20 Irrefutable Myths About Tumor Treating Fields Mesothelioma Busted
Tumor Treating Fields Mesothelioma
Tumor treatment fields mesothelioma a new form of therapy that uses an alternating electric field to slow the growth of cancer. It is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy to treat pleural cancer.
The FDA approved TTFields in conjunction with pemetrexed and Cisplatin in the year 2019 following the success of the STELLAR trial. Patients may ask their mesothelioma physician to prescribe this treatment.
Disrupting Cell Division
TTFields utilize alternating electrical fields to disrupt cancer cell proteins and block their cells from dividing. This prevents mesothelioma tumor cells from growing 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, patients wear a small device that contains insulated pads that stick to the skin. The device is able to deliver an electrical current of low intensity and patients are able to decide how much treatment they receive. The duration of a mesothelioma treatment session usually lasts 30 minutes. Patients can undergo TTFields treatments at various times throughout the day.
A TTFields 2021 study found that electrical fields of between 100 and 300 Kilohertz could stop the division of cancer cells and trigger their death. treatment of malignant mesothelioma included a variety of cancerous cells and found that electrical fields killed all of them regardless of their cell structure.
The study's author suggested the use of TTFields and chemotherapy for mesothelioma. Novocure's TTFields product, NovoTTF-100L, was approved by the FDA in the year 2019 to treat pleural mesothelioma unresectable. It is now available through mesothelioma specialists at accredited medical centers across the U.S. including the West Cancer Center, Memphis. The NovoTTF-100L device, which is now known as Optune Lua, has been used to treat mesothelioma combination with chemotherapy based on platinum. Mesothelioma victims have reported an extended survival time when the TTFields treatment has been combined with chemotherapy.
Another study published in the journal "Lung Cancer" reported that TTFields therapy works well in conjunction with chemotherapy. In the trial researchers discovered that the combination of chemotherapy and TTFields reduced the amount of mesothelioma cancerous cells in animals by more than 80%. The study also demonstrated that combination treatments can increase the production of proteins that kill mesothelioma cancerous cells and decrease the amount of cancerous DNA found in your body.
The TTFields procedure is a relatively recent treatment, and a lot of mesothelioma physicians do not offer it for patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma. Patients still be able to access this treatment through clinical trials, or at clinics that are certified by Novocure for mesothelioma.
Stalling Tumor Growth
Mesothelioma forms when mesothelial cells mutate and outlive their normal lifespan, leading to an overabundance of diseased cells that multiply and spread throughout the body. Treatment for tumors prevents mesothelial cell duplicates and prevent mesothelioma growing and spreading.
The TTFields device, which is worn on the chest as a vest creates a series of electrical fields that disrupt protein and cancer cells and slow the growth of tumors. The device comes with insulated pads that adhere to the skin. Patients or health professionals can apply them at home.
Doctors recommend mixing TTFields therapy with chemotherapy to achieve the most effective results. The combination boosts the production of proteins that destroy cancer cells and decreases the ability of cancer cells to repair DNA damage caused by chemotherapy drugs. This allows the chemotherapies to perform more effectively and improves survival in mesothelioma sufferers.
In the recent STELLAR trial, the combination of TTFields therapy and chemotherapy significantly improved survival in mesothelioma victims. The FDA approved the NovoTTF-100L system and is now marketed as Optune Lua, for use in conjunction with pemetrexed and cisplatin or carboplatin as first-line treatment for unresectable malignant mesothelioma pleural in the year 2019.
Researchers have discovered that TTFields therapy is effective against mesothelioma because it interrupts cell division. The treatment TTFields induces cancer cells to break up in a process known as mitosis, and then the cell debris is absorbed by surrounding tissues, which inhibits the growth of new tissue. Mitosis blocks mesothelioma cancer cells from repair of damaged genetic material, and makes them more prone to radiation treatment.
The TTFields therapy also helps to reduce the flow of blood to tumors through the suppression of vascular-endothelial-growth factor (VEGF) and the rise of hypoxia-inducible factors-1 beta or HIF-1a. HIF-1a has been linked to cancer cells angiogenesis.
If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, talk to your physician about whether TTFields is a good option for you. Many mesothelioma specialists have partnered with Novocure on clinical trials to test the efficacy of this new 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 for treating tumors (TTFields) disrupt cell division by sending electrical signals through the body to kill cancer cells. TTFields target cancerous cells while avoiding harming healthy cells. These electric fields also reduce DNA repair and boost cell defenses, making it more difficult for cancerous cells to survive. TTF is an effective treatment that is non-invasive and has only a few adverse effects, besides minor skin irritation.
Scientists believe TTFields function by disrupting mitosis, a process by which the cell divides into two identical cells. Normal cells have control mechanisms to limit the rate of mitosis. However cancerous tumors that are malignant can break these limitations and multiply at an increased rate. TTFields interferes with this process by blocking the signals that regulate mitosis in mesothelioma cancer cells. In the STELLAR study TTFields combined with chemotherapy significantly increased survival rates for mesothelioma patients. Mesothelioma patients who received TTFields along with maintenance cycles of chemotherapy lived six months longer than those who received only chemotherapy.
A separate research study found that TTFields could boost the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs called platinum-based therapies. These platinum-based treatments eliminate mesothelioma tumors by targeting the mitochondria, where cancerous cells get their energy from. When TTFields are combined with these chemotherapies, the combination may result in more DNA damage and faster cancer cell death.
TTFields could also enhance the effects of radiation therapy in some instances. Researchers have observed that combining TTFields with radiation therapy could produce the "synergistic" effect. This means that the combined treatment improves the sensitivity tumor cells to radiation.
TTFields is currently only available in specific mesothelioma centers. A mesothelioma doctor can determine if you are suitable for this treatment. If you are eligible mesothelioma lawyers can help you get access to treatment that may include TTFields alongside chemotherapy. A mesothelioma lawyer can help veterans receive VA-covered treatment.
Side Effects
The TT fields therapy disrupts cancer cells by creating an electrical field that interferes with the cell's ability to divide. This could slow the growth of tumors, and also prevent the spread of cancer to other areas of the body. The TT Fields device isn't invasive. It doesn't cause discomfort or damage to surrounding tissue. This is different than traditional chemotherapy, which requires intravenous injections or radiation, both of which can cause 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 this improvement in survival to TT fields, which enhance the effectiveness of chemo while reducing side adverse effects.
Mesothelioma cancer cells can transform into cancerous cells and replicate uncontrollably, forming tumors that infiltrate the organs of your body. Mesothelioma treatment like TT fields stops mesothelioma from reproducing and hindering the body's normal functions by interrupting cell division.
In a mesothelioma-related study, patients who received TT-fields along with chemotherapy experienced an average survival rate (18.2 months). Patients who received TT fields but not chemotherapy had a rate of 12.1.
Tumor treating fields can be applied to the pleura or the thin lining that covers your lungs, either on your abdomen or chest wall. The device is small enough to be worn for up to 18 hours each day, including sleep. This allows patients to live their lives and continue to work while receiving treatment.
TT fields can be combined with conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or other mesothelioma treatments. Mesothelioma patients who are interested in TT fields should discuss this option with their mesothelioma specialist who will explain the eligibility requirements and anticipated benefits for the patient's particular situation.