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MESOTHELIOMA SPECIALIST SPOTLIGHT: DR. JOSEPH S. FRIEDBERG, MD

Dr. Joseph Friedberg MesotheliomaDr. Joseph Friedberg heads the Division of Thoracic Surgery and is a professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, where he specializes in the development of new therapies for the treatment of mesothelioma and other lung cancers. In addition to his patient practice and duties as a professor, Friedberg’s extensive research has been widely published in Surgical Forum, Advances in Experimental Medicine & Biology, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, and other reputable medical journals.

One of Friedberg’s most promising areas of research involves the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT), which employs a photosensitizing drug that interacts with a certain type of light to kill cancerous cells. His application involves PDT-generated autologous (meaning it is derived from each individual patient) tumor vaccines in order to suppress the growth of secondary tumors after surgery. Through his studies and in his practice, Friedberg discovered that patients who underwent surgery that spares both lungs in combination with PDT had much better survival rates than those who opted for having a lung removed (the more traditional route). Since there is no cure for mesothelioma, he and other leading physicians in the field have made it their mission to treat the illness as a manageable chronic disease rather than a terminal one.

Friedberg is currently developing a treatment called photobrachytherapy that uses a combination of radioisotopes, photosensitizers, immunotherapy, and other tools to suppress tumor growth. He also is researching the potential for a lung cancer vaccine.

In addition, Friedberg is working on an inhaled sealant for sealing pulmonary air leaks, which occur in roughly one of every 10 patients who undergo the pleurectomy/decortication procedure (a treatment for pleural mesothelioma). Other clinical developments include a new type of surgical drain and a device to allow minimally invasive control of major blood vessels during surgery. While his focus is mesothelioma, Friedberg also has an interest in chest wall tumors, pulmonary metastasis, diaphragm disorders, and pneumothorax.

Friedberg’s numerous published studies include research into models for studying the development of immune function in the small intestine; the role of surgery in the management of non-small cell lung cancer; the role of radiation therapy in the management of lung cancer; lung volume reduction surgery; and much more.

Having received a bachelor of applied science (BASc) degree from the University of Pennsylvania College of Engineering and Applied Science, Friedberg earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1986. He served a number of residencies, internships, and fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard, and Massachusetts General Hospital before taking on a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 1994.

Friedberg served as the Chief of Thoracic Surgery and co-director of the Penn Mesothelioma and Pleural Disease Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, where he also was an associate professor. He accepted the Chief of Thoracic Surgery position at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2015.
 

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Did You Know?

  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The highest award of compensatory damages ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $30.3 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The largest punitive damages verdict ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $18 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are more than 50 bankruptcy trusts accepting claims to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are many “asbestos dockets” that permit living mesothelioma patients to obtain a jury verdict in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, more than 2000 mesothelioma cases were filed in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In some mesothelioma cases, settlements can be obtained in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Thousands of different companies have been defendants in mesothelioma cases over the past 40 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma cases, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 75.7 months, or over 6 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 73.8% were living after 3 years, and 65.3% were living after 5 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 64% were treated with HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 303 pleural mesothelioma patients, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 18.4 months.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of pleural mesothelioma patients, 73.1% were still living after 1 year, and 22.9% were still living after 3 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, the largest number of mesothelioma cases were filed in the following 10 courts: (1) Madison County, IL; (2) Cook County, IL; (3) St. Louis, MO; (4) Los Angeles, CA; (5) New York, NY; (6) Philadelphia, PA; (7) New Castle County, DE; (8) Middlesex County, MA; (9)Middlesex County, NJ; (10) Kanawha County, WV.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The states with the largest number of diagnosed mesothelioma cases are: New York, New Jersey, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are about 3000 mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the United States each year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 1 in 100,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 80% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the pleura (pleural mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Less than 20% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 22% of all mesothelioma cases occur in women.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    A history of asbestos exposure can be found in more than 80% of mesothelioma cases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 30% of all mesothelioma patients in the United States were exposed to asbestos in the military.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by laundering, or other household contact with, work clothing contaminated with asbestos.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by work with (direct exposure) or around (bystander exposure) asbestos-containing products.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The average time between a person’s first exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma (latency period) is more than 40 years.
 

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