Help Fight Mesothelioma | Engage with Fruits and Antioxidants

New research from a cancer center in Philadelphia suggests that antioxidants may be an important tool in the fight against malignant mesothelioma.

Consumers know that antioxidants, like beta carotene, dietary supplements may combat oxidative stress at the cellular level. Some beans, blueberries, apples, blueberries, strawberries, cherries and plums are just some of the foods that are rich in antioxidants. But there are also several antioxidant-based drugs that have a similar effect on cells and are currently used to treat conditions such as lung disease, diabetes and malaria.

Now, researchers at the Kimmel Center Thomas Jefferson Cancer Hospital in Philadelphia have found evidence that these drugs may be effective against cancers such as mesothelioma. The team showed that the loss of a tumor suppressor protein known as caveolin-1 leads to tumor growth and is an important predictor of cancer progression. breast cancer patients found to lack the protein caveolin-1 had only a 10 percent chance of surviving for 5 years, while those with the protein had a 75 percent chance of survival.

Loss of caveolin-1 protein leads to oxidative stress in mesothelioma cells, which produce "fuel" for growth of the tumor. Since antioxidants fight stress, and cut off fuel supplies, the researchers theorize that the treatment of patients with mesothelioma with antioxidant drugs could be a way to stop the growth of their tumors. At present, the antioxidants are not normally used to treat mesothelioma and other cancers, as it is believed that could counteract the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs that cause oxidative stress.

"This study provides genetic evidence necessary to reduce oxidative stress in the body decreases tumor growth," said lead researcher Michael P. Lisanti, MD, Ph.D. , Professor of cancer biology at Jefferson Medical College. "Now that we have genetic evidence that mitochondrial oxidative stress is important for promoting tumor growth, we must reconsider the use of antioxidants ... anti-cancer agent."

Some of the drugs have been shown to reduce oxidative stress include diabetes drug metformin, a malaria drug called chloroquine and a third agent called N-acetyl cysteine. In the future could be used as part of a multi-modality approach to treatment for mesothelioma, which is notoriously difficult to treat.

Mesothelioma Risk Among Boiler Workers Exposed to Asbestos

Since 1934, when a U.S. law was enacted to protect all ship components on ocean-going vessels from fire, asbestos has been widely used to insulate boilers in the engine rooms of both commercial and military ships.


Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma

The insulation surrounding boilers and pipes on ships were covered in asbestos jackets or asbestos cement in order to protect them from fire. Due to the close quarters on a ship, when repair or maintenance was necessary asbestos-containing materials were often disturbed, putting anyone on the ship at risk of inhaling the toxic fibers. The development of malignant mesothelioma has been almost exclusively linked with asbestos exposure.

Because asbestos fibers are lightweight, they can remain suspended in the air for long periods of time. Boiler room workers often carried these fibers on their clothing to other parts of the ship, exposing other shipmates to the dust.

For numerous years, asbestos was the primary material from which parts for boilers and other heat-producing units were created. Due to the cutting or manipulation that is often necessary required to properly fit parts inside the boiler, asbestos fibers could be easily released and inhaled or ingested, resulting in risk of disease later in life. Additionally, the sealants that were used to patch their pipes commonly contained asbestos that easily broke down under the extreme heat that boilers produce.

Boilers were not only used in ships, they were often used in commercial buildings as well. Well-made boilers can last decades, continuing to expose boilermakers and engine room workers to the deadly asbestos fibers that insulate them. In fact, thousands of boilers around the country still contain asbestos materials and put the workers that maintain them at serious risk.

Due to the long latency period associated with mesothelioma, symptoms for the disease may not show up until 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. As such, boilermakers and boiler room workers should seek regular checkups to test for signs of asbestos-related disease. Catching asbestos-related disease early is important for effective treatment options.

Additional information about mesothelioma and occupational asbestos exposure may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.