Drugs Used to Fight Cholesterol Could Also Help in Mesothelioma Treatment, Baron and Budd Reports
DALLAS (PRWEB) August 15, 2014 -- A team of Korean researchers has found that a drug normally used to lower cholesterol could also help a commonly used chemotherapy medication kill malignant mesothelioma cells, the mesothelioma law firm of Baron and Budd reports. The results of the research team’s work was published in the latest issue of the International Journal of Oncology. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25096993)
Cholesterol-lowering drugs, or statins, such as simvastatin have been shown to cause apoptosis, or the killing of certain types of mesothelioma cells. When they paired simvastatin with the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed, the researchers found the combination was more effective than the use of either drug on its own. According to the study, the combination increased the production of ROS, or reactive oxygen species. ROS is an indicator of cellular stress wherein the mitochondria – the portion of a cell that produces energy – is weakened.
The research team found that the simvastatin and pemetrexed combination activated a molecule called Bim that accelerates the process of apoptosis. If the findings of the team are confirmed by further laboratory study, the combination will be tested in mesothelioma patients.
The most widely accepted chemotherapy treatment, for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients is currently a combination of pemetrexed with cisplatin. However, that has only proven to be moderately successful. Typically, mesothelioma patients undergo different types of treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery and drug therapy.
“We applaud and appreciate the incredibly hard work these and other medical professionals are doing in order to treat this horrible disease,” said Russell Budd, co-founder and managing director of the mesothelioma law firm of Baron and Budd.
Mesothelioma can occur after the inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers. If you or someone close to you developed the disease after being exposed to asbestos, you may be able to pursue legal action. Please contact the national mesothelioma law firm of Baron and Budd to learn more. Call us at 1-866-855-1229 or visit our website at http://www.fightmesothelioma.com to learn more.
Amanda Billo, Marketing, Baron & Budd, http://baronandbudd.com, +1 (214) 991-1051, [email protected]
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