Tumor Treating Fields Mesothelioma
Tumor treating fields mesothelioma, a new type of treatment which uses alternating electric fields to limit the growth of cancer. It is combined with chemotherapy to treat pleural mesothelioma.
The FDA approved TTFields concomitant with pemetrexed and Cisplatin in the year 2019 following the success of the STELLAR trial. Patients may ask their mesothelioma physician to prescribe this treatment.
Disrupting Cell Division
TTFields employ alternation of electrical fields to destroy cancer cell proteins and stop their cells from growing. This prevents mesothelioma from spreading or growing in other organs. TTFields also work to stimulate the production of proteins that eliminate cancer cells and aid the immune system fight mesothelioma tumors.
During treatment the patient wears a small device with insulated pads that stick to the skin. The device delivers low-intensity electric current, and patients are able to regulate the extent of treatment they receive. A mesothelioma treatment lasts around 30 minutes. Patients can undergo TTFields treatments multiple times a day.
A TTFields study published in 2021 found that the electrical field intensity of 100 to 300 Kilohertz could stop cell division in cancer cells and cause them to die. The study included different types of cancer cells, and found that electrical fields killed all of them, regardless of cell structure.
pericardial mesothelioma treatment suggested mixing TTFields and chemotherapy for mesothelioma. Novocure’s TTFields product, called NovoTTF 100L, was approved by the FDA in 2019 to treat pleural mesothelioma that is not resectable. It is now available through mesothelioma physicians at certified medical centers across the U.S., including the West Cancer Center in Memphis. The NovoTTF 100L device, also referred to as Optune Lua has been used to treat mesothelioma when it is combined with platinum-based chemotherapy and pemetrexed. Mesothelioma patients have reported an extended survival time when the TTFields treatment has been combined with chemotherapy.
Another study, published in “Lung Cancer”, reported that TTFields therapy is highly effective in conjunction with chemotherapy. Researchers discovered that the combination of chemotherapy and TTFields significantly reduced the number mesothelioma cancerous cells in animal models. The study also revealed that the combination of these two treatments increased the production of proteins that kill mesothelioma cancer cells and reduce the amount of cancerous DNA found in the body.
Despite being an emerging treatment, many mesothelioma specialists do not yet offer TTFields to treat pleural mesothelioma. Patients still have access to this treatment through clinical trials or at mesothelioma clinics certified by Novocure.
Stalling Tumor Development
When mesothelial cancer cells multiply and exceed their normal lifespan, they become mutated and may cause an overabundance of cells that increases and spreads throughout the body. Treatment for tumors prevents mesothelial cell duplicates which prevents mesothelioma from growing and spreading.
The TTFields device, worn on the chest as a vest creates a series of electrical fields that can alter protein and cancer cells and slow the development of tumors. The device is equipped with insulated pads that adhere to the skin. Patients or health professionals are able to apply them at home.
Doctors recommend the combination of TTFields therapy with chemotherapy to achieve the best results. The combination boosts production of proteins that destroy cancerous cells, and reduces cancer cells’ capacity to repair DNA damage from chemotherapy drugs. This allows the chemotherapies to perform more effectively and increases the survival rate of mesothelioma patients.
In the recently concluded STELLAR trial, a combination of TTFields therapy and chemotherapy significantly increased survival for mesothelioma patients. In the year 2019 the FDA approved the NovoTTF 100L System, now marketed under Optune Lua for use with pemetrexed, cisplatin or carboplatin, as a primary treatment of malignant pleural melanoma that is not resectable.
Researchers have discovered that the TTFields treatment works against mesothelioma due to its interception of cell division. The TTFields therapy causes cancer cells to break up in a mitosis process. The cellular debris then gets trapped in the surrounding tissues and hinders the growth new tissue. Mitosis also blocks mesothelioma cells from repair damaged DNA and makes the cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.
The TTFields treatment can also help reduce blood flow to the tumor by suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor, also known as VEGF, as well as increasing hypoxia-inducible factor-1 beta, or HIF-1a. This is associated with cancer cell angiogenesis.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other cancers, talk to your physician about whether TTFields is right for you. Novocure and many mesothelioma experts are conducting clinical trials that will test the effectiveness of TTFields. To find out more about how mesothelioma TTFields could benefit your treatment plan, contact a Novocure-certified specialist at one of more than 1,300 U.S. treatment centers.
Killing Tumor Cells
Tumor treating fields for treating tumors (TTFields) disrupt cell division by sending electrical waves through the body to destroy tumor cells. The TTFields target cancerous cells while protecting healthy cells. The electric fields hinder DNA repair and increase the immune system of cells, making cancerous cells more difficult to fight. TTF is an effective treatment that is non-invasive and has very few side effects besides mild skin irritation.
Scientists believe TTFields function by disrupting mitosis, the process where the cell divides into two identical cells. Normal cells have controls in place to limit the rate of mitosis however cancerous malignancies break this control and multiply in a rapid rate. TTFields interferes with this process by blocking signals that control the process of mitosis in mesothelioma cancer cells. In the STELLAR trial, TTFields in combination with chemotherapy increased survival rates for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma patients who received TTFields in addition to maintenance cycles of chemo were able to live on average six months longer than those who received chemotherapy alone.
In a separate study it was discovered that TTFields could increase the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs known as platinum-based treatments. These platinum-based treatments eliminate mesothelioma cells by targeting mitochondria, which is the place where cancerous cells obtain their energy from. When TTFields is combined with chemotherapies, the combination could result in higher levels of DNA damage as well as faster cancer cell death.
TTFields can also enhance the effects of radiation therapy in some instances. Researchers have observed that the combination of TTFields with radiation therapy could result in the “synergistic” effect. This means that the combination treatment improves the sensitivity cancer cells to radiation.
Currently, TTFields are available at certain mesothelioma centres. However, a mesothelioma expert can determine whether you may be suitable for this treatment. If you’re eligible, a mesothelioma attorney can assist you in getting access to treatments that could include TTFields alongside chemotherapy. If you’re an active military veteran mesothelioma lawyer could assist you in obtaining treatment that is covered under your VA health benefits.
Side Effects
The TT fields therapy destroys cancer cells by creating an electrical field that interferes with the cell’s ability to divide. This can slow the growth of tumors and prevent it from spreading to other areas of the body. The TT fields device is noninvasive, meaning it doesn’t harm the tissue surrounding it or cause pain. This is a different treatment than traditional chemotherapy which involves radiation and injections into the intravenous vein, which can cause serious side effects.
In the study, patients who received a combination of TT fields and temozolomide showed survival gains comparable to those who were treated only with chemo. Doctors attributed this improved survival to TT fields, which enhance the effectiveness of chemo while reducing the risk of side effects.
Mesothelioma cancer cells can change and multiply uncontrollably, causing the tumor to spread into your organs. Mesothelioma treatment such as TT fields prevent mesothelioma from reproducing and inhibiting the body’s normal functions through stopping cell division.
During a mesothelioma study, patients who received TT-fields together with chemotherapy had an average survival rate (18.2 months). Those who received TT fields but not chemo had a survival rate of 12.1.
Tumor treating fields can be applied to the pleura or the thin lining that surrounds your lungs, either on your abdomen or chest wall. The device is small and can be worn for 18 hours a day and even during sleep. This allows patients to continue their daily lives and work while undergoing treatment.
The TT fields are a great option to combine with traditional chemotherapy, immunotherapy or other mesothelioma treatment options. Patients with mesothelioma who are interested in TT should discuss the possibility with their physician. They can provide conditions for eligibility and the potential benefits for each patient’s particular case.
PHOENIX GAMING PC