In the US, asbestos causes approximately 2,000 - 3,000 malignant mesothelioma deaths per year, and it contributes to an even larger number of lung carcinomas. The latency from time of exposure to tumor development potentially allows time for intervention to block the mechanism(s) that trigger asbestos-induced carcinogenesis. This invention proposes administering to a patient having mesothelioma an antibody specific for HMGB1 to neutralize activity against HMGB1 and inhibit mesothelioma cell growth. It also propose use of an anti-HMGB1 antibody to prevent, delay or reduce the incidence of malignant mesothelioma in a subject suspected of being at risk for developing mesothelioma such as through exposure to asbestos.
Applications
Mesothelioma prevention or treatment.
U.S. patent application publication no. US 2014/0127134 A1