Researchers at Cardiff University and Velindre Cancer Canter in Wales have begun testing a trial drug which may prolong the life of mesothelioma patients.
The researchers are teaming up with the English- based company Oxford Biomedica to test the immune therapy drug TroVax.
TroVax will hopefully work with the body’s own immune system to fight mesothelioma cancer cells. The lead researcher for the study Dr. Zsuzsanna Tabi of Cardiff University discovered that cancer cells, including mesothelioma cancer, contain a protein called 5T4. TroVax is believed to help the body produce an anti-5T4 immune response, which would ideally allow the body to target cells containing 5T4 proteins.
The research on being conducted is particularly important in the fight against mesothelioma which has limited treatment options, usually surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, Because mesothelioma is aggressive and is generally fatal within 18 months, many patients utilize mesothelioma attorneys to help them obtain funds for treatment.
TroVaz has been study on renal cancer patients, but did not succeed in prolonging the life of these patients, leading researchers to abandon the study for renal cancer. This is the first time it is being studied for mesothelioma cancer and can be promising when combined with other treatments.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, close to 3,000 people in the US are afflicted with the debilitating cancer. These victims often hire mesothelioma lawyers to seek deserved compensation. The experience of mesothelioma attorneys have won large settlements for people suffering from mesothelioma.
