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Statins May Help Pleural Mesothelioma Cells Respond to Chemotherapy Drug Doxorubicin
TORINO, ITALY — July 28, 2006 — A new study may lead to an increased role for the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin in the battle against pleural mesothelioma (Int J Cancer. 2006 Jul 1; 119(1): 17–27). A traditional, standard treatment for various cancers, doxorubicin is believed to limit tumor cell growth and division. However, doxorubicin has been of little help to mesothelioma patients because their cancer cells have proved to be resistant to the drug.
How Statins Work with Doxorubicin
The researchers collected fluid from the pleural cavities of three mesothelioma patients in order to obtain mesothelioma tumor cells. They cultured the cells and looked at the effects of adding doxorubicin and the statins, mevastatin and simvastatin. Statins are normally used to lower blood cholesterol. In this case, both statins increased the accumulation of doxorubicin and its ability to damage the mesothelioma cancer cells.
The statins may be enhancing the effects of doxorubicin by increasing the production of nitric oxide and limiting RhoA, a protein involved in cell division, the researchers suggest. When they added a nitric oxide inhibitor to the mix, the effects of the statins were completely halted.
Mesothelioma Treatments
At present, there is no cure for pleural mesothelioma, although there are various treatments. The surgical technique known as extrapleural pneumonectomy has helped improve the quality of life and increase survival for some patients. However, this invasive surgery requires removing portions of the lung and the lining of the lung. Not all mesothelioma patients can withstand this procedure, which is often limited to cases of early stage mesothelioma.
In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed (ALIMTA®), combined with a standard platinum compound, cisplatin, to treat patients with pleural mesothelioma when surgery was not an option. Pemetrexed attacks cancer cells by inhibiting the synthesis of thymidine and purine, enzymes that are necessary for cell growth. The medicine has been successful in prolonging life and reducing pain.
Your Mesothelioma Case
For further details about mesothelioma treatment, see Pleural Mesothelioma: Choosing a Treatment that Is Right for You. Also see Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy and New Drug Research.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please feel free to contact us at Brayton Purcell to learn about your legal choices. We have been handling cases involving pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure for over 20 years and can provide support, information, and excellent advocacy.
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