New mesothelioma treatments tested at University of Liverpool
New research being conducted at the University of Liverpool will hopefully bring positive news for mesothelioma patients.
The research looks at new drug combinations that can be screened to help identify the best treatments for each patient.
Unfortunately, current treatment using chemotherapy and immunotherapeutic drugs provide limited benefits to many patients because mesothelioma results from different genetic mutations.
The major focus of Dr Sarah Barnett's postdoctoral research has therefore been on BAP1, a tumour suppressor protein that is inactivated in half of all mesotheliomas and is thought to account for poor patient response to currently available cancer therapies.
Patient involvement has been vital in developing the research, with the Merseyside Asbestos Victim Support Group (MAVSG) invited to visit the laboratory and discuss pre-clinical models.