Working to Cure and Prevent Mesothelioma

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    "This generous gift is critical to support our efforts to generate new discoveries that will aid in the prevention of mesothelioma and the development of new therapies.” Dr. Michele Carbone, Director, UH Cancer Center
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    Deadly dwellings in Cappadocia,Turkey. (All photos courtesy of the Carbone Laboratory)
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    Center investigators have studied the mesothelioma epidemic in the region for more than a decade.
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    Dubbed "death villages," nearly 50% of the area’s residents develop and die of mesothelioma.
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    The epidemic is caused by exposure to fibers from the mineral erionite, more potent than asbestos in causing mesothelioma.
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    The efforts of Carbone and colleagues led to policy change and health improvements for the region's residents.
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    New homes have replaced those previously built from local rock materials.
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    new health center has been constructed to provide treatment.
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    Plans are in place for a clinical trial co-sponsored by the Early Detection Research Network of the U.S. National Cancer Institute and the Turkish Ministry of Health to validate serum biomarkers the Carbone team discovered for the early detection of mesothelioma.
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    The landscapes of Cappadocia and North Dakota appear remarkably similar.
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    Unfortunately, they also share the presence of erionite in the local rock formations.
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    Instead of being used to build homes, the rock material containing erionite is used to pave roads. With travel, the particles become airborne...
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    ...and the potentially deadly dust is inhaled.
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    This past winter, Dr. Carbone and colleagues reported new findings describing potential erionite exposure in the U.S. (Nature, Dec. 16, 2010).
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    Public health concerns have been raised and the team’s investigation continues in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency. Findings from a new detailed study were presented at the recent scientific meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in June 2011, and are pending publication in a leading scientific journal.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that line the chest and abdominal cavities. It results in one of the most aggressive types of tumors, and current median survival from diagnosis is just twelve months. Exposure to airborne asbestos or erionite particles increases one's risk of developing mesothelioma.

While the stats are bleak, progress is being made.

Dr. Carbone, director of the UH Cancer Center, and colleagues including Drs. Haining Yang and Giovanni Gaudino, have made a series of recent scientific breakthroughs that will lead to new ways to prevent and treat the disease. The 3.58M gift to the UH Cancer Center will help them remain at the forefront of thoracic oncology research.

$3.58M Advances Mesothelioma Research »