Mesothelioma is a devastating form of cancer. While it is rare, it is deadly and often hard to diagnose initially. Individuals exposed to asbestos may eventually develop this cancer of their organ linings that will then metastasize and spread to other parts of the body. Although it may take decades after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma to develop, the symptoms it creates often prove fatal within a few years.
Currently, there are no known treatments that can cure mesothelioma, only some that can reduce the symptoms it generates and slow its progression. However, university researchers working with mice have found a potentially viable treatment option.
Implanted devices could destroy mesothelioma
Not all research involving rodents translate to successful treatment for humans, but there are enough similarities between the anatomy of a mouse and the anatomy of a human for researchers to at least analyze concepts and drugs in their early stages by testing them on mice or other rodents. Rodent testing is often the first step on the long path toward a treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Researchers at Baylor and Rice Universities cooperating to conduct early trials recently announced very promising results after implanting drug factories into mice with advanced-stage mesothelioma tumors. These implants are tiny beads that produce drugs that push the body’s own immune system to fight the cancerous tissue inside the animal’s body. The early tests on mice showed very promising results.
The researchers reported that they have reached out to the FDA to move forward with more in-depth trials using this technology in 2023. If additional testing shows that these implants are also safe and effective in humans, there could be a new and exciting treatment option available for those with mesothelioma in the near future.
New treatments often don’t qualify for insurance coverage
Whether you hope to participate in the clinical trial or undergo other cutting-edge treatments recently approved by regulatory agencies and not yet covered by insurance companies, it may cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to obtain the best possible treatment after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Looking into compensation options, including civil lawsuits and claims against asbestos trusts, could help you access those treatments after a diagnosis with mesothelioma.