AS an epidemic of asbestos-related cancer looms nationally, hospital bosses are awaiting new guidelines on steps to take after a patient is diagnosed.
Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer of the lining of the lungs, caused by inhaling asbestos fibres.
The use of asbestos is now banned and guidelines on handling the building material have become stricter.
But an epidemic is due from 2011 to 2015 as people exposed to asbestos in the 1960s and 1970s are diagnosed with the disease.
Doctors at the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust diagnose between 10 and 20 patients with mesothelioma every year.
The Trust is currently referring suitable patients - that are willing to take part - for clinical trials and surgical procedures involving new drugs.
A spokesman for the Trust said: “Shortly new guidance is expected, which is likely to recommend that all cases of mesothelioma are discussed in one meeting covering the whole of Hertfordshire and south Bedfordshire - the area of the Mount Vernon Cancer Network.
“This will allow expertise to be developed by a small number of people and ensure that nobody misses out on the right advice.
“The Trust is already engaged with its partners in the local network to make sure that it is ready to implement the new guidance once it is published.
“It is important to remember, however, that until such time as a treatment is found that holds out the possibility of a cure, the aim will be to make sure that patients with mesothelioma have their quality of life enhanced as far as is possible.
Source: http://www.thecomet.net
SACLAY, France–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CISBIO, a developer and marketer of diagnostic assays for the
quantification of tumor markers, announced that the MESOMARK®
Assay, the world’s first in vitro test
for managing patients with mesothelioma, an aggressive and deadly form
of cancer, has been approved by the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). The MESOMARK®
test is developed and manufactured by Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc.
of Malvern, PA; CISBIO is the exclusive distributor of MESOMARK®
in Europe, where it is currently undergoing evaluation for
clinical use.
The MESOMARK® test is
now accessible to physicians across the U.S. for monitoring patients who
have been diagnosed with epithelioid or biphasic mesothelioma. This
minimally-invasive tool requires only a blood sample.
The transition of the MESOMARK®
test from research to clinical usage will be significant in
managing mesothelioma, which mainly affects individuals who have been
exposed to asbestos in the workplace. An estimated 10.000 new cases are
diagnosed in industrialized countries each year. Although recent
progress has been made in chemotherapy and surgical techniques for
treatment, diagnosing and monitoring remain difficult. Current testing
methods used to determine patient treatment can be invasive and costly.
The MESOMARK® Assay
is a manual enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that identifies a
group of molecular markers called soluble mesothelin-related proteins
(SMRP). Released into the bloodstream by mesothelioma cells, elevated
levels of these proteins are found in cancer patients.
The approval was given under the FDA’s
Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) program, which authorizes companies
to market medical devices to treat or diagnose diseases which meet
certain criteria.
About CISBIO
CISBIO develops, manufactures and markets diagnostic assays for the
quantification of tumor markers and other biomarkers in clinical
biology. European leader in nuclear medicine, CISBIO is also an
established developer of technologies that are used in assay development
and drug screening procedures to enhance drug discovery. The company
produces a selection of biological reagents and methods used by
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as contract research
organizations (CROs). Headquartered in Saclay, France, CISBIO is owned
by the Belgium consortium RadioPharma Partners. For more information
contact CISBIO on +33 (0) 169857325.
MESOMARK® is a
registered trademark of Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc.
Source: http://home.businesswire.com