What Are the Latest Mesothelioma Treatment Options?

Researchers have discovered that mesothelioma sufferers with the shortest prospects for survival carry a specific protein that may be useful in treating the deadly cancer. The protein is called PD-L1, found in approximately 1/5th of the malignant mesothelioma sufferers who participated in the study. Those patients with the shortest survival times between 2002 and 2014 were found to have an elevated level of PD-L1 in their bodies.

PD-L1 and a companion protein, PD-1, act as immune suppressants, reducing the body’s capability of fighting off cancers such as mesothelioma. These two proteins are present in other cancers as well, and drugs which reduce the levels of PD-L1 have been shown to be effective in patients suffering lung and skin cancers.

The drug pembrolizumab, branded as Keytruda, is the first FDA-approved drug that is known to reduce the levels of PD-1 in the human body, allowing the immune system to bolster a heavier defense against cancerous cells, contributing to an increased ability to fight off the disease.

Drugs like pembrolizumab are perhaps more desirable than conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, which has several undesirable side effects, including hair loss, nausea, vomiting and others. Immunotherapeutic drugs are seen by many as the future of cancer treatment and come with fewer downsides than radiation treatment, making them ideal for painless treatment of these serious conditions.

Suffering from Mesothelioma Because of Asbestos Exposure?

Harrell & Nowak has the experience you need to receive the compensation you deserve. Call our offices today to schedule a consultation or to learn more about what options we offer for sufferers of mesothelioma.

Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C.Louisiana Mesothelioma Attorneys

Source: http://www.asbestos.com/news/2014/11/07/new-skin-cancer-fighting-drug-keytruda-boosts-mesothelioma-survival/