Red Wine Chemical Could Improve Mesothelioma Treatments

South Korean researchers have found combining the chemotherapy drug cisplatin with resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine, could be an effective way to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. The results of their work were published in the August issue of the research publication Food and Chemical Toxicology.

Potentially Promising News

According to the study, resveratrol made malignant cells more vulnerable to the effects of cisplatin by inducing apoptosis, or cell death. Cisplatin has been used for a long time in order to treat not only mesothelioma, but other types of cancer as well. However, the effectiveness of the drug is somewhat limited because cells can become resistant over time.

Just why the resveratrol/cisplatin combination showed results in the trial is not fully understood.

The same research team studied the potential ability for resveratrol to fight mesothelioma cells in 2012, when they found that lab mice injected with cancerous cells showed improved survival rates when given daily doses of resveratrol for four weeks. Two years later, the team combined resveratrol and another chemotherapy drug, clofarabine, and found that the combination also made mesothelioma cells more vulnerable.

However, these older studies were not conclusive enough to warrant further clinical trials. There is enough evidence, on the other hand, to consider the resveratrol/cisplatin combination for a trial.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Malignant pleural mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lungs, which is known as the pleura. The only known cause of this disease is exposure to asbestos. If you or someone close to you has received a malignant pleural mesothelioma diagnosis, Baron & Budd may be able to help you take legal action. Click here or call 855-280-7664 to learn more.