Increased Risk of Mesothelioma from Environmental Exposure to Volcanic Mineral (Erionite) Even Greater than that Associated with Asbestos – Study

Although the often fatal cancer known as mesothelioma is almost always associated with asbestos, a new study has found that environmental exposure to a (nonasbestos) volcanic mineral, erionite, may be just as dangerous.
The study, published in the March 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institutefound a high incidence of mesothelioma among people living in a region of Turkey where erionite is plentiful and commonly used in construction and produce storage rooms.Previous reports suggest that erionite exposure is associated with a higher risk of cancer development than any other natural mineral fiber tested.
The researchers from Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, followed 891 people age 20 years and older in three Turkish villages for 23 years. Two of the villages were exposed to erionite and one (the control) was not.
During this period, 372 deaths occurred, and 119 of these deaths occurred from mesothelioma. That figure represented 44.5% of all deaths in the two villages with erionite exposure.
Only two cases of mesothelioma occurred in the control village, both in people born outside of the control village.
The mortality data were analyzed jointly with Dr. Philippe Grandjean of the Harvard School of Public Health. When compared to the worldwide standardized annual incidence of pleural mesothelioma the two exposed villages had a pleural mesothelioma rate of 200 and 700 cases per 100,000 people annually. The rate in the non-exposed village was only 10 cases per 100,000 people each year.
This enormous discrepancy led the study authors to conclude that the long-term exposure to erionite is the cause of the extraordinarily high risk of developing mesothelioma.
Since millions of people are exposed to erionite mineral fibers in rural areas of Turkey, the researchers urge that resources “should therefore be directed to preventing these environmental exposures and additional study of the association between environmental exposure to nonasbestos fibers and the risk of cancer.”
This alarming finding comes on the heals of a similar study published in the second issue of the October 2005 of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the American Thoracic Society, that found Californians who live near naturally occurring asbestos sources and who are exposed to low levels of the mineral are at increased risk for developing malignant pleural mesothelioma, a serious cancer of the membrane covering the lung.
Dr. Marc B. Schenker, of the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, at the University of California, Davis, and four associates, examined 2,908 malignant mesothelioma cases reported from 1988 to 1997.
Over 50% of the men and 58% of the women, all of whom were listed in the California Cancer Registry, either had no or little exposure to occupational asbestos at the workplace.
“People who lived closer to an asbestos source had a greater chance of having mesothelioma, and the chance decreased steadily as the distance increased,” said Dr. Schenker.
Mesothelioma is considered to be rare. It usually develops 30 to 40 years after exposure. It has been widely believed that the only known cause of the disease is exposure to asbestos fibers, which can cause tumors in the pleura, the two layers of membrane covering the lung, or, with more intense exposure, in membranes of the abdomen.
According to the study authors, California has more naturally occurring asbestos source rocks than any other state in the U.S.
Previous studies all point to occupational exposure to asbestos as the cause of mesothelioma. But population-based studies, Dr Schenker says, have almost all showed some examples of mesothelioma cases where there was no exposure at work. The new study reveals that the living environment could actually be the culprit in such cases.
The Turkish study would now seem to show that erionite mineral fibers pose the same or greater risk of mesothelioma development as asbestos.

Asbestos support group backs interstate moves

The Gippsland Asbestos Related Diseases Support (GARDS) group has welcomed funding for an asbestos research facility interstate.
The New South Wales Government has provided $7 million for the centre in Sydney.
It aims to develop blood tests for asbestos-related cancers, to enable early diagnosis.
The rate of mesothelioma in the Latrobe Valley is seven times the state average.
The secretary of GARDS, Vicki Hamilton, says she has been lobbying the Victorian Government to support similar research in the Latrobe Valley.
"We've actually asked them on many occasions, even before the Latrobe Regional Cancer Care Centre was up and running, to look into a centre of excellence into research and specialist doctors and it fell on deaf ears," she said.

Alfacell Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2006 Financial Results and Key Developments

Alfacell Corporation(Nasdaq: ACEL), today reported financial results and key developments from thesecond quarter of the Company's fiscal year, which ended on January 31, 2006. "We made significant progress during the second quarter of 2006," statedKuslima Shogen, Chief Executive Officer of Alfacell. "As a result, wecontinue to track on or ahead of schedule on key sections of the rolling NDA.We also remain confident that we will successfully complete all regulatoryrequirements necessary to gain marketing approval of ONCONASE in the U.S.,E.U. and other markets." Financial Results During the second quarter, Alfacell recorded a net loss of $2,286,000 or$(0.06) per common share, as compared to a net loss of $1,955,000 or $(0.06)per common share for the same period in FY 2005. The net loss for the secondquarter includes a non-cash charge of $436,000 which reflects the accountingfor share based payment as required by SFAS 123(R). The share-basedcompensation expense is expected to continue as a result of the adoption ofSFAS 123(R), which requires the Company to charge a non-cash compensationexpense for all employee stock options. Research and development expenses for the three months ended January 31,2006 totaled $1,430,000 compared to $1,554,000 for the same period last year,a decrease of $124,000, or 8%. The spending decrease reflects the near-completion of key requirements for the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls(CMC) section of the ONCONASE NDA for UMM, including toxicology studies, theregistration batch stability program and a reduction in clinical trial costsas a result of reaching full patient enrollment. General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the three months endedJanuary 31, 2006 were $880,000 compared to $422,000 for the same period lastyear, an increase of $458,000, or 109%. This increase was primarily due to anincrease in non-cash expense related to share-based compensation, higher legalfees, ongoing cost of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and auditing fees. Alfacell ended the second quarter of 2006 with cash, cash equivalents, andinvestments of $2,917,000. Total shares outstanding were 37,390,062 million. Key Developments * Announced that Tommy G. Thompson, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and four-term Governor of Wisconsin, joined the Company as Chairman of the Alfacell Business Policy Committee, which will focus on advancing and executing strategies in areas such as finance, government relations, and regulatory affairs. * Announced expectation to reach the full patient enrollment target for the ONCONASE Phase IIIb trial ahead of the previously announced timeframe of end of first quarter 2006. * Formed a new Thoracic Cancer Advisory Board (TCAB) to support the development of ONCONASE and other novel ribonuclease (RNase) therapies for diseases such as mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). * Initiated the manufacturing stability program for registration batches of ONCONASE. About Alfacell Corporation Alfacell Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on thediscovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for cancerand other diseases, using its ribonuclease (RNase) technology platform.ONCONASE(R) (ranpirnase), Alfacell's lead investigational drug candidate, iscurrently being evaluated in several studies, including a Phase IIIbregistration study for malignant mesothelioma (MM) and a Phase I / II trial inNon-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). For more information, please visithttp://www.alfacell.com. This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate,""project," "expect" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involverisks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materiallyfrom the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute tosuch differences include, but are not limited to, uncertainties involved intransitioning from concept to product, uncertainties involving the ability ofthe Company to finance research and development activities, potentialchallenges to or violations of patents, uncertainties regarding the outcome ofclinical trials, the Company's ability to secure necessary approvals fromregulatory agencies, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risksdiscussed in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and ExchangeCommission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakesno obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after thedate of this release.

Asbestos Workers Union Joins New Medical Foundation's Quest for Cure of Asbestos and Benzene-Related Cancers

The Pacific Heart, Lung and BloodInstitute ("PACHLAB") is pleased to announce the addition of Terry Lynch as amember of its Board of Directors. PACHLAB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit medicalresearch foundation devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment ofoccupational diseases through independent research, collaboration, andeducation. Terry Lynch is Vice President at Large of the International AssociationHeat & Frost Insulators & Asbestos Workers and also serves as the Health andSafety Director for the Union. He comes from a proud family of asbestosinsulators, which include his grandfather, father, uncle, brother, and manycousins. Mr. Lynch's son, Jason, now completes the family's fourth generationof insulators. Over the years, Mr. Lynch has witnessed first hand the ravagesof asbestos on the lives of countless Union brothers. "The suffering must stop," Mr. Lynch said. "Too many insulators and otherworking people have died. We have known about asbestos cancer for decades,yet not enough has been done to lift the curse of mesothelioma. We must workwith industry, government, doctors, and drug companies to establish researchprograms that will end the apathy and build hope." "I am proud to join PACHLAB," Mr. Lynch continued. "We will be conductingresearch in the Punch Worthington lab at the David Geffen School of Medicineat UCLA. We have high expectations that our research will lead to noveltreatments." Mr. Lynch will act as a liaison between PACHLAB and constructionand shipyard labor unions whose members are at risk for asbestos and benzene-related cancers. Dr. Cameron, one of PACHLAB's scientific advisors, stated, "I have agreedto work closely with PACHLAB because it offers a unique approach tocollaborative research. Not only will we work with patients, doctors anddonors to raise funds for promising new research, we will actually do thebench work studies in-house, either alone or in conjunction with otherinvestigators." "'Punch' Worthington is a patient of mine who suffers from an asbestos-related cancer," Dr. Cameron explained. "As a painter-taper, Punch is also atrisk for another occupational cancer, acute myelogenous leukemia. We came upwith the idea for a research environment that fosters basic research that isoften pegged as too preliminary to receive funding from standard sources.This type of research, although highly speculative, also holds the mostpromise for true innovation." PACHLAB's first project will study immunologic and anti-angiogenic(anti-blood vessel) therapies, both of which have been praised as potential"cures" for mesothelioma. PACHLAB aims to conduct research in its ownlaboratory and in coordination with other institutions, such as the DavidGeffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "This is a true 21st Century approach to medical research," Cameroncontinued, "And is the brainchild of Punch Worthington who is a true scientistand scholar. Punch believes, for instance, that bringing all the partiesinvolved in asbestos litigation together to support and fund this type ofresearch by donating a portion of legal settlements, will accelerate the longoverdue discovery of truly effective therapies for this awful disease. Withheroes like Punch, scientists like myself cannot help but take up thechallenge." Also joining PACHLAB's Board of Directors is Terry McCann of Dana Point,California. Mr. McCann, who was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in2005, has led an exemplary life. He won the Olympic Gold Medal in wrestlingin 1960. He helped manage the Surfriders Foundation, served on severalOlympic Games committees, and was the CEO of Toastmasters International for 25years.

Asbestos-affected apply for relief

People suffering from asbestos-linked diseases and those who lost relatives to such illnesses began filing applications Monday for government financial aid prior to the coming into force next week of a relief law for victims.
Relatives of an asbestos-linked fatality apply for state benefits at the Osaka branch of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency.
The applications were submitted to labor standards inspection offices and other governmental entities nationwide.
The law was passed in the aftermath of revelations starting last June that many workers at a factory in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, had died of asbestos-linked diseases, and that nearby residents, too, had health problems apparently caused by the material. Such woes were said to be just the tip of the iceberg.
Subsequent reports about asbestos-linked health problems prompted the government to prepare the legislation, under which the state will cover medical expenses and treatment fees for the sufferers of asbestos-linked diseases, including mesothelioma, an incurable kind of cancer, and some of the funeral costs for those who died.
Due to demands for swift assistance to those afflicted, the new relief system enters into force without the government fully knowing the extent of the problem, and observers said they were watching to see how many people file applications and how effective the system is.
Relatives of workers who died from asbestos-linked diseases and were unable to file for workers' compensation because the statute of limitations had run out can now file at their nearest labor standards office.
All other sufferers and next of kin should apply to the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency in Kawasaki or its Osaka office, to one of the 11 regional environmental bureaus nationwide or to certain designated public health centers.
Asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma, lung cancer and other maladies if inhaled. It was used extensively in Japan as an insulation material until the mid-1980s.
When the doors to the ERCA head office in Kawasaki opened at 9 a.m., a 74-year-old man from Kanagawa Prefecture was one of the first to apply. His 76-year-old wife is stricken with mesothelioma.
"My wife did not work in an asbestos-related environment, but was diagnosed (with the disease), and we didn't know what to do," he said. "We learned about the new system through the newspaper and are very thankful."
Environment Minister Yuriko Koike visited the agency Monday, stressing the need to get the word out that the system had been launched, and called on those afflicted to come forward quickly.
If someone is recognized as a sufferer, the benefits will be paid out from the date of application. A sufferer will lose a month's worth of payments if they do not file by March 31. In addition, from March 27, if someone dies of mesothelioma or asbestos-induced lung cancer without having already applied for aid, their kin will be unable to receive the sympathy compensation or funeral payment.
At a health center in Amagasaki, more than 10 people had submitted applications by noon.
Yuri Ogino, 28, from Osaka who lost her mother to mesothelioma, said that while she was not completely satisfied with the state relief, she did believe it is a start.