Donation will be used to develop a cryotherapy device for use during surgeries for mesothelioma
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pacific Meso Center (PMC) gratefully acknowledges the generous $100,000 donation from longtime supporter Roger G. Worthington. Clare Cameron, Executive Director of PMC, stated that the money will be used for PMC's mesothelioma research program in cryotherapy.
Dr. Robert B. Cameron, PMC Scientific Advisor, who is also Director of the UCLA Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the West Los Angeles VA Medical, and a recognized international expert in mesothelioma, said, "Mr. Worthington's continued amazing generosity will help PMC propel its cryotherapy project to the next level and advance its mission of bringing relief to suffering mesothelioma patients."
Dr. Cameron added, "His donation will help expand our initial success with percutaneous cryoablation of mesothelioma tumors to an intra-operative treatment that may help patients avoid other difficult therapies after surgery, such as radiation."
PMC's support of Dr. Cameron's thermal therapy research, which has been carried out in the David "Punch" Worthington Research Laboratory of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and which has been reported at two recent national scientific meetings, has already led to a better understanding of the potential role of cryotherapy over the limited benefits of hyperthermia.
This research studies the basic response of laboratory cultured mesothelioma cells to changes in temperature and has indicated that mesothelioma cancer cells are much more susceptible to freezing than heat. This observation has led to investigation into the use of various techniques to cool and even freeze the surfaces of the chest cavity in order to increase the effectiveness of mesothelioma surgeries.
Cancer cells always remain on the surfaces following surgery, and these cells lead to tumor recurrence in the vast majority of patients. Cryotherapy could change all that, according to Dr. Cameron.
"We are pleased to help PMC's efforts to partner with Dr. Cameron in his lifelong pursuit of innovative, sensible and beneficial treatment options for mesothelioma patients," Mr. Worthington said. "We need to move away from the old 'slash, burn and poison' model, and investigate new approaches that hold out promise for both more length of life and more quality of life."
Mr. Worthington is a longtime advocate for mesothelioma research and helped to establish the David "Punch" Worthington Laboratory (PWR Lab) at the David Geffen School of Medicine in honor of his father, David "Punch" Worthington, Ph.D., who died from an asbestosis-associated lung cancer. The PWR Lab is focused on exciting new research into novel strategies for the treatment of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other occupational cancers.
About the Pacific Meso Center:
The Pacific Meso Center (PMC) is a division of the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit medical research institute established in 2002 which is focused on the treatment and prevention of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The exploration of innovative ideas forms the foundation of PMC's unique research program and provides the promise of future treatment breakthroughs. PMC is dedicated to educating the public on asbestos-related diseases and informing them of their best treatment options. PMC also connects newly diagnosed patients with patients that have been through treatment and provides assistance and emotional support.
For further information, please contact:
Clare Cameron
310-478-4678
[email protected]
www.pacificmesocenter.org
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SOURCE Pacific Meso Center