Currently, the only way to prevent mesothelioma is to ensure no exposure to asbestos. That may seem easy in the UK as asbestos was banned here in 2000, however every week we read about employees who have been failed by their bosses and been exposed to asbestos, or fly tippers dumping the deadly substances. And what about people living in the many countries who still haven’t banned asbestos? Not forgetting those who had already worked all their life being exposed to asbestos and are now waiting to see if the ticking asbestos timebomb is going to explode?
There may be a solution in the future. Dr Pietro Bertino is working on a mesothelioma vaccine to prevent people exposed to asbestos from developing this most insidious disease.
Dr Bertino is an assistant researcher at the University of Hawaii and has been awarded a $550,000 research grant to develop a multiantigen mesothelioma vaccine aimed at prevention and therapeutics. He hopes that if he is able to develop a vaccine for mesothelioma, it could work for other cancers as well.
The vaccine is currently being tested in animal models and is designed to identify several proteins in mesothelioma tumours and produce antibodies that can induce an immune response.
Early results in mice have shown the vaccine successfully eradicates mesothelioma tumour cells. In its early stages the vaccine was giving survival of around 15 to 20 days but the latest results show subjects are tumour free in 40% of cases.
Although the vaccine is still in its early stages, and it is not a given that results will be replicable in humans, this is extremely positive news. We will keep you updated on any developments.
If you require assistance in pursuing an asbestos compensation claim for mesothelioma or other asbestos disease then please contact us today on our freephone number 0800 038 6767. Alternatively, head over to the ‘Contact Us’ page, complete the form and we will be in touch.
Source: University of Hawaii Cancer Center. (2016, March 30). UK Cancer Center and JABSOM Researchers Receive U.S. Department of Defense Awards totalling $3 million.