Malignant mesothelioma

Patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma who have been treated with radiation may be at an increased risk for malignant mesothelioma.

Although malignant mesothelioma is relatively uncommon, previous research indicated it may be associated with radiation exposure.

Results of several recent epidemiological studies showed that radiation for lymphoma may be linked with an increased risk for malignant mesothelioma. However, these studies involved only a small number of patients and the results needed to be confirmed in larger studies.

For this study, the researchers examined risk for malignant mesothelioma in 2,567 patients who had reached at least five-year survival after treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Patients included in the study had been treated with radiation alone, chemotherapy alone or a combination of both.

Median follow-up period was 18.1 years. At this time, 13 patients had malignant mesothelioma at least five years after being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Five-year survivors of Hodgkin’s lymphoma were about 26 times more likely than the general population to develop malignant mesothelioma, according to the results. Those treated with radiation alone were about 30 times more likely to develop malignant mesothelioma.

There were no cases of the disease among the 232 patients treated with chemotherapy alone, but patients treated with both radiation and chemotherapy were almost 44 times more likely to develop malignant mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Cancer Identified by Screening

Sing computed tomography scans to screen former asbestos workers can detect both early and late-stage lung cancer and late-stage mesothelioma Cancer, according to a study in the May Journal of Thoracic Oncology. However, it’s still not clear whether screening for these cancers might improve patients’ prognoses.Exposure to asbestos fibers is a known risk factor for lung cancer and the cause of mesothelioma cancer. Although asbestos is still not completely banned in the U.S., it was phased out of American industry to a large degree beginning in the 1970s. However because asbestos-related diseases can take 20 to 40 years to emerge after people have been exposed, former asbestos workers and those exposed to products containing this carcinogen continue to be diagnosed with asbestos caused cancers.

As researchers search for better treatments and even a cure for these diseases, they are also focusing on new diagnostic methods that might identify the cancers earlier. Early diagnosis is particularly crucial with mesothelioma, because many patients survive only one year after they first start to show signs, and symptoms are often difficult to distinguish from those of other lung diseases.

One potential screening method uses low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) to evaluate the lungs and their lining (pleura). LDCT can locate plaques in the lungs, which are a sign of asbestos exposure and have been linked to an increased cancer risk.Currently, there are no recommendations about using LDCT or any other method to screen people who have been exposed to asbestos, and screening isn’t routinely done. “There are currently no methods for the early detection of mesothelioma available,” says lead author Heidi Roberts, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Toronto. “

This is why we are doing the research.” To determine the effectiveness of LDCT as a screening tool for asbestos-related lung cancers, Dr. Roberts and her colleagues recruited 516 people (most of them men) who had been exposed to asbestos at least 20 years before, or who had known plaques. Participants were given LDCT scans of the chest. Patients who had abnormal scans were given follow-up tests. Those with normal test results were invited to have an annual LDCT scan.

Of the 516 participants, 357 had evidence of plaques. Based on the results of the first scan and annual scans, six of the patients were diagnosed with lung cancers and four were diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Although LDCT was able to detect advanced mesothelioma, as well as early- and late-stage lung cancers, it was not able to diagnose early mesothelioma. The study authors say they need to continue screening patients to help them get a better idea of what early mesothelioma looks like. Also, they say adding biomarkers (substances in the blood that indicate the presence of cancer) to the screening process may provide greater sensitivity to help diagnose those at very high risk for mesothelioma.

Even as techniques are fine-tuned, screening is just one step of a three-tiered effort to combat these cancers, according to Dr. Roberts. “The second step is the parallel development of biomarkers, and the third step is the parallel development of treatment strategies,” she says. “These have to be developed hand-in-hand in order to make this a useful and meaningful tool.”

International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma coming to Town

The 2009 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma has now been scheduled for the end of June. The event, which is organised by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) is set to be held in Washington DC from the 25th June until 27th June.

The event will be an interesting one that will involve raising awareness about asbestos related disease as well as looking at research and discussing the latest findings. A number of industry experts will be attending the event to provide details on various clinical trials, treatment, and research.

In addition to this many others will also be at the event, including sufferers of the asbestos related cancer, campaigners, advocates, and those that provide care for sufferers of mesothelioma. The event will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, in Washington, DC.

Following the event the foundation will honor those that are living with the disease, and will also give out the three annual awards that it gives for political support, research contributions, and community support.

Mesothelioma Symposium to be Held in Washington, D.C.

The 2009 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma will be held Thursday, June 25 through Saturday, June 27 in Washington, D.C. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The event is organized by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and will feature international mesothelioma experts, patients, advocates and caregivers.

The specialists participating in the three-day symposium will update attendees on the latest developments in treatment, research and clinical trials and each day covers a different topic.

Day one focuses on advocacy, noting the importance of communicating with federal leaders about the need for funding for mesothelioma research and the banning of asbestos use. The topic for day two is “Renewing the Spirit,” and will address support issues. The day also includes a series of roundtable discussions about a variety of topics ranging from nutrition to pain management. Day three will cover treatment.

The Celebration of Hope gala dinner will be held Friday evening to honor patients living with mesothelioma. Three annual awards will be given acknowledging a political leader, contributions made by a research company toward new mesothelioma treatment options and volunteer efforts by mesothelioma community members.

A tribute ceremony will be held the morning of the dinner to remember those who have passed away from mesothelioma. Attendees may submit a photograph and the name of a lost loved one for use on a tribute wall and in a picture collage during the ceremony.

“This conference is for everyone – patients, caregivers and family members, those who have lost a loved one, volunteers, advocates, and medical and scientific experts. Everyone struggling with this disease and everyone who cares about the mission to cure it will gain valuable medical information, coping skills, support, new friendships, and opportunities to make a real impact in the mission,” said the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s welcome letter for the symposium.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for mesothelioma through funding research, providing patient support services and participating in federal mesothelioma advocacy. Registration for the symposium may be completed at www.curemeso.org.

Razed home's owner takes step to sue city

$1M NOTICE OF CLAIM: Columbia Street residence, called 'the cat house,' was torn down after fire Nov. 12

The man who owns a home on Columbia Street that was referred to as "the cat house" by neighbors has filed a notice of claim for $1 million against the city of Watertown for razing its remains after a fire last year.

A notice of claim is a precursor to filing a lawsuit against a municipality.

Oliver J. Wisner is seeking compensation for the "arbitrary, capricious and malicious charging and billing for outrageous unnecessary work on the cleanup of ashes and debris" the claim states.

The Watertown lawyer owns the property at 1205-07 Columbia St., which burned down Nov. 12, forcing neighbors to evacuate their homes during the early morning hours. The heat from the blaze damaged nearby homes, one of which is still uninhabitable.

The city requested that Mr. Wisner remove the remaining debris from the duplex immediately following the blaze. In late December, the city hired Independent Commercial Contractors Inc., Lorraine, for $28,600 to clean the site and remove asbestos. Mr. Wisner was then billed for the job.

Mr. Wisner bought the home June 21, despite the previous owner not allowing him to completely inspect it beforehand, the notice states.

Once the purchase was complete, Mr. Wisner hired cleaners to clear debris from the home.

"The cleaners discovered more than 10 bodies of long-dead cats in the building," the notice states. "The odor from the house and the Dumpsters brought numerous complaints from neighbors."

In June, the city Code Enforcement Office found that an upstairs bathtub in 1205 Columbia St. was filled with cat feces, and cat skeletons were found throughout the apartment.The property was condemned and the tenant, Michael J. Sias, was removed.

Mr. Sias, 58, now of 536 Emerson St., Apt. 103, is facing an animal-cruelty charge on allegations that between June 25 and July 3 he deprived seven cats of necessary sustenance in his former home, "permitting unjustifiable physical pain, suffering and death," according to a city police document. He was charged Tuesday and faces prosecution in City Court.

Some live cats were taken from the home by the SPCA, others were euthanized and six frozen bodies that were found in an operating freezer were sent to Cornell University, Ithaca, for a forensics examination.

Mr. Wisner claims that "it was a matter of public knowledge that persons in the city of Watertown, New York, had called for the burning of the duplex." Throughout the notice, he maintains that an arsonist started the fire and that police did not properly follow leads.

The cause of the fire was never determined and police never made an arrest.

"My position is that there was no emergency and the demolition charges were unlawful and unreasonable and should be reviewed by a court and disallowed as an unlawful taking of private property," the notice states.

Mr. Wisner is asking for $100,000 for the loss of the house and $900,000 for "harassment causing great mental stress and depression." He plans to retain an attorney, the notice states.

City Attorney Robert J. Slye said he did not want to comment about the notice when contacted Friday afternoon.

"We'll certainly wait to see what Mr. Wisner has to say and if he files a suit," he said.

Times staff writer David C. Shampine contributed to this report.

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