As previously mentioned on the MesoRC Blog, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s (MARF) International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma, took place on June 26 - June 28 on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C. Researchers, patients, family members, physicians, and politicians gathered to discuss the continued search for a cure for mesothelioma. The symposium featured a number of guest speakers who presented on various topics pertaining to mesothelioma. Listed below, you will find the PowerPoint presentations from several of the guest speakers.

• H. Richard Alexander, MD, University of Maryland: Presentation on the major advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

• Raja Flores, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Presentation on the current approaches to malignant mesothelioma.

• Robert Kratzke, MD, University of Minnesota: Presentation on post-operative intrapleural chemotherapy for mesothelioma.

• Mary Hesdorffer, MS, APRN, Meso Foundation: Presentation on optimizing patient care including - decision making, role of medical team, and screening for depression.

• Raffit Hassan, MD, National Cancer Institute: Presentation on the scientific advancements in mesothelioma research.

A recent death in the United Kingdom reminds us that mesothelioma remains a concern for everyone, not just those subjected to long-term asbestos exposure.

Josephine Dutton, aged 59, died of mesothelioma though she experienced no known asbestos contact.  She worked in the textile industry and her husband had not been exposed to asbestos either.  In a postmortem examination of the body, doctors failed to find asbestos fibers.

This mysterious case indicates the need for heightened mesothelioma research and the development of more effective treatments.  The disease is unpredictable and strikes even unlikely victims.  For the full story, visit this site.  To stay updated on the latest research or to make a donation towards curing mesothelioma, visit the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

Researchers at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center say the standard treatment for pleural mesothelioma is currently surgery to remove the patient's lung -- a potentially debilitating consequence. "Current surgical and chemotherapy treatments of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma are unsatisfactory, and have not been shown to significantly prolong survival," Dr. Robert Taub, the study's principal investigator.

The new study, however, focuses on a combination of chemotherapy and radiation targeted directly at the lung's lining. Researchers anticipate that the radiation therapy will kill the cancer cells on the surface of the lung while sparing other parts of the lung and surrounding vital tissues.

To Read More About the Study, Click Here 

Merck & Co., Inc announced today its investigational trial of vorinostat (ZOLINZA®), the Company's oral histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, in patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma has progressed into Phase III investigation and is currently enrolling patients who previously failed or are intolerant to prior therapies such as chemotherapy. The decision to move forward follows the review of currently available safety and efficacy data from the Phase II portion of the trial.

Eric Rubin, M.D., vice president, oncology clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories said "With no currently approved regimens for relapsed or refractory mesothelioma, continued research focused on identifying targeted therapies and differentiated approaches is critical. We are pleased that the investigation of vorinostat for the treatment of advanced mesothelioma has advanced into Phase III development.”

There are several key endpoints of the Phase III trial. They include overall survival as well as characterization of the overall safety and toxicity of ZOLINZA in patients with advanced malignant mesothelioma. Several secondary endpoints include overall objective response, response duration, and progression-free survival.

To Read the entire Press Release, Visit the Mesothelioma Applied Resource Foundation HERE

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation this week announced the launch of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank, a project four years in the making. The Bank is a central online database where doctors and researchers across the globe can apply to receive tissue samples for mesothelioma research.

Christopher Hahn, director of MARF, said, "We have long advocated for federal research funding and the creation of a mesothelioma tissue bank. It is an important resource, expected to greatly advance the genetic and protein profiling of the meso cancer cell. This will further the development of mesothelioma treatments and the search for a cure."

The Bank system collects assorted data from various mesothelioma-specimen, and organizes it into a categorized, annotated engine. Researchers can search for tissue based on criteria like Stage of Disease, Treatment Received, and Level of Asbestos Exposure.

The project is a collaborative effort between MARF, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. To learn more about the bank, visit mesotissue.org.