14:00 GMT

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Source: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article4065058.ece
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Fwd: Asbestos victims await result of nine-week legal test case - This is North East



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From: asbestos cancer - Live Search News <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 1:34 AM
Subject: Asbestos victims await result of nine-week legal test case - This is North East
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


A LANDMARK legal battle into whether insurance companies should pay compensation in asbestos-related cancer cases has begun at the High Court. Families of mesothelioma victims in the North hope the nine-week test case will settle a debate over when ...

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:26:00 GMT

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Source: http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2316841.mostviewed.asbestos_victims_await_result_of_nineweek_legal_test_case.php
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Fwd: W.R. Grace's Asbestos Settlement Wins Approval - Washington Post



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: asbestos cancer - Live Search News <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 1:34 AM
Subject: W.R. Grace's Asbestos Settlement Wins Approval - Washington Post
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


PITTSBURGH, June 2 -- A federal bankruptcy judge on Monday approved an agreement for W.R. Grace to reimburse the federal government $250 million for the investigation and cleanup of asbestos contamination in a Montana town. The Columbia-based ...

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:58:00 GMT

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Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/02/AR2008060202889.html
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Fwd: Romance blossoms in Australian asbestos ghost town (Reuters) - Peninsula



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: asbestos cancer - Live Search News <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 1:34 AM
Subject: Romance blossoms in Australian asbestos ghost town (Reuters) - Peninsula
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


wittenoom, Australia • Of the 20,000 people who once lived in this outback mining town in western Australia, at least 1,000 are dead of asbestos-related diseases. Just about everyone else left long ago. But if Mario Hartmann, an Austrian immigrant ...

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:05:00 GMT

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Source: http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/features/featuredetail.asp?file=junefeatures12008.xml
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