Existing Breast Cancer Biomarker May Be Effective Mesothelioma Treatment

When it comes to mesothelioma research and treatment methods, there is still so much that researchers do not know. Mesothelioma doctors are working to expand existing treatment regimes while working to discover new ways to combat the asbestos-related disease.  Recently, researchers have found promise through the use of genetic biomarkers such as VEGF, NEK2 and Abcc10 to eliminate mesothelioma cells. Now it appears that a biomarker prominent in breast cancer patients may also prove to be beneficial in the advancement of mesothelioma treatment.

According to a recent article in OncLive, the over-expression of the HER2 biomarker that is most often linked to breast cancer is also apparent in 35 percent of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, although the actual mutation of the genes only occurred in one to two percent of the of patients with NSCLC.

Leading the team of researchers was Dr. Julien Mazieres, professor of Pulmonology at Larrey Hospital in Toulouse, France. Dr. Mazieres found that treating NSCLC patients who exhibited the HER2-mutation with the same treatments used to treat HER2-mutated breast cancer cells proved to be successful in treating NSCLC. The researchers focused on the 35 percent of patients with the over-expression of HER2 instead of those with the actual mutation.

The use of anti-HER2 drugs is still currently in the clinical trial phase and the prospective benefits for NSCLC patients still needs to be confirmed.

If NSCLC patients with an over-expression of HER2 benefit from anti-HER2 drugs, researchers believe that mesothelioma patients will demonstrate positive reactions to the treatment.

The mesothelioma law firm of Baron and Budd is pleased to report progress of any kind when it comes to mesothelioma research. Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive disease that is still met with limited treatment options and low survival rates. For over 35 years, the mesothelioma law firm has been representing the interest of asbestos patients and their families and is proud to continue to do so today.

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