Mesothelioma Chemotherapy - What are the six chemotherapeutic agents commonly used

Mesothelioma cancer can be treated with the use of anti-cancer drug therapies. These anticancer drugs act by inhibiting tumor growth by blocking cell division and multiplication. This mode of action also unfortunately affects other cells in rapid replication in the body, the cells of the hair and the lining of the intestine are particularly vulnerable, thereby determining the side effects of anti cancer drugs, such as hair loss and nausea. Mesothelioma is notoriously resistant to common anti-cancer chemotherapy as a result of some reasons. The cancer takes a long time to mature and show symptoms, by the time these symptoms appear the cancer will be well-formed with a lot of layers of dead cells that the anti cancer drugs find it difficult to penetrate, and also by the time a diagnosis of mesothelioma fact is, most of the victims have little time to live so that the drugs do not have enough time to exercise their drugs effect.New highs that were designed to overcome these challenges and have less and less side effects include: Alimta ( pemetrexed) Alimta was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in February 2004 as a new anticancer drug for the treatment of mesothelioma. Its mechanism of action is by inhibiting the creation of thymidine and purine, two enzymes that are essential for cell growth. This prevents the cancer cells from multiplying by mesothelioma to a very fast pace. Its side effects include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, mouth sores, and low blood counts. Patients are usually placed on vitamin B12 and folic acid to reduce the severity of side effects.CisplatinThis is a chemotherapy drug platinum-based that prevents the reproduction of DNA and is used to treat a number of different cancers including mesothelioma. The FDA approved in 1978 for the treatment of a number of cancers, and it has proved somewhat effective on mesothelioma. Cisplatin, however, has some very serious side effects that Inlude ear damage ototoxicity {} which leads to hearing loss, kidney damage, nerve damage, and nausea, and so very few oncologists are reluctant to prescribe this drug to patients.Tomudex (Raltitrexed) This drug prevents cancer cells to replicate the DNA that is required for the multiplication and spread of cancer. This medication may be used as monotherapy or in combination with onconase.VinorelbineThis anticancer drug was initially approved by the FDA in 1994 for the treatment of lung cancer and breast cancer, but recent studies showed that it could also be effective against mesothelioma, and the drug has little side effect profile. It can also be used in combination with other chemotherapeutic some drugs.Onconase (Ranpirnase/P-30 Protein) Onconase is a chemical tract from the eggs of the leopard frog that blocks protein synthesis which leads to the block of cell division and tumor growth. It has shown promise as becoming one of the most effective drugs for the treatment of cancer, as survival rates for one and two years were 34.4% and 21.6 respectively, as opposed to six to eight months without treatment. VeglinThis is an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug that blocks the growth of tumors in people with lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and cancers of the colon and lung. Many oncologists believe that it could be effective in the fight against mesothelioma, as Veglin inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a substance that is usually found in very high concentrations in patients suffering from mesothelioma. VEGF helps tumors grow new blood vessels that help provide nutrients to the new cells. This drug inhibits this process so hungry new cancer cells of their much needed nutrients, which ultimately leads to their death