NCARD’s research has been at the forefront of using novel therapies to improve or discover new treatment options for mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases.
We have a strong publication record in improving the use of conventional treatment modalities such as surgery, and chemotherapy and we pioneered the use of chemotherapy in combination with immunotherapy as a cancer treatment.
We are proud to continue this research legacy; expanding our research of numerous combination therapies including chemo-immunotherapy, while investigating the potential of more non-traditional therapeutic options such as the development of anti-cancer vaccines and the use of radio-immunotherapy and exercise training to improve patient outcomes.
Chemotherapy: is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemotherapy may be given with a curative intent, or it may aim to prolong life or to reduce symptoms.
Radiotherapy (often abbreviated RT, RTx, or XRT), is a therapy using ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells.
Immunotherapy: is the treatment of disease by activating or suppressing the immune system. Cancer immunotherapy aims to boost the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Recently, immune checkpoint blockade has become a leading treatment option for many cancers, including mesothelioma.
Checkpoint blockade: Checkpoint blockade (CPB) therapy is a form of tumour immunotherapy that is central to much of the research at NCARD. Relatively new in its existence, CPB therapy has become one of the most exciting areas for a potential break through treatment. In essence, CPB involves speeding up or slowing down components of the immune system by targeting signalling pathways that immune cells use to communicate with each other. Using antibodies to turn these pathways on and off, CPB therapy can be used to direct our immune response to better target and kill cancer.