December 31st, 2004

Current research has given researchers and experts fresh hope that a cure could someday be found for the deadly and currently incurable cancer, mesothelioma. This is a cancer that can affect the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart, and results from exposure to asbestos. Currently, there is no long term treatment or cure, although short term breakthroughs have been made over recent years.

The current research is being carried out on mice, and the Sydney Morning Herald recently reported on the results of the tests. One of the test mice was injected with mesothelioma cells, and was then administered a treatment called coramsine, a chemotherapy drug. Coramsine is a drug that is still under development. In addition to this drug, the mouse was given immune system boosting drugs.

Richard Lake, University of Western Australian researcher, reported that the injected mouse actually went on to recover from mesothelioma after being given the treatment. In addition to recovering from the cancer, the mouse also rejected attempts of a tumor re-growth.

Although the testing is still in an animal research capacity at this stage, Dr Lake has stated that the combination of immune system boosting drugs and coramsine has shown extremely promising results so far, and that this can hopefully be applied to human treatment in the future.