Mesothelioma Survival Rate

Meso Foundation Awards $500,000 for Mesothelioma Research

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation announced its decision to fund five mesothelioma research projects amounting to a total of $500,000 and bringing the Foundation’s overall investment in research to $7.6 million.

Washington, D.C. – February 17, 2012 – The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) announced today the funding of an additional five mesothelioma research projects in an effort to accelerate the search for new and effective treatments and a cure. The five winning projects were chosen out of a pool of 46 applications.

“This year we have awarded another half million dollars toward the search for a cure. Our mission to cure meso is clear and we won’t stop until it’s accomplished,” said Kathy Wiedemer, the executive director of the Meso Foundation.

Meso Foundation’s funding is based on a strict peer-review process and selection. This means that all projects are reviewed and ranked by the members of the organization’s Science Advisory Board (constituted of world-renowned mesothelioma experts).

“The Science Advisory Board peer-review process allows us to ensure that only the best and most promising studies are funded,” added Wiedemer.

This year’s projects include a study attempting to combine all genomic data of ten different pleural mesothelioma tumors, to obtain insight into their various molecular characteristics and to define the association of defective genes with how they impact the properties of cells that become malignant. This study looks to connect the findings with the actual clinical course of the ten patients whose tumors are being studied to find out which genes are truly meaningful in disease treatment.

Another project will investigate how interferon gamma (an important protein in our immune system) is involved in regulating the response of mesothelioma cells to chemotherapy-induced cell death. Preliminary data from this group show that the sensitivity of mesothelioma cell lines to pemetrexed (Alimta) directly correlates with the ability of the tumor cells to respond to this protein. Furthermore, patients treated with pemetrexed who had low or absent levels of p48 (a biomarker for interferon protein’s response) in their tumor cells, had significantly longer disease-free intervals and longer time-to-progression in comparison with patients with high p48-levels tumors. A better understanding of this protective mechanism can further assist in determining optimal treatment strategies and potentially augmenting effects of chemotherapy.

The five new grants will bring to 76 the total number of grants funded by the Meso Foundation. These projects and others funded by the Meso Foundation are available on the Foundation’s website.

ABOUT THE MESOTHELIOMA APPLIED RESEARCH FOUNDATION
The Meso Foundation is the leading organization dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma and easing the suffering caused by it, by funding peer-reviewed mesothelioma research, providing patient support services and education, and advocating Congress for increased federal funding for research. Mesothelioma funding, per death, has historically been extremely low, especially when compared to other cancers. The Meso Foundation was founded in 2000 to address this imbalance and since then has independently funded over $7.6 million in peer-reviewed mesothelioma research. More information is available at http://www.curemeso.org.

Contact
Maja Belamaric
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
(703) 879-3822

CHARLESTON – A couple from Stanley (NC) has filed a lawsuit against 73 companies over a mesothelioma diagnosis.

The suit was filed by Sidney William Mauney and his wife Carolyn A. Mauney on August 13, 2010 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

According to the complaint, Mauney was exposed to asbestos-containing products all through his career. Mauney worked as an insulator from 1956 to 1993.

The couple says the companies knew or should have known about the hazardous effects of asbestos exposure. But the defendants still allowed employees to work with and around asbestos products, the plaintiffs claim. In addition, the defendants failed to warn Mauney of the dangerous features of asbestos, the complaint says.

The plaintiffs would like to have a jury trial to fix their issues.

A woman is suing 16 companies for allegedly causing her late husband to develop malignant mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer caused by the exposure to asbestos fibers.

Louise Della-Croce has filed a lawsuit against the companies on January 26. According to the suit, the defendants exposed her husband Albert Della-Croce to asbestos-containing products all through his employment. Albert Della-Croce worked as a farmhand, driver, refrigeration pipefitter and laborer in Colorado and California, the complaint says.

The suit doesn’t specify where Della-Croce resides.

The plaintiff argues the companies should have known of the hazards of asbestos, but failed to provide proper protection for her husband’s safety.

On account of his fatal disease, Albert Della-Croce suffered immense physical pain and mental anguish. Additionally, he became prevented from continuing with his normal course of employment and thus lost large amounts of money that would have accrued to him, the complaint states.

Louise Della-Croce is asking for compensatory damages in excess of $50,000 in her four-count lawsuit. She is also seeking punitive and exemplary damages of more than $50,000.

Pueblo Man Sentenced for Asbestos Violations

PUEBLO, CO – A man who caused asbestos fibers to be released into the air while demolishing a Pueblo house has been sentenced Monday to a four-year community corrections term.

Additionally, Thomas K. Tienda, who convicted before a Pueblo jury of eight felonies, has to pay in excess of $300,000 in restitution.

According to the investigators, Tienda hired homeless individuals instead of authorized contractors in order to save money. Their demolition work caused asbestos fibers to become airborne. Airborne asbestos fibers are easily inhalable and inhalation of these fibers
can cause terminal diseases including cancer. Tienda was also cited for reusing some of the asbestos-containing substances from the demolition.

The case was investigated by the Office of the Attorney General with the assistance of the Colorado Environmental Crime Task Force, the Air Quality Unit of the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment, and the Criminal Investigations Division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Asbestos Suits Name 190 Companies as Defendants

CHARLESTON – 190 companies are being sued in eight individual asbestos lawsuits.

The complaints were filed by George E. Bickerstaff and Carolyn Bickerstaff, Melva J. Devore, executrix of the Estate of Melvin E. Carpenter, Barbara Ford, executrix of the Estate of James Fife, David T. Gorrell Jr. and Mary J. Gorrell, Paul R. Groves and Mary Ellen Groves, Eulonda Haley, David K. Harris and Linda Harris, George W. Kokos and Maryann Kokos, and Michael Tennant and Cheryl Tennant on January 4 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

According to the suits, the companies caused Bickerstaff, Carpenter, Fife, David Gorrell, Paul Groves, Haley and David Harris to develop asbestosis and lung cancer, and George Kokos and Michael Tennant to develop asbestosis.

The companies should have known that asbestos exposure could cause fatal diseases such as cancer, but failed to warn the plaintiffs of the hazards associated with the substance, the complaints state.

The defendants also failed provide the plaintiffs with sufficient safety equipments, according to the lawsuits. The suits are seeking a jury trial to resolve the issues involved.

“Cascade Services” Launches New Website, Offers Full Range of Asbestos Removal Services

Atlanta, GA — 12/22/2011 — Asbestos is a substance that is found in a variety of different items including ceilings, floor tiles, insulation materials, ironing board covers, and many other products that were made prior to the 1980s.

Although using asbestos is prohibited in new construction and manufacturing, many asbestos-containing products are still in use today. As these items get older and become dented or frayed or worn out they can gradually release fibers into the air which can cause extremely serious and often fatal diseases such as Asbestosis and Mesothelioma. Home and business owners with older houses and buildings often encounter this issue during construction or remodeling.

An asbestos removal company based in Atlanta, Georgia recently launched a new website that details the many asbestos-related services it provides to home and business owners throughout the metropolitan area, as well as the entire state.

Cascade Services, which has been in business for over 10 years, is a fast growing company that has established an outstanding reputation for delivering great service and customer care. For customers looking for asbestos removal Atlanta based Cascade Services is ready and willing to help.

“Our mission is to provide our clients with quality and experienced services on every project we receive,” an article on the company’s website said, adding that the company has a reputation for delivering all services with the highest level of success, resulting in an 80-plus percent repeat client business.

Removing asbestos is a serious matter and should never be performed by amateurs. By law, the removal of the substance must be carried out by qualified experts, like asbestos abatement Atlanta company Cascade Services.

The fully licensed, bonded, and an insured certified asbestos abatement Atlanta company focuses on service and safety, and is committed to providing exceptional service by assessing the needs of each and every customer, and using state-of-the-art procedures and technology to help complete each project.

“We provide security to our clients by offering them the services of a stable company,” an article on the website explained.

“Our management and staff are dedicated to providing cost effective solutions to complex mold removal and asbestos removal projects, with safety as our first priority. We devote ongoing effort to researching and implementing new technologies to increase safety.”

For home or business owners who are unsure if they have asbestos on their property and need asbestos testing Atlanta area Cascade Services can also help with asbestos surveys and inspections. The company also handles mold remediation and removal.

About Cascade Services:
Cascade Services is a fast growing company that specializes in construction and asbestos removal. We are located in the heart of downtown Atlanta by the Zoo. In business for over 10 years we are known for retaining our high level of customer service and while being flexible and expanding our services. For more information, please visit http://www.cascadeasbestoscompany.com