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Study finds no increased risk of respiratory cancers from asbestos-free talc exposure

Researchers found no association between occupational talc exposure and increased risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, or laryngeal cancer when talc is free from asbestos contamination. The study suggests continued monitoring of occupational groups to better understand any potential low-level risks.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 10, 2026

Mount Sinai study strengthens landmark evidence supporting lung-sparing surgery, offering hope for mesothelioma patients

A new Mount Sinai study strengthens landmark evidence supporting lung-sparing surgery for pleural mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The research found zero in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates, and a 90-day mortality rate of 4.2 percent in carefully selected patients.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalThe Annals of Thoracic Surgery·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 12, 2026

Wake Forest University School of Medicine scientists uncover cancer treatment strategy that pushes tumor cells past their breaking point

Scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have discovered a new way to kill cancer cells by blocking their ability to clean up harmful waste. By inhibiting peroxiredoxin-3, researchers found that toxic levels of hydrogen peroxide overwhelm cancer cells, destroying them.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 4, 2025

ESMO 2025: VT3989 continues to show promising early results in patients with advanced mesothelioma

The VT3989 trial demonstrated a disease control rate of 86% in refractory mesothelioma patients, with notable partial responses and stable disease. The YAP-TEAD inhibitor also showed an encouraging safety profile, supporting continued clinical development in this unmet clinical need.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 19, 2025

Scientists develop super strong antibodies for new cancer treatment

Researchers from the University of Southampton engineered a new type of super-strong antibody that triggers a stronger response from the immune system compared to naturally produced antibodies. The study confirms that making subtle increases in rigidity stimulates immune activity, creating a powerful immune response against disease.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 1, 2025

Insilico Medicine announces first patient dosed in phase I clinical trial of ISM6331, the novel inhibitor for the treatment of mesothelioma and other solid tumors

Insilico Medicine has successfully dosed the first patient in its global Phase I clinical trial of ISM6331, a potent pan-TEAD inhibitor. The treatment demonstrates superior efficacy and safety in preclinical studies, with potential synergistic anti-tumor effects and overcoming drug resistance.

Expression of carbonic anhydrase IX as a novel diagnostic marker for differentiating pleural mesothelioma from non-small cell lung carcinoma

This study investigates the use of carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) as a diagnostic marker for distinguishing pleural mesothelioma from non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). CAIX expression is found to be highly sensitive and specific in detecting pleural epithelioid mesothelioma, comparable to or better than existing mesothelial markers.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalJournal of Clinical and Translational Pathology·DateOct 26, 2024

Gut bacteria influence responses to immunotherapy in patients with asbestos related cancer, Leicester study finds

A University of Leicester study has found that certain gut bacteria may influence whether a patient's immune system is successful in fighting mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer. Researchers suggest that dietary changes, such as increased fibre intake, could improve the benefits of immunotherapy for these patients.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 5, 2024

Scientists discover how the body's killer cells attack cancer

Researchers have found that natural killer cells instinctively recognize and attack the XPO1 protein, which drives cancer growth. By targeting this protein, scientists may be able to activate more killer cells to destroy cancer cells. The study suggests that this approach could lead to personalized cancer treatment with less side effects.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalScience Advances·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 28, 2024

New treatment for a rare and aggressive cancer improves survival rates in breakthrough clinical trial

A new treatment combining a novel drug with traditional chemotherapy has been shown to increase the survival of patients with malignant mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer. The ATOMIC-meso trial found that this treatment quadrupled the survival at 36 months compared to placebo-chemotherapy.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalJAMA Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 15, 2024

Australian patients coping with mesothelioma experienced higher levels of toxicity on CheckMate743 regimen than reported in clinical trials

A study published in Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that Australian patients with mesothelioma experienced higher levels of toxicity on the CheckMate743 regimen compared to clinical trial results. The study suggests combination immunotherapy may have poorer survival outcomes and appears more toxic in real-world practice.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateNov 28, 2023

Sylvester cancer investigators find disparities in mesothelioma survival due to social determinants, limited access

Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center found that mesothelioma patients with timely treatment and access to specialized care have better outcomes. However, disparities in access to care are evident, with Black patients being 80% more likely to die than white patients.

SourcePublic Relations Pacific LLC·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateMar 23, 2023

New fluorescent dye can light up the brain

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new fluorescent dye that can cross the blood-brain barrier, allowing for noninvasive brain imaging and differentiation between healthy tissue and tumor cells. The dye's long-lasting fluorescence enables stable imaging over extended periods.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 17, 2023

Preoperative immunotherapy for mesothelioma shows favorable outcomes

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that treating patients with resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma with immunotherapy ahead of surgery resulted in significant changes to the tumor microenvironment and increased overall survival. The study's findings provide a groundwork for neoadjuvant immunotherapy in mesothelioma.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalClinical Cancer Research·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

‘Drug factory’ implants eliminate mesothelioma tumors in mice

Rice University researchers have developed a treatment combining drug factory implants producing interleukin-2 with checkpoint inhibitors to eradicate advanced-stage mesothelioma tumors in mice. The treatment resulted in complete tumor destruction in all seven treated mice, offering a promising approach to this aggressive lung cancer.

SourceRice University·JournalClinical Cancer Research·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2022

Immunotherapy-chemotherapy treatment coupled with in-depth genomic analyses leads to improved survival for patients with mesothelioma

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center found a new treatment option for inoperable pleural mesothelioma using immunotherapy agent durvalumab combined with platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with epithelioid tumors experienced higher survival rates, including some who remained tumor-free after completing the trial.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·DateNov 8, 2021

Nature Medicine publishes phase 2 trial data showing durvalumab immunotherapy with standard chemotherapy improved survival in malignant pleural mesothelioma

A phase 2 clinical trial shows durvalumab immunotherapy combined with standard chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival for patients with previously untreated malignant pleural mesothlioma. The study's findings provide insights into patient selection methods for this novel chemo-immunotherapy regimen.

SourcePrECOG, LLC·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 8, 2021

Trial targets deadly lung cancer

A clinical trial is underway to test the safety and feasibility of intrapleural liposomal curcumins as an alternative to chemotherapy for malignant mesothelioma. The researchers aim to reduce toxic side-effects and facilitate early diagnosis with a special lung fluid test.

Two drugs used in combination prove to be effective against most aggressive asbestos cancer in mice

Researchers at CNIO have identified a potential effective treatment for sarcomatoid mesothelioma, the most aggressive type of asbestos cancer, using two existing drugs in combination. The study found that blocking MEK and PI3K pathways reduces the growth and invasiveness of mesothelioma cells in mice.

Diagnosing cancer

Scientists at Ruhr-University Bochum have established a new process for identifying biomarkers in cancer diagnosis, utilizing infrared spectroscopy. The method enables precise analysis of protein changes in tumor tissue, facilitating personalized therapy.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 3, 2017