Investigation of Mesothelioma Treatments
All types of malignant cancers, including malignant mesothelioma, cause damage by the quick growth and expansion of tumors. These tumors attack and cripple the organs where they originate and then metastasize and invade other organs. Anti-cancer drugs are designed to stop the spread of cancer by abolishing or retarding the quick growth of the cancerous tumors. These anti-cancer drugs fall into several categories of cancer cells in a variety of ways.
Types of Treatment for Cancer
When cancer cells multiply, DNA duplicates and creates new DNA for the "daughter" cells. This new DNA then “tells” the cells how to function. When the new cells are created, a whole new set of identical DNA is carried to the new cell. This multiplication process is normally very orderly in non-cancerous cells; however, when cancer is present, cell multiplication is rapid and uncontrolled.
Most cancer drugs are designed to halt DNA from duplicating, which stops the cancer cells from multiplying. Drugs can disrupt DNA in a number of ways. This includes directly damaging the DNA.
Cell growth and DNA synthesis can be targeted through antimetabolite drugs, such as Alimta, which stops nutrition from getting to DNA and stops the metabolism needed for DNA growth. Another type of drug does not directly target DNA, but blocks the hormones that "feed" the cancer cells.
Treatment Drugs for Mesothelioma
No single drug has been found to be effective in treating mesothelioma. A number of single agents have been tested in clinical trials including Platinol, paraplantin, eloxatin, raltitexed, methotrexate and ranpirnase. Response rates to these single agents have usually been 20% or less.
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