Malignant mesothelioma resistant to most treatment options

August 1, 2005

Malignant mesothelioma is resistant to most treatments, and the occurrence of the potentially fatal disease is increasing throughout the world. Exposure to asbestos has been blamed as the main cause for developing mesothelioma, most often exposure occurred in the workplace or from living in places where high levels of asbestos were inhaled or swallowed.

In a report from the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences, it suggested risks from naturally occurring asbestos, though low, must be taken seriously. The study's senior author, Marc Schenker, said the study provided important supportive evidence of the dangers of exposure to naturally occurring asbestos resulting in mesothelioma. Schenker believed the study indicated, "Public efforts should not shift to understanding the risk and how we can protect people from this preventable malignancy."

Every year, mesothelioma kills about 2,500 people in the United States, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health statistics. In the UK, mortality from mesothelioma is on the rise and still increasing, according to a study reported in Feb. The study predicted the rate of mesothelioma would begin to decline by 2015, and the highest number of mesothelioma deaths would peak between 2011 and 2015.

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which the cancer cells are found in the pleural area or the peritoneum. Proven so far to be an incurable cancer, most patients die within a year of diagnosis. Congress is now considering a bill that would create a trust fund for asbestos victims to end the litigation that currently includes 700,000 individual claims filed against 8,400 businesses.

The $140 billion proposed trust fund for victims would be created from payments made by insurance companies and businesses being sued. Backed by businesses seeking relief from claims, groups and individuals against the bill say that victims would see their damages capped, and some would not even qualify for payments, while companies would see their asbestos liabilities cut by tens of billions of dollars.

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