If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, you may wonder what the next step for treatment is. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that can form in the lining of the lungs, chest, and abdomen, and eight out of 10 patients diagnosed report asbestos exposure. There are several treatment options for this disease, including immunotherapy, which uses drugs to stimulate your immune system. Our knowledgeable lawyer at The Williams Law Firm, P.C. understands this treatment and can help you make the best decisions for your future.
We provide the personalized, comprehensive legal services and careful guidance you need so you don’t have to handle the legal process alone. Our lead attorney, Joseph P. Williams, has over 30 years of experience and will meet with you in your home to review your case. This allows us to understand your needs and the details of your claim so we can fight for you and protect your best interests. With this dedication, you can focus on what matters most.
You rely on your immune systems to recognize and destroy abnormal cells so that you stay healthy. To do this, the immune system uses proteins on immune cells that need to be turned on or off to initiate a response as checkpoints to prevent attacking normal cells. However, mesothelioma cells deactivate the cells that protect you from disease and instead appear like healthy cells to prevent attack from the immune system.
Immunotherapy for mesothelioma prevents the cancer cells from masking as healthy ones, revealing them as a threat to the immune system. This allows your immune system to release the proteins that destroy the mesothelioma cells. Because every patient is different, each one requires unique treatment tailored to their needs. The Williams Law Firm, P.C. can help you understand your options and handle the legal aspects of your mesothelioma.
There are several types of immunotherapy options available for mesothelioma, and the one you receive depends on your stage, previous treatment, and health history. These options include the following:
Therapeutic vaccines for mesothelioma, like WT1, are being studied in clinical trials and have shown promising results, including tumor control and longer survival rates. The vaccine is often combined with other treatments and targets a protein overproduced by mesothelioma cells. This helps the immune system attack the cancer cells and prevent the disease from returning.
FDA-approved drugs like Keytruda and Opdivo target PD-1, which is a protein on your body’s T cells that prevents them from attacking other cells. Blocking this protein encourages the immune system to attack cancer cells and can shrink or slow the growth of tumors. These drugs are given intravenously and can be used if your mesothelioma is still growing after surgery or is too complex to remove with surgery.
Yervoy is another FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitor that works similarly to PD-1 inhibitors but has a different target. This drug blocks CTLA-4, another protein on T cells that helps regulate the immune system. CTLA-4 inhibitors are often used with PD-1 inhibitors to treat advanced mesothelioma.
After being diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may feel overwhelmed by your treatment options and how to handle it in addition to the legal process. Fortunately, you don’t have to face it alone. Our trusted lawyer at The Williams Law Firm, P.C. is here to handle every aspect of your mesothelioma claim while you focus on immunotherapy treatment.
We have never lost a case, so you can trust us to take on your claim and manage every element with the utmost care and professionalism. We understand the importance of achieving a successful outcome, so we fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation, fill out our contact form or call (855) 575-6376.