Tumor Treating Fields Mesothelioma
Tumor treating fields mesothelioma, a brand new type of therapy, uses alternating electric field to limit the growth of cancer. It is paired with chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma pleural.
The FDA approved TTFields concomitant with pemetrexed and cisplatin in 2019 after the successful STELLAR trial. Patients can ask their specialist for this treatment.
Disrupting Cell Division
TTFields employ different electrical fields to disrupt cancer cell proteins and block their cells from dividing. This may stop mesothelioma cancer cells from advancing or spreading to other organs in the body. The TTFields stimulate the release of proteins that kill cancer cells and aid the immune system in fighting mesothelioma tumours.
During treatment, the patient wears the device, which is small and has insulated pads that adhere to the skin. The device is able to deliver a low-intensity electrical current, and patients can decide the amount of treatment they receive. The mesothelioma treatment typically lasts 30 minutes. Patients can have TTFields treatment several times per day.
A TTFields study that was published in 2021 showed that the electrical field intensity of 100-300 kilohertz was able to stop the division of cancer cells and cause them to die. The study examined a range of cancerous cells and found that the electrical fields killed them all regardless of their cellular structure.
The study's author recommended the use of TTFields with chemotherapy for mesothelioma. FDA approved Novocure's TTFields NovoTTF 100L in the year 2019 for the treatment of non-resectable mesothelioma pleural. It is now available through mesothelioma doctors at certified medical centers across the U.S., including the West Cancer Center in Memphis. The NovoTTF 100L device, also known as Optune Lua has been used in the treatment of mesothelioma in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy and pemetrexed. Mesothelioma victims have reported an extended survival when the TTFields treatment has been combined with chemotherapy.
Another study published in the journal "Lung Cancer" reported that TTFields therapy works well with chemotherapy. Researchers discovered that the combination of chemotherapy and TTFields significantly reduced the amount of malignant mesothelioma cancer cells in animal models. The study also demonstrated that combining these two treatments increased the production of proteins that kill mesothelioma cells and decrease the amount of cancerous DNA that is found in the body.
Despite being an emerging treatment, many mesothelioma specialists do not yet offer TTFields for pleural mysothelioma. However, patients may be able to access this treatment option through clinical trials or at mesothelioma clinics that are accredited by Novocure.
Stalling Tumor Growth
When mesothelial cancer cells multiply and outlive their normal life expectancy they develop mutated cells and cause an overabundance of cells that increases and expands throughout the body. The treatment of mesothelioma fields stops tumors from advancing and spreading by preventing mesothelial cells from duplicating.
The TTFields device is worn on the chest like a vest and produces a series of electrical field that disrupt proteins that kill cancer cells, and slow down tumor growth. The device is equipped with insulated pads which adhere to the skin. new mesothelioma treatment or health professionals can apply the pads at home.
Doctors suggest combining TTFields with chemotherapy to achieve the greatest results. The combination boosts the production of proteins that destroy cancerous cells, and reduces cancer cells' capacity to repair DNA damage caused by chemotherapy drugs. This allows the chemotherapies to work harder and increase survival rates in mesothelioma.
In the recently concluded STELLAR trial, the combination of TTFields therapy and chemotherapy significantly improved 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 easily resectable.
Researchers have discovered that the TTFields treatment works against mesothelioma by interrupting cell division. The treatment TTFields causes cancer cells to break up in a process known as mitosis. After that, the cellular debris gets trapped in surrounding tissues, which hinders the growth of new tissues. Mitosis also prevents mesothelioma cells from repair damaged DNA and makes the cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.
The TTFields treatment is also able to reduce tumor blood flow by reducing vascular endothelial growth factor, also known as VEGF, and by increasing hypoxia-inducible factors-1 alpha, also known as HIF-1a, which is linked with cancer cell angiogenesis.
If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, talk to your doctor about whether TTFields is a good option for you. Many mesothelioma specialists are collaborating with Novocure on clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of this innovative treatment. To learn more about how mesothelioma-TTFields might benefit your treatment plan Contact a Novocure-certified expert at one of more than 1,300 U.S. treatment centers.
Killing Tumor Cells
Tumor treating fields (TTFields) which transmit electrical waves throughout the body to disrupt cell division and eliminate tumor cells. TTFields target cancerous cells, while avoiding harming healthy cells. These electric fields reduce DNA repair, and also boost cellular defences to make cancerous cells more prone to dying. TTF is non-invasive and causes few side effects other than minor skin irritation.
Scientists believe TTFields are responsible for preventing mitosis, the process where cells divide into two identical cells. Normal cells have rules that limit the process of mitosis however cancerous malignancies break this control and multiply at a runaway pace. TTFields interferes with this process by blocking signals that control the rate of growth in mesothelioma tumor cells. In the STELLAR research, TTFields combined with chemotherapy significantly improved survival rates for mesothelioma patients. Mesothelioma survivors who received TTFields along with maintenance cycles of chemotherapy survived an average of six months longer than those who only received chemotherapy.
A separate study has found that TTFields can boost the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs called platinum-based therapies. These platinum-based therapies kill mesothelioma through targeting mitochondria. This is where the energy of cancerous cells originates. When TTFields is combined with these chemotherapies, the combination could result in higher levels DNA damage and faster cancer cell death.
In certain instances, TTFields can also enhance the effects of radiation therapy. Researchers have discovered that combining TTFields with radiation therapy could cause an "synergistic effect." This means that the combination treatments increase the sensitivity of mesothelioma cancer cells to radiation.
Currently, TTFields is only available in certain mesothelioma centers. However, a mesothelioma expert can determine whether you may be qualified for this treatment. If you are eligible, a mesothelioma attorney can assist you in getting access to treatments that could include TTFields in conjunction with chemotherapy. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist veterans access VA-covered treatments.
Side Effects
The TT fields therapy disrupts the cancer cells by creating a field of electricity that hinders their ability to divide. This can slow the growth of a tumor and stop it from spreading to other parts of the body. The TT Fields device isn't invasive. It doesn't cause any pain or damage to surrounding tissue. This is a different treatment that traditional chemotherapy, which entails intravenous injections and radiation that can trigger serious side effects.
In a study that included patients who received a combination of TT fields and temozolomide showed survival improvements comparable to those who were treated with chemo on their own. Doctors attributing the improved survival to the TT fields their ability to enhance the effectiveness of chemo and lessen the risk of adverse effects.
Mesothelioma cancer cells can change and multiply in uncontrolled ways, causing cancerous cells to invade your organs. Mesothelioma treatments like TT fields stops mesothelioma from reproducing and hindering the body's normal functions through stopping cell division.
During a mesothelioma study, patients who received TT-fields along with chemotherapy experienced an average survival rate (18.2 months). Patients who received TT fields without chemotherapy had a median of 12.1 months.
The pleura or thin lung lining can be treated by applying the tumor treating fields to your abdominal wall or chest wall. The device is small and can be worn for up to 18 hours and even during sleep. Patients can live their lives and continue to work while undergoing treatment.
The TT fields are a great complement with traditional chemotherapy or immunotherapy, as well as other mesothelioma treatment. Mesothelioma patients interested in TT fields should discuss this possibility with their mesothelioma doctor who can provide the eligibility requirements and anticipated advantages for each patient's specific situation.