Erasmus medical centre works on asbestos cancer therapy

Researchers at Erasmus University’s medical centre have begun clinical trials of a new therapy for people with asbesos cancer (mesothelioma).


The therapy involves injecting patients with cells from their own defence system which have been ‘trained’ in the laboratory, the university said in a statement.
After successful trials involving mice, the therapy is now being used on 10 human volunteers, the Telegraaf reports.
‘One is still alive four years after the treatment and he is doing well,’ research leader Joachim Aerts told the paper. ‘The next step is to find out if that is due to the vaccine.’
Some 80% to 90% of asbestos cancer patients die within a year of the cancer being discovered – between 750 and 1,000 a year, Aerts said. ‘It would be fantastic if we can vaccinate people who have come into contact with asbestos but have not yet developed cancer.’

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