Anti-Angiogenic Therapy - A New Approach To Mesothelioma

Introduction - What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma, a cancer which attacks the lining of the lungs, chest, and abdominal cavity, is one of the most notorious cancers in the world today. It is a fatal, incurable disease - some statistics report that 9 out of 10 mesothelioma patients will die from the disease within 3 years. Only 5% will survive more than 5 years after diagnosis.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, a flexible, heat-resistant mineral fiber which was widely used and encountered in various industries, including shipbuilding, construction, and mining. Since the link between mesothelioma and asbestos was discovered, countless lawsuits have been filed by victims against the companies responsible for the exposure. New laws regulating the handling of asbestos were enacted.
Since that time, research into potential mesothelioma treatments has continued, with varying results. One of the newer therapies being investigated is known as anti-angiogenic therapy.
Angiogenesis
The term "anti-angiogenic" comes from angiogenesis, a word which means the growth and development of new blood vessels. As cancers progress, they quickly outgrow the blood supply provided to them by the body's blood vessels, and need to grow their own system of vessels to obtain a sufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients. Without these new blood vessels, the cancer cannot continue to grow and spread.
How Anti-Angiogenic Therapy Works
Anti-angiogenic therapy is aimed at preventing cancer cells from growing new blood vessels, thereby slowing or even stopping the development of cancer. It does so by targeting the two chemicals in the body which regulate the growth of blood vessels: the basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).This latter chemical is particularly important to mesothelioma patients; tests have revealed that people with mesothelioma exhibit VEGF levels much higher than those of patients suffering from other types of cancer. These results suggest that mesothelioma may have a strong link to VEGF, and thus may be more responsive to treatments which target VEGF.
One of the experimental drugs being tested against mesothelioma is bevacizumab. This drug has also been tested for use in patients with kidney, breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers, among others. Currently, the results from a study which ended in 2005 and compared the effectiveness of bevacizumab against two chemotherapy drugs (gemcitabine and cisplatin) are being analyzed and are yet to be released.
Whether anti-angiogenic therapy is a viable treatment or cure for mesothelioma remains to be seen. While scientists struggle to find new ways to fight mesothelioma, thousands of people continue to suffer from this devastating disease.