Cancer News, Treatment and Research

New York, NY, October 16, 2012 — New York mesothelioma attorney Joseph W. Belluck said today that the potential discovery of a “biomarker” in the fluid effusions of pleural mesothelioma may be a breakthrough in the treatment of mesothelioma. Dr. Harvey Pass, a professor of thoracic oncology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, was the lead author of a study published in the October 2012 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that says plasma fibulin-3 levels measured through a blood test can distinguish healthy people with exposure to asbestos from patients with mesothelioma. “There’s obviously a lot more work to do, of course, but the newly announced work of Dr. Harvey Pass is exciting news for mesothelioma treatment and for people who have been exposed to asbestos,” said Belluck, a founding partner of New York’s Belluck & Fox, LLP, law firm. “The identification of elevated protein levels unique to pleural mesothelioma would be some good news for the mesothelioma community,” Belluck said. Pass has dedicated his career to research about mesothelioma and the hazards of asbestos exposure. He is a winner of the Pioneer Award from the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation for his dedication to mesothelioma research. Belluck & Fox, LLP, a nationally recognized New York law firm dedicated to advocacy for mesothelioma patients and their families, is a long-time supporter of Pass and his work. The law firm’s support of this research was acknowledged in the NEJM article. “We believe in giving back to the mesothelioma community and are thrilled to support Dr. Pass’ groundbreaking work,” Belluck said. The firm recently provided a donation that helped the NYU Langone Medical Center’s Cancer Institute to buy a highly advanced molecular analysis system for cancer research. Belluck & Fox, LLP, also sponsors MesotheliomaHelp.net, one of the Web’s primary resources for information about mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Currently, there is no reliable screening method for pleural mesothelioma, a form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. But Pass and others involved in the study reported a 96.7 percent success rate of correctly identifying mesothelioma and a 95.5 percent rate of correctly identifying non-cancerous people. Such biomarkers as the fibulin-3 protein are being sought as a means to detect pleural mesothelioma at an earlier stage and to individualize treatment strategies for mesothelioma patients. Additional testing will include a trial of people who were exposed to asbestos but are not exhibiting symptoms to determine whether fibulin-3 can identify mesothelioma well before symptoms appear, Pass says. Mesothelioma is diagnosed in about 3,000 Americans each year. Symptoms of mesothelioma typically appear 30 years to 50 years after exposure to asbestos, a fibrous material widely used in hundreds of building products until its use was regulated in the 1970s. Most mesothelioma victims were exposed to asbestos through employment in industrial, manufacturing or construction work, despite the fact that asbestos has been known to be a carcinogen since the first quarter of the 20th century. About Belluck & Fox, LLP Belluck & Fox, LLP, is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm provides personalized and professional representation and has won more than $500 million in compensation for clients and their families. Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and in Super Lawyers. Mr. Belluck has won numerous cases involving injuries from asbestos, defective medical products, tobacco and lead paint. Partner Jordan Fox is a well-known asbestos and mesothelioma attorney who has been named to the Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and to Super Lawyers. On two separate occasions his verdicts were featured as the National Law Journal’s Largest Verdict of the Year. Belluck & Fox, LLP, is featured on the list of America’s best law firms, which is published jointly by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers magazine. The listing showcases 8,782 different law firms ranked in one or more of 81 major practice areas. The firm’s New York City office is located at 546 Fifth Ave, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036 (local phone (212) 681-1575. For more information, contact the firm at 855-205-2015 or through the online contact form.