20 Resources To Help You Become Better At Tumor Treating Fields Mesothelioma

Tumor Treating Fields Mesothelioma

Tumor treating fields mesothelioma is a new kind of therapy that uses alternating electric fields to stop the growth of cancer. It is used in combination with chemotherapy to treat the pleural cancer.

The FDA approved TTFields in conjunction with pemetrexed and cisplatin in 2019 after the success of the STELLAR trial. Patients can ask their specialist for this treatment.

Disrupting Cell Division

TTFields uses alternation of electrical fields that destroy cancer cell protein and block the cells from dividing. This prevents mesothelioma from expanding or forming in other organs. The TTFields help to trigger the release of proteins that kill cancer cells and aid the immune system in fighting mesothelioma tumors.

During treatment patients wear a tiny device that contains pads that are insulated and adhere to the skin. The device provides a low-intensity electric current, and patients are able to regulate the amount of treatment they receive. The duration of a mesothelioma treatment session is typically 30 minutes. Patients can undergo TTFields treatments at various times throughout the day.

A TTFields study published in 2021 found that the intensity of electrical fields of 100 to 300 Kilohertz could stop cell division in cancer cells and cause them to die. The study included a variety of types of cancer cells and found that the electrical fields killed all of them regardless of their cellular shape.

The author of the study suggested combining TTFields and chemotherapy for mesothelioma. FDA approved Novocure's TTFields NovoTTF 100L in 2019 for the treatment of unresectable pleural msothelioma. It is now available through mesothelioma specialists in accredited medical centers across the U.S. including the West Cancer Center, Memphis. The NovoTTF 100L device, also known as Optune Lua has been used in the treatment of mesothelioma in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy and pemetrexed. Mesothelioma victims have reported an extended survival time when the TTFields treatment is paired with chemotherapy.

Another study published in the journal "Lung Cancer" reported that TTFields therapy is effective in conjunction with chemotherapy. In the trial researchers discovered that the combination of chemotherapy and TTFields decreased the number of malignant mesothelioma cells in animals by more than 80 percent. The study also revealed that the combination of these two treatments increased the production of proteins that kill mesothelioma cells and reduce the amount cancerous DNA in the body.

Despite being an emerging treatment, a lot of mesothelioma doctors do not offer TTFields for pleural mesothelioma. Patients may still be able to access this treatment through clinical trials, or at clinics that are certified by Novocure for mesothelioma.

Stalling Tumor Development

Mesothelioma forms when mesothelial cells alter and exceed their normal lifespan, leading to an overabundance of diseased cells that multiply and spread in the body. Tumor treatment fields prevent mesothelial cell duplication which prevents mesothelioma from expanding and growing.

The TTFields device, worn on the chest as a vest produces a series electrical fields that destroy proteins and kill cancer cells and slow the growth of tumors. The device is equipped with insulated pads which adhere to the skin. Patients or health care professionals can apply them at home.

Doctors recommend mixing TTFields with chemotherapy for the best results. The combination boosts production of proteins which destroy cancer cells, and decreases cancer cells' capacity to repair DNA damage from chemotherapy drugs. This makes chemotherapy drugs perform even more effectively, and increases the survival rate of mesothelioma patients.

In the STELLAR study conducted in 2017, TTFields therapy combined with chemotherapy significantly improved the survival rate for mesothelioma patients. In 2019 the FDA approved the NovoTTF 100L System, now marketed under Optune Lua for use with pemetrexed, cisplatin, or carboplatin, as a primary treatment for malignant pleural melanomas that is not easily resectable.

Researchers have discovered that the TTFields treatment works against mesothelioma because it interrupts cell division. The TTFields therapy causes cancer cells to split in a mitosis process. The cellular debris is absorbed by surrounding tissues and hinders the growth new tissue. Mitosis stops mesothelioma tumor cells from repair of damaged genetic material, and makes them more susceptible to radiation treatment.

The TTFields treatment can also help reduce the flow of blood to tumors by inhibiting vascular endothelial cellular growth factor, or VEGF, as well as increasing hypoxia-inducible factors-1 alpha, also known as HIF-1a, which is linked with cancer cell angiogenesis.

If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, talk to your doctor about whether TTFields is a good option for you. Many mesothelioma specialists are working with Novocure on clinical trials to test the effectiveness of this innovative treatment. Contact an Novocure certified specialist at one of the more than 1,300 U.S. Treatment Centers to learn more about mesothelioma treatments with TTFields.

Killing Tumor Cells

Tumor-treating fields (TTFields), which send electrical waves throughout the body to disrupt cell division and kill cancer cells. TTFields are low intensity and intermediate frequency electrical fields that alternatingly target cancerous cells without harming healthy cells. These fields can reduce DNA repair, and boost cell defences, making cancerous cells more difficult to survive. TTF is non-invasive and has only minor negative effects.

Scientists believe TTFields work by interrupting mitosis, the process where cells divide into two identical cells. Normal cells have controls to limit the rate of mitosis. However cancerous tumors of malignancy are able to breach these restrictions and multiply at a rapid rate. TTFields interferes with this process by blocking the signals that regulate the rate of growth in mesothelioma tumor cells. In the STELLAR study, TTFields when combined with chemotherapy increased survival rates for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma patients who received TTFields together with maintenance cycles of chemotherapy lived an average of six months longer than those who only received chemotherapy.

A separate study has found that TTFields could boost the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs known as platinum-based therapies. These platinum-based therapies destroy mesothelioma through targeting mitochondria. This is where cancerous cell energy originates. When TTFields is used in conjunction with chemotherapies, the combination may result in greater levels of DNA damage and quicker cancer cell death.

TTFields could also enhance the effects of radiation therapy in certain instances. Researchers have discovered that combining TTFields with radiation therapy can create a "synergistic effect." This means that the combined treatments increase the sensitivity of mesothelioma cells to radiation.

The TTFields treatment is currently only available in specific mesothelioma centers. A mesothelioma specialist will determine if you're qualified for this treatment. If you're eligible an attorney for mesothelioma can assist you in gaining access to treatment that may include TTFields along with chemotherapy. A mesothelioma attorney can help veterans get VA-covered treatment.

Side Effects

The TT fields therapy can disrupt cancer cells by generating an electrical field that blocks the cell's ability to divide. asbestos mesothelioma treatment can slow the growth of a tumor and prevent it from spreading to other areas of the body. The TT Fields device is noninvasive. It doesn't cause any pain or damage to surrounding tissue. This is a completely different method than conventional chemotherapy, which involves intravenous injections and radiation that can trigger serious side effects.

In a study that included patients treated with a combination TT fields and temozolomide experienced survival gains comparable to those who only received chemo. Doctors attributed the improved survival to TT fields' ability to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy and reduce side effects.

Mesothelioma cancer cells can transform into cancerous cells and replicate uncontrollably, forming a tumor that invades the organs of your body. Mesothelioma treatment like TT fields stop mesothelioma cells from reproducing and inhibiting the body's normal functions by interrupting cell division.

In a mesothelioma-related study, mesothelioma patients who received TT fields together with chemotherapy had an average survival of 18.2 months. Those who received TT fields, but not chemotherapy had a survival rate of 12.1.

The pleura, or thin lung lining can be treated by applying the fields for treating tumors to the chest wall or abdominal wall. The device is small and can be worn on your body all day long and even during sleep. Patients are able to carry on their normal life and work while receiving treatment.





The TT fields are a great complement to traditional chemotherapy or immunotherapy, as well as other mesothelioma treatment. Patients with mesothelioma who are interested in TT fields should discuss this option with their mesothelioma doctor who can provide eligibility requirements and predicted advantages for each patient's specific case.