Asbestos & Mesothelioma Law Blog
A recent study conducted by an international team of pathologists has reportedly identified a new protein which is often found in the tumor cells of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of lung cancer which commonly affects the thin lining of tissue surrounding the lungs. With the discovery, researchers hope that doctors can make a more accurate prognosis for their patients and craft more effective and targeted treatment options to help these individuals live longer, more comfortable lives.
Published in The Journal of Pathology, the study found that the presence of protein CD70 correlates with a worse prognosis in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma through immune evasion and enhanced invasiveness. The study was led by researchers at Aichi Medical University School of Medicine in Nagakute, Japan, with contributions from doctors based in the U.S., Poland, and Germany.
In the paper, the authors determined that about 20% of the mesothelioma tumor cells examined showed high levels of the CD70 protein, which resulted in a median survival of only six and a half months compared to a survival rate of a year and a half for patients without the over expression of the protein. Researchers believe these findings may explain the significant differences in survival periods between patients with the disease. The same protein has been studied in other serious forms of cancer, including certain types of kidney cancers and brain cancers.
Mesothelioma is directly linked to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which was once used in a variety of applications, including auto parts, vinyl floor tiles, and insulation. Some of the most common occupations associated with asbestos exposure include auto parts factory workers, pipefitters and steamfitters, and dock workers, but any innocent person can be unknowingly exposed to asbestos if he or she lived or worked in proximity to buildings built with the substance.
Despite knowing for decades about the serious health risks associated with exposure to asbestos dust, companies continued to manufacture and sell these carcinogenic products, putting hundreds of thousands of innocent people at risk. Even with the passage of decades between exposure and receiving a mesothelioma cancer diagnosis, victims can still hold wrongdoers accountable for their indifference to public safety.
While we would expect wrongdoers to take responsibility for their negligence, many asbestos companies would rather deny, delay, and defend otherwise meritorious claims as patients struggle with medical bills and lost wages while recovering from the disease. Fortunately, the law gives mesothelioma cancer victims and their families the right to file asbestos cancer lawsuits against these entities and recover compensation for their damages.
Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment.