Pleural Cancers

One of the cancer sites for which a benefit of fruits and vegetables has been most apparent is for cancers of the lung (the leading cause of cancer death worldwide). Although the focus has been 

The relationship between tomatoes, lycopene, and other types of cancer are summarized as follows  

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Weiss, A. (1953). Pleural cancer in pulmonary asbestosis morphologically verified. Medizinische 1 93—94. 

Asbestos fibers have been linked to the high incidence of lung cancer and mesothelioma (an otherwise rare pleural cancer) in asbestos workers and are considered to pose a threat to the population at large. Some 5000 deaths per annum in the United States have been attributed to mineral fiber contacts. There is now evidence that the true asbestoses such as amosite or crocidolite have a much higher association with mesothelioma than does the chrysotile used in most commercial asbestos, but controversy continues regarding the health hazards of asbestoses. The problem is evidently a general one with dust particles and fibers of any kind that are small enough... 

Goldberg P, Luce D, Billon-Galland MA, et al. 1995. Potential role of environmental and domestic exposure to tremolite in pleural cancer in New Caledonia. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique 43 444-450. 

Involves removal of fluid in the pleural cavity via a needle. The fluid then is assayed for presence cancerous cells. This procedure has low sensitivity and depends on the presence of a pleural effusion... 

It appears that activated carbon might be a potential carrier for lymphatic delivery, or to peritoneal or pleural cavities, the most common sites in cancer metastasis. Minimal side effects are expected, since constant low concentrations of drug are maintained in the general circulation. 

Blood vessels penetrating tumors provide malignant cells with another point at which to enter the circulation. Evidence exists that in situation where cancers disseminate predominantly by the blood, the extent of metastasis depends upon the vasculature of the primary tumor. Thin-walled capillaries, especially those newly formed, provide poor resistance to invading cancer cells. Also, data from microscopy studies show that the endothelium of tumor vessels, particularly in areas of poor oxygenation, is often abnormal (Kl). These abnormalities may permit invasion by neoplastic cells (P3). Finally, tumors can spread by direct extension into body cavities such as pleural and peritoneal spaces. An example of this is the formation of peritoneal metastases from ovarian carcinoma. 

Table 3.2 Mortality from Asbestosis, Pleural, Peritoneal, Retroperitoneal, and Lung Cancers in the United States between 1968 and 1982...

Stanton, M. F., M. Layard, A. Tegeris, E. Miller, M. May, and E. Kent (1977). Carcinogenicity of fibrous glass pleural response in the rat in relation to fiber dimension. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 58 587—603. 

Wang, N. S. (1973). Electron microscopy in the diagnosis of pleural mesotheliomas. Cancer 31 1046-1054. 

Whitwell, F., J. Scott, and H. Grimshaw (1977). Relationship between occupations and asbestos fiber content of the lungs in patients with pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer and other diseases. Thorax 32 377-386. 

In 1971 the National Academy of Science published a 40-page report, Asbestos The Need for and Feasibility of Air Pollution Controls, (Cooper, 1971) summarizing the illnesses associated with occupational exposure to asbestos and the risks of developing asbestosis, pleural calcifications, and cancers of the pulmonary and gastrointestinal tracts and thoracic cavity. Based on the evidence, the committee recommended control and reduction of dust containing fibrous inorganic materials in the workplace it also discussed nonoccupational exposure to asbestos. 

Toxicology. Asbestos causes chronic fibrotic lung disease (asbestosis), pleural plaques and thickening, and cancers of the lungs, pleura, and peritoneum. 

Pemetrexed is chemically similar to folic acid. It inhibits three enzymes used in purine and pyrimidine synthesis - thymidylate synthetase, dihydrofolate reductase, and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyl transferase. By inhibiting the formation of precursor purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, pemetrexed prevents the formation of DNA and RNA. In 2004 it was approved for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma and as a second-line agent for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Adverse effects include gastrointestinal complaints, bone marrow suppression, alopecia, allergic and neurotoxic reactions. 

Frebourg, T. et al., Serum hyaluronate in malignant pleural mesothelioma, Cancer, 59, 2104, 1987. 

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