 |
| Dr. Robert Cameron |
The Pacific Meso Center, in conjunction with The Office of
Continuing Medical Education of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,
held the 5th International Symposium on Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant
Pleural Mesothelioma on May 2nd, 2015 in Santa Monica, California. The Worthington
& Caron Law Firm was proud to again be the platinum sponsor of
this unique medical seminar focusing on rational treatment options for patients
with pleural mesothelioma.
As in
years past, the course organizer and chair of the symposium was thoracic
surgeon and pleural mesothelioma specialist, Dr. Robert Cameron. An ardent
supporter of rational lung-sparing treatments for pleural mesothelioma, and
innovator of the pleurectomy/decortication (“PD”) surgical
procedure, Dr. Cameron is the founder and director of the Comprehensive
Mesothelioma Program at both the UCLA Medical Center and the West Los Angeles
Veterans’ Administration Medical Center.
International Panel of Specialists Discuss
Latest Treatment Developments
 |
| Dr. Walter Weder |
Dr.
Cameron started the program with a presentation regarding the pros and cons of
extending lung-sparing surgery to include the diaphragm and pericardium.
Reviewing relevant study data along with his experience treating patients at
UCLA and the West Los Angeles VA, Dr. Cameron concluded that it is preferable
to limit the procedure to where the tumor is already present. Resection of the
diaphragm and pericardium poses a risk of spreading tumor cells distantly to
the abdomen and contralateral pleura and is not necessary in most patients.
In a
second presentation, Dr. Cameron addressed the potential role of vaccines as an
immunotherapy agent in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. He
explained how vaccines can be used to overcome the immunosuppressive
microenvironment of tumor cells. He sees a potential for using vaccines before,
during and/or after lung- sparing surgery for pleural mesothelioma.
Dr.
Walter Weder, Head of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the University of
Zurich Hospital in Switzerland, gave a presentation on his experience in
transitioning from Extra-Pleural Pneumonectomy (“EPP”) to lung-sparing PD as
the preferred surgical treatment for pleural mesothelioma. He also addressed a
new study at the University of Zurich exploring the efficacy of a strategy to
improve local control after surgery. The study, which is in its very early
stages, involves spraying a mixture of Cisplatin and fibrin intraoperatively to
the tumor site.
 |
| Dr. Percy Lee |
Dr.
Marc de Perrot, Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto,
addressed the present and future use of IMRT radiation therapy before surgery. He
addressed a recent study showing encouraging results for patients with
epithelial mesothelioma who received one week of hemithoracic IMRT before
surgery. Dr. Perrot suggested that in future studies, the protocol should be
refined to include an immunotherapy agent.
Three
separate presentations regarding topics relating to adjuvant radiation
therapies were presented by Dr.
Percy Lee, Chief of Thoracic Radiation Oncology and member of the
Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program at UCLA Medical Center, Dr. Peter Chen,
Radiation Oncologist at Hoag Family Cancer Institute, and Dr. Shilpen Patel,
Associate Professor at the University of Washington Medical Center. The
presentations revealed that recent advancements in technology and treatment
methods, including helical tomotherapy, have decreased toxicity and increased
the effectiveness of adjuvant radiation therapy.
 |
| Dr. Olga Olevsky |
Dr.
Olga Olevsky, Oncologist and member of the Comprehensive Mesothelioma
Program at UCLA, addressed recent developments in systemic therapies for
pleural mesothelioma, including numerous immunotherapy treatments and
treatments involving cancer stem cells. Dr. Olevsky indicated that as more
systemic therapies become available, developments in identifying and correlating
biomarkers may allow doctors to identify which therapy will be most effective for
a given patient.
Dr. J.
Andrea McCart, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto Department of
Surgery, presented the results of a recent study regarding the use of
virotherapy as adjuvant to debulking surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma. She
also presented the results of animal studies involving the use of virotherapy
in the treatment of pleural mesothelioma, concluding that the favorable results
suggest that it should be developed for use in humans.
 |
| Dr. Raymond Wong |
Pacific
Meso Center Research Scientist Raymond Wong,
PhD gave a presentation regarding the results of his study at the Pacific
Meso Center Lab in Los Angeles using mesenchymal stem cells to deliver drugs to
tumor cells to increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy agents. He noted the
opportunity to incorporate delivery via mesenchymal stem cells with the many
studies that are currently being conducted for the new PD-1 immune checkpoint
blocking drugs.
Patient Resources and Advocacy
 |
Lien Hua-Feng,
Nurse Practitioner |
Lien Hua-Feng,
Nurse Practitioner at the Pacific Meso Center, gave an eye-opening
presentation regarding deceitful tactics employed by disreputable lawyers
seizing on the vulnerability of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. She
provided examples of websites appearing to be maintained by medical
professionals offering free assistance with medical treatment and contacting
mesothelioma specialists. But the “disclaimer page” on the sites reveals that
they are really maintained by a law firm and should not be relied upon for
making medical decisions. She explained that, instead of getting reliable
medical information, patients who contact the sites are besieged with calls
from so-called “patient advocates” or attorneys seeking to sign them as clients.
Nurse Hua-Feng warned patients of the importance of turning to “real” medical
professionals for reliable medical information and experienced attorneys for
reliable legal information.
Linda Reinstein,
President and CEO of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, gave a
presentation on recent legislation regarding asbestos and the status of her
ongoing efforts to get congress to enact a meaningful ban of asbestos in the
United States.
“Hollywood Ending”
 |
| Clare Cameron |
Pacific
Meso Center Executive Director Clare
Cameron gave an enlightening presentation regarding the long-standing use
of asbestos in the film industry and the number of actors and production
workers who have been stricken with mesothelioma. She provided shocking
statistics about the amount of asbestos used in such classic movies as “Wizard
of Oz,” “White Christmas” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
The
symposium concluded with an emotional presentation from Mia Lauter, wife of
actor Ed Lauter, who appeared in over 550 feature productions and lost his life
to mesothelioma in 2013. She explained that when Ed was diagnosed, the only
treatment options his doctor told him about were chemotherapy and amputation of
his lung though EPP. Ed eventually had chemotherapy and died shortly
thereafter.
Mia
expressed regret over not knowing about the Pacific Meso Center at the time,
and how, with information about additional treatment options such as the
lung-sparing treatments available through UCLA and Dr. Cameron, Ed’s situation
could have been different.
 |
| Mia and Ed Lauter |
Mia is
converting her grief into action to improve the outcomes of others who contract
mesothelioma, both in and out of the entertainment industry. She is working
with PMC to hold a fundraising gala in November at the SLS Hotel in Hollywood.
Ed’s good friend and former co-star Liam Neeson has committed to participate in
the event which will raise much needed funds for mesothelioma research
conducted by PMC.
Mia
stated that when Ed was diagnosed, he and others afflicted with mesothelioma
needed a “louder voice.” Now, with her commitment to raising awareness and the
need for research, mesothelioma sufferers will have a “Lauter voice!”
The
Pacific Meso Center plans to release videos of the symposium presentations on
its website
in the coming weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment