Asbestos-Cancer Treatments Expected to Improve with MARF Grants; Federal Government Asked to Assist in Developing Cure

12/13/2002

From: Christopher E. Hahn of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, 805-560-8942, e-mail: c-hahn@marf.org.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Dec. 13 -- While there is much focus in the press and in Washington today on corporations going bankrupt because of their asbestos liability, one organization is addressing the fundamental human problem. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) is the only national nonprofit dedicated to curing mesothelioma, the asbestos cancer that kills 3,000 Americans each year.

Through the generosity of its donors -- a handful of lawyers representing mesothelioma victims, two corporations that made and sold asbestos products, and thousands of mesothelioma patients and their families and friends have given so far -- MARF funds critical research directly applicable to eradicating mesothelioma.

Each year, MARF solicits applications from around the world for high-quality mesothelioma research projects. MARF has assembled many of the nation's foremost mesothelioma experts, who subject the applications to a competitive, peer-review process. MARF then awards research grants of $100,000 each to the top ranking projects. Since it began this process in 2000, MARF has awarded $400,000 to four promising projects.

Today, MARF announced its grant awardees for 2002. According to MARF Executive Director Christopher Hahn, ten research proposals were submitted by top cancer researchers from the U.S. and three other countries. All of the proposed projects were very good, but two stood out as exceptional. Both apply to mesothelioma leading-edge concepts from general cancer research, and if successful, will translate directly into improved mesothelioma treatment.

Dr. Ite Laird-Offringa's study concerns chemical modifications of DNA known as DNA methylation. Because these modifications occur in specific patterns in different kinds of cancer cells, analysis of DNA methylation is one of the most promising new areas of cancer diagnostics. Dr. Laird-Offringa and her laboratory at USC will use state of the art technology to identify DNA methylation patterns that are specific for mesothelioma.

In the short term, this will enable more accurate and rapid diagnosis of the disease. In the long term, such methylation patterns may be used for early detection, and to predict and follow patient response to treatment. Eventually, identification of DNA regions that are specifically methylated may even lead to the identification of tumor-suppressor genes that are silenced in mesothelioma. Identifying these inactivated tumor-suppressor genes is critical to understanding, and eventually being able to stop or reverse, the multistep pathway that allows the mesothelioma tumor to develop and progress.

Doctors Muralidhar Beeram and Johann de Bono of the San Antonio Cancer Therapy and Research Center will apply the new field of pharmacogenetics to malignant mesothelioma. Pharmacogenetics seeks to improve chemotherapy's effectiveness and lower its toxicity by individualizing it to the patient's particular genetic profile. Drs. de Bono and Beeram will examine Alimta (pemetrexed), the first chemotherapy shown to improve the survival of malignant mesothelioma patients.

Both Alimta's anticancer activity and its side-effect profile result largely from its effect on the enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS). Interestingly, general population genetic variations cause TS levels to vary greatly among patients. The study will analyze the impact of mesothelioma patients' varying TS levels on Alimta's anticancer activity and its side-effects. The goal is to allow Alimta dosing to be individualized or tailored to a particular patient based on a simple blood test determining the patient's TS level.

Dr. Nicholas Vogelzang, head of the University of Chicago's Cancer Research Center and a member of MARF's Board of Directors, believes the Beeram/de Bono study has very high potential. He is a top authority on Alimta, having led the large Phase III trial which established Alimta's effectiveness. "While forty-six percent of patients responded to Alimta/cisplatin compared to 19 percent to cisplatin alone, individually, there was a wide degree of variation to the Alimta combination. Some patients' responses fell below the average, while other patients' responses were astounding. If Doctors de Bono and Beeram can establish that varying TS levels contribute to this variability, and can then customize the dosing of Alimta for each patient to maximize its effectiveness, this would be another strong step forward in mesothelioma treatment."

According to Dr. Vogelzang, this study and Dr. Laird-Offringa's DNA methylation study have an even broader significance. "Mesothelioma has been regarded as a terribly difficult disease and was essentially ignored for decades while it struck down our nation's heroes. These are people who were exposed to asbestos because they worked hard every day, defending us during war while working in ships and shipyards, and during peace, building our country and working in its factories. Today, the average age of its victims is decreasing, and with events like the asbestos-exposure following 9/11, its incidence is expected to increase for the next 10-20 years.

"Against this tragic background, these two studies are excellent examples of the progress finally being made and the excellent potential that now exists to cure mesothelioma. With limited resources, MARF is doing what it can. But to truly realize this potential and cure mesothelioma, we believe it is time for the federal government to step up and do its part to fund mesothelioma research proportionate to other cancers."

For more information, contact The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (http://www.marf.org) Executive Director, Christopher E. Hahn, 805-560-8942, c-hahn@marf.org.