New Research Could Expand Availability of Light-Based Mesothelioma Therapy, According to Surviving Mesothelioma
Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) July 14, 2014 -- The NIH is giving $8 million dollars to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania to fund a clinical trial on light-based therapy in mesothelioma surgical patients. Click here to read Surviving Mesothelioma’s newly-posted article on the research.
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania plan to use the grant to enroll 102 pleural mesothelioma study participants over the next four years. Patients will receive a photosensitizing drug prior to surgery. Then half will have the laser light treatment during their procedure while half will have only follow-up chemotherapy.
“This trial represents a major step in understanding the combination of treatment modalities that will offer patients the best hope for survival and extended remission,” said lead investigator Eli Glatstein, MD.
Previous University of Pennsylvania studies of PDT with lung-sparing surgery have produced remarkable survival rates of up to 41 months, even in patients with advanced mesothelioma.
“PDT is an exciting emerging therapy that is currently not widely available for mesothelioma treatment,” says Alex Strauss, Managing Editor of Surviving Mesothelioma. “If the results of these new NIH-funded studies are as encouraging as the previous studies of PDT at Penn, more patients who need it may get access to this therapy.”
For details of the new PDT research at Penn, see NIH Grant May Help Validate Light-Based Therapy for Mesothelioma now available on the Surviving Mesothelioma website.
“Penn Mesothelioma Program Receives $8 Million NCI Grant to Study Effects of Photodynamic Therapy Plus Surgery on Patient Survival and Disease Progression”, July 10, 2014, News Release, University of Pennsylvania website, http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/2014/07/meso/
For nearly ten years, Surviving Mesothelioma has brought readers the most important and ground-breaking news on the causes, diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. All Surviving Mesothelioma news is gathered and reported directly from the peer-reviewed medical literature. Written for patients and their loved ones, Surviving Mesothelioma news helps families make more informed decisions.
Michael Ellis, Cancer Monthly, http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com, +1 (919) 570-8595, [email protected]
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