New scientific findings could pave the way to better treatments for patients with mesothelioma
The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute of Detroit, Michigan has announced new findings that may lead to improved treatment and therapies for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The research findings, presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting in Los Angeles, California on April 17, 2007, demonstrates that protein ubiquitination and degradation are major players in the spread of mesothelioma and identifies 33 genes differentially expressed among epitheliod and biphasic cell types of the disease. The scientists involved in the research are hopeful that a therapy can be developed to target this pathway, leading to improved treatment options.
The Karmanos Cancer Institute joined with Wayne State University’s Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 2004 to form the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos Related Cancers. The study that resulted in these exciting new scientific findings received funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
For more information, visit www.karmanos.org.
