Hope for Mesothelioma Patients May Lie in Recent Genetic Study

A recently published article about the genetic affect of asbestos exposure has offered insight into the development of asbestos-related diseases. The scientific study, published in the September issue of BMC Genomics, may be significant in helping to diagnose and treat asbestos-related diseases.

In the past, scientists have studied the genes involved in the body’s response to asbestos, but have not seen much success. This is largely due to the complexity of the body’s response to the toxin.

Scientists of the recent study employed an approach called “systems biology,” which takes a more holistic observation of biological processes. Instead of studying one gene, many genes are analyzed for a more systemic observation. The scientists used this approach to generate a comprehensive view of what happens in human lung epithelial cells when they are exposed to crocidolite asbestos.

A robust and comprehensive set of data was generated, which documents the genetic changes in a certain section of DNA—changes that may be involved in the development of asbestos-related disease.

The genes studied serve functions in a range of important cellular processes, including the cell cycle, cell death and growth, proliferation, gene expression, and the development of cancer. A mutation or error in any of these processes can lead to the growth of cancers.

Through studying these genes and the effects of crocidolite asbestos, the scientists have noted a complex interplay among the genetic responses to asbestos. The study identified several genes that may be pivotal in controlling how cells respond to asbestos.

Insight into these genes could offer hope to many people suffering with asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that most commonly affects the lining of the lungs. Caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos, malignant mesothelioma currently has no cure.

Mesothelioma treatment options often result in palliative measures since curative methods have little to no positive effect on the development and spread of the cancer. Typical treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Though six forms of asbestos are now regulated, the mineral has still not been banned in the United States. Thousands of people are still diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases every year, and many experts say the incidence rate has yet to peak. Mesothelioma has a latency period of two to five decades, which means people exposed in the 1970s and even earlier may be at risk of developing the cancer even though they appear healthy.

The recent study is undoubtedly the first to take a function-based global approach in the reaction of human lung epithelial cells to crocidolite asbestos. The scientists of the study report their work is an important resource for future research into asbestos genetics and is a valuable base on which to build further study.

For more information, visit Mesothelioma Cancer Center

(Source)

Youngest asbestos cancer sufferer dies aged 28

Leigh Carlisle, who pioneered treatment for the deadly asbestos-related disease mesothelioma, has died aged 28. It was believed that Leigh was the youngest sufferer of the disease in the country.

Her doctors and lawyers never established how she was exposed to asbestos or how she began to show symptoms of the disease at such a young age. The affects of the cancer usually take more than 20 years to reveal themselves after exposure.

It is thought possible that Leigh was affected at her school in Oldham and lawyers have placed a Freedom of Information request with Oldham council to try and determine whether asbestos may have been present in her classrooms.

200 school workers have died or are dying following the widespread use of asbestos in schools throughout the country in the latter part of the twentieth century.

Rochdale asbestos company Turner & Newall were among the leading companies to push for schools to continue using asbestos in schools during the 1960s despite the concerns of the Department of Education and Science over the health risks.

The power of what was once the world's largest asbestos factory was no more evident than in 1967. The company wrote a joint letter with Cape Asbestos to the Department telling them that a memorandum it had issued to local authorities to "reduce the use of all forms of asbestos by finding a substitute wherever possible", should be put into the context of the use of asbestos by students in laboratories and that 'reducing all forms of use' would have "enormous economic consequences".

The Department relented and defined the scope of the memorandum to that which was suggested by the asbestos firms.

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 29/08/2008

Asbestos Mesothelioma: Creating a Better Life Proved Fatal

Panama City, FL: Frances' husband Charles was riddled with cancer when he died in 1998. The cancer could have been caused by more than 35 years exposure to asbestos in the building that housed their business. Now Frances and her daughter are wondering if they may at risk for the same fate.

In the early 1970s Charles and Frances bought a building in Florida, and started a motorcycle and automobile repair shop. They worked there on a daily basis for more than three decades without knowing that the building contained asbestos. And if that weren't enough, the brake shoes that Charles worked on would have contained asbestos. But the dangers of asbestos weren't widely known at the time.

"It wasn't until 1991 that my husband noticed he wasn't feeling well," Frances said. "So we went to the doctor. It turned out he had cancer on one of his vocal cords. Three years later cancer appeared on the other vocal cord. He underwent radiation for the cancer on his first vocal cord, but they couldn't do that for the second vocal cord, so they gave him laser therapy. Then about four years later, one morning before we went into work, my husband showed me a lump on his lower right abdomen. So we went to the doctor. The doctor thought it was just a cyst, and put him on antibiotics. But before three days had passed, the lump had grown from the size of a small marble to a ping pong ball. So he went to see a surgeon, who admitted him to hospital. Within two and a half days of being admitted the lump had grown to the size of a lemon and it was as hard as could be.

The surgeon operated and removed the entire lump, and three days later he told us that it was cancerous. My husband then underwent radiation to the area, but a week and a half into radiation treatment another growth appeared. This one started out the size of a ping pong ball. As a result, the doctors advised us that the cancer had spread throughout his system, and further radiation wouldn't be necessary.

At this time he also had his lungs checked again. I'm a retired nurse, and I saw his x-rays. You couldn't even see his lungs there was so much cancer in his chest. The doctors gave him six weeks, and he lived four weeks and three days. We tried to go home, but he was getting so bad, it just wasn't possible. I stayed nine days without leaving the hospital." Charles passed away in 1998.

Frances had no idea their shop had asbestos in it. In fact it was her daughter who uncovered the documents that state there is asbestos in the building materials. While the cause of her husband`s cancer was never determined, Frances thinks it could be related to the asbestos exposure.

"I have a book on asbestos," Frances said. "My husband had every symptom it describes for asbestosis and mesothelioma. I am short of breath, and I have problems with my intestines, which could be a symptom. My daughter also came to the shop a lot, and she has lung problems. I would like to be tested but we don't have a lot of money for that."

Frances would like some answers. Indeed Frances needs some answers. Asbestosis and mesothelioma take years to manifest, years that could be used to prepare for the deterioration in health associated with these illnesses. Financial compensation is part of that preparation, and a lawyer may be able to help with that.

(Source)
August 27, 2008. By Lucy Campbell

Asbestos suits on the rise in Madison County and nationwide

An educated public that knows to call a lawyer after an asbestos-related diagnosis is partly why lawsuits are increasing not only in Madison County, but nationwide, according to a local plaintiff's attorney.

New asbestos lawsuits account for half of the cases filed in the Third Judicial Circuit's L Division so far this year. As of Aug. 27, 756 L Division cases, ones which seek damages in excess of $50,000, have been filed in Madison County and 383 or 50.7 percent of those are asbestos claims.

A prominent Madison County asbestos plaintiffs' attorney who spoke to the Record on condition of anonymity, said cases are up because of public education through lawyer advertising over the past decade.

"Ten years ago, people with mesothelioma did not know they needed to call a lawyer," said the attorney who is a regular at the Madison County Courthouse on asbestos docket days. "Now, with the general public educated, late night television commercials and magazine ads, mesothelioma victims always call an attorney."

"Jump forward to 2008, and I would bet nearly 100 percent of mesothelioma suffers file an action now."

Prior to 2007, there had not been an increase in asbestos filings in Madison County since 2003.

In 2007, there were 455 asbestos suits filed in Madison County, which is 130 cases more than in 2006, a year in which 325 cases were filed-- that was the lowest number of asbestos filings since 1998, when 176 cases were filed. In 2005, there were 389 asbestos cases.

Asbestos filings in Madison County:
1995: 273
1996: 65
1997: 556
1998: 176
1999: 425
2000: 411
2001: 889
2002: 809
2003: 953
2004: 473
2005: 389
2006: 325
2007: 455

Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack, the county's presiding asbestos judge, said he had a meeting with both sides of the asbestos bar and they told him asbestos cases are up nationwide.

"Part of the reason is doctors are now saying different types of cancers are caused by asbestos," Stack said.

Stack said he has been told that doctors are saying cancer of the esophagus and lungs are also caused by asbestos fibers.

Attorney Ted Gianaris of SimmonsCooper, Madison County's largest asbestos filer, said the Internet also plays a large part in the increase.

"We offer Web advertising as a public service so people know their rights when it comes to asbestos-related illnesses," Gianaris said.

"Also, people will continue to get asbestos-related illnesses for the next 15-20 years," Gianaris noted. "Some years will just have more diagnoses than others."

Randy Gori of the newly formed Gori, Julian & Associates firm in Edwardsville speculated that the increase in filings could be due to technological advances in the medical field.

"The ability to diagnose mesothelioma has become better in the past few years," Gori said. "Plus, doctors are better educated on mesothelioma and test for it more often than they did five years ago."

Robert Shultz, a defense attorney for Heyl Royster in Edwardsville, said he was not sure why cases are increasing, but admitted Madison County is a court where litigants can a trial date quickly.

Another defense attorney, who asked not to be identified, said his client does not mind that asbestos cases are filed in Madison County.

"If a plaintiff has been diagnosed with mesothelioma we are going to face litigation in some forum one way or another," he said. "We would rather come to Madison County where a specialized docket is already in place, than travel to a forum when they see one asbestos case every three years."

He also commented that Madison County was actually a convenient place to bring witnesses for depositions or even trial.

"Edwardsville is less than 30 minutes from the airport," he said. "Some places you fly in, rent a car and then have to drive up to 80 miles to get to the courthouse and that is simply not convenient. Plus, at least here, we can handle 10 cases in one courtroom, with one judge, rather than spending thousands of dollars on traveling to handle the same cases."

Currently, Stack is not concerned with the increase in asbestos filings.

Stack, who also is Madison County's chief civil judge, said he would be concerned if the asbestos numbers continually trend higher as they did in 2002 when there were 809 cases and in 2003 when there was an all-time high of 953.

In addition to cases being filed by people claiming their cancers were caused by asbestos, secondary exposure cases are also increasing in Madison County, figures show.

For instance, more and more plaintiffs are alleging they were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers while laundering the clothing of individuals exposed first-hand.

At least 73 or 19.06 percent of all asbestos cases filed this year have alleged their exposure came from asbestos from the clothing of a family member

And lately a large number of asbestos cases are being filed from plaintiffs who live outside of Illinois.

Out of the 383 cases filed so far this year, roughly 92 percent of the plaintiffs live in other states. The Illinois residents that do file in Madison County are not always locals.

According to Stack, not much can be done to curtail out-of-towners from filing their cases here.

"Nothing is being done to curb the filings as there is nothing that can be done," Stack said in an e-mail interview earlier this year.

"I mean, the Circuit Clerk's office can't refuse them and the court can't simply sua sponte dismiss them."

But, Stack has made it clear that if cases do not belong, and a movant can prove another forum is convenient, he will transfer a case.

On Aug. 7, Stack granted a forum non conveniens motion and transferred an asbestos case to Cook County.

(SOURCE)
8/28/2008 6:33 AM
By Steve Gonzalez

MP MacDougall dies after illness

(SOURCE)
The MP for the Fife town of Glenrothes had been battling mesothelioma, an incurable asbestos-related cancer of the lining of the lungs, for some time.

His death will trigger a by-election in the seat, which neighbours Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency.

Mr MacDougall, a former leader of Fife Council who was first elected to the Commons in 2001, was 60 when he died.
The Dunfermline-born married father-of-two had been a patient at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, where he was visited by Mr Brown on Monday.

The prime minister led the tributes to Mr MacDougall, which came from across the party spectrum.

Mr Brown said: "John MacDougall gave more than 30 years of distinguished public service to Fife and he will be remembered as a true servant of the people.

"Over three decades, he has been a good personal friend of mine."
Mr MacDougall started work at the RGC oil rig construction yard at Methil, before union activism led him into politics.
The former boilermaker led Fife Council for nine years before taking over the Central Fife Westminster seat, held by Henry McLeish, who went on to become Scottish first minister.

Following boundary changes, Mr MacDougall stayed in parliament as MP for the new Glenrothes constituency, where his majority at the last election was 10,664.

Mr MacDougall was known for his extensive connections in the EU, having sat on the body which investigated financial irregularity in the European Community.

He also served as vice-president of the Assembly of the European Regions.
Mr MacDougall, who had been fighting Mesothelioma for two years, never fully recovered from surgery in London last year and had been chronically ill.

John MacDougall's life in politics
1947 - Born in Dunfermline, Fife
1964 - Starts work at Methil oil rig construction yard
1978 - Becomes trade union shop steward
1981 - Joins Labour Party, becoming chairman of local branch
1982 - Elected as Fife councillor and serves for nearly 20 years
2001 - Elected MP for Central Fife
2005 - Re-elected as MP for new Glenrothes seat

He has left behind his wife Cathy and two children, Scott and Julie.
SNP MP Angus Robertson said he was saddened by Mr MacDougall's death.
He added: "We may have been on opposite sides in the House of Commons, but John carried the respect of people right across the chamber and was passionate for the issues he believed in and the welfare of his constituents, which he cared about deeply."

North East Fife MP and former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, said: "His courageous fight against illness in recent times meant parliament was denied his shrewd interventions on so many issues."

Scottish Conservative MP David Mundell, said: "John was a kind and decent man who was dedicated to the service of the people of Fife, with distinguished service both in parliament and local government."

The last by-election fought in Fife, in February 2006, saw the Liberal Democrats overturn a Labour majority of more than 11,500 to win the seat of Dunfermline and West Fife.

And in a by-election last month, the SNP won what was thought to have been one of Labour's safest seats, Glasgow East.

Scientists push for National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank

Researchers studying mesothelioma—a rare and particularly aggressive asbestos-related cancer—have emphasized the need for a means to share clinical and epidemiological data. The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB) is an initiative aimed at accomplishing that goal. The NMVB encourages the use of common protocols and standards by researchers. It also supplies a web-based method for scientists to annotate, import and search case studies. Strict security measures are employed to ensure patient privacy.

For the full story, go to 7th Space.

Man sues 73 corporations over asbestos illness

An Illinois man suffering from mesothelioma has named 73 defendant corporations in an asbestos lawsuit filed in Madison County Circuit Court.

Franz Mueller claims he was diagnosed with mesothelioma on April 9, and subsequently learned his disease was wrongfully caused.

According to the complaint filed Aug. 19, Mueller was employed from 1960 to 1992 as a machine operator and welder at various locations in Illinois and Missouri.

Mueller claims the defendants failed in their duty to exercise reasonable care and caution for his safety.

He is seeking damages in excess of $150,000, plus costs.

Mueller is represented by Tim Thompson of SimmonsCooper in East Alton.

8/22/2008 3:29 PM
By Steve Gonzalez
(SOURCE)

National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank: a standard based biospecimen and clinical data resource to enhance translational research

Advances in translational research have led to the need for well characterized biospecimens for research. The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB) is an initiative which collects annotated datasets relevant to human mesothelioma to develop an enterprise biospecimen resource to fulfill researchers' need.

Methods: The NMVB architecture is based on three major components: (a) common data elements (based on CAP protocol and NAACCR standards), (b) clinical and epidemiologic data annotation, and (c) data query tools.

These tools work interoperably to standardize the entire process of annotation. The NMVB tool is based upon the caTISSUE Clinical Annotation Engine (CAE), developed by the University of Pittsburgh in cooperation with the Cancer Biomedical Informatics GridTM (caBIGTM, see http://cabig.nci.nih.gov).

This application provides a web-based system for annotating, importing and searching mesothelioma cases. The underlying information model is constructed utilizing Unified Modeling Language (UML) class diagrams, hierarchical relationships and Enterprise Architect (EA) software.Result: The database provides researchers real-time access to richly annotated specimens and integral information related to mesothelioma.

The data disclosed are tightly regulated depending upon users' authorization and depending on the participating institute that is amenable to the local IRB and regulation committee reviews.

Conclusion: The NMVB currently has over 600 annotated cases available for researchers that include paraffin embedded tissues, tissue microarrays, serum and genomic DNA. The NMVB is a virtual biospecimen registry with robust translational biomedical informatics support to facilitate basic science, clinical, and translational research.

Furthermore, it protects patient privacy by disclosing only de-identified datasets to assure that biospecimens can be made accessible to researchers.

Author: Waqas Amin, Anil V Parwani, Linda Schmandt, Sambit K Mohanty, Ghada Farhat, Andrew K Pople, Sharon B Winters, Nancy B Whelan, Althea M Schneider, John T Milnes, Federico A Valdivieso, Michael Feldman, Harvey I Pass, Rajiv Dhir, Jonathan Melamed an



Published on: 2008-08-13

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Glenrothes MP John MacDougall (60) died this morning after a prolonged battle against mesotheliom

Death of Glenrothes MP

Glenrothes MP John MacDougall (60) died this morning after a prolonged battle against mesothelioma, an asbestos-related lung cancer.John MacDougall was diagnosed with the disease more than two years ago.

In March 2007 he underwent radical surgery as part of a medical trial in London, a procedure that held out hope of him being able to continue the job that he so enjoyed.

Sadly, despite a considerable amount of therapy, Mr MacDougall enjoyed very little quality of life in the aftermath of his operation.

Although in great pain, he made his last visit to Parliament to support the Prime Minister and the government in the vote on detention of terror suspects for 42 days, a position that he had he had consistently held.

Mr MacDougall had continued to work from home and through his constituency office and until two weeks ago he was still holding meetings.

Most noticeably he held a meeting in his constituency office at which he kept up the pressure on WH Smith and the Post Office to improve postal services in Glenrothes Town Centre.

He is survived by his wife Cathy, and his children Scott and Julie.

New support group for asbestos victims

A support group for sufferers of the asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma and their carers has been set up in Norfolk, and will hold its inaugural meeting next month.

The group has been set up as a joint venture between Gorleston's James Paget Hospital and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the NNUH said: “The NNUH and James Paget Hospital are setting up a support group for those who suffer from mesothelioma.

“This is the first time that such a support group will be available to both patients and relatives affected by this condition.

“There will be an inaugural meeting taking place on September 15, further details of which will be published in the local press in due course.

“In the meantime, if anyone has any queries regarding this group please contact Chris Fowkes, in respiratory medicine at the NNUH on 01603 289688.”

As previously reported in The Evening News, Dr Ian Gibson, MP for Norwich North, has teamed up with a top solicitor to hold an open advice surgery in the city for people suffering from asbestos-related illnesses.

Dr Gibson came up with the idea after meeting David Cass, from Irwin Mitchell solicitors in Sheffield, who has several clients in Norfolk, and the first surgeries should be held in the next month.

The city MP has also launched a campaign in Norwich to get compensation for people who suffer from pleural plaques, a scarring of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos.

The Evening News has raised awareness of the risks of asbestos through our Dust of Death campaign, launched in 1997, which highlighted the plight of workers who were exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma most commonly affects people involved in construction and is caused by exposure to the deadly dust.

The meeting will be held at the Brundall Memorial Hall from 2pm to 4pm on September 15, and is open to patients and carers from Norfolk and Waveney.

Norwich Evening News
13 August 2008