Congressman Bruce Vento’s Cause of Death Clarified

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
Friday, 13 October 2000

Bruce Vento, a popular, 23 year Congressman from Minnesota, died Tuesday from what the press widely reported as "lung cancer." Today, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) issued a statement clarifying that the cancer which took Vento's life was not lung cancer, but malignant mesothelioma.

While lung cancer is usually associated with smoking, mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. The tumor aggressively invades the lining surrounding the lungs, heart or abdomen. Vento -- who did not smoke, but was exposed to asbestos from his work as a young man -- was first diagnosed in January of this year, when the tumor appeared in the lining surrounding his left lung. Despite aggressive treatment, he died just nine months later.

"Creating awareness of mesothelioma is critical because mesothelioma patients have been largely forgotten in the world of medical research," said MARF's founder, Roger Worthington. "A serious effort to cure this disease has never been undertaken, as it has with AIDS, prostate cancer, breast cancer, testicular cancer and even with lung cancer."

Vento's case demonstrates the lack of effective mesothelioma treatments. Under the care of the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, he fought the cancer heroically. His surgeon, Dr. Dan Miller, described the tri-modal therapy regimen -- considered the gold standard today in treating mesothelioma patients -- which Vento pursued. He first had a left sided extrapleural pneumectomy, a radical surgery which removed his left lung and other organs. After recovering from surgery, he then had three cycles of Gemzar and Cisplatin, a chemotherapy cocktail which is considered the best presently available. Finally, he had 25 radiation treatments.

Although he received the best medical treatment currently known, his doctors were unable to stop the spread of the tumor. According to Dr. Miller, the tumor cells had invaded the lymph nodes, and soon the tumor recurred on the right lung and also metastasized to the abdomen. His physicians could do little, and Vento was advised of his fate about one month ago.

Dr. Miller stressed the inadequacy of current treatments and the need for high level research funding. "We do not have a magic bullet for this tumor. We need to be able to treat the tumor systemically. Locally, we can surgically remove bulky tumor, but we need an agent that will attack the cells throughout the body. Vento's death underscores the need for our government to fund nationwide clinical trials using novel agents, such as angiogenesis inhibitors."

Vento himself was committed to raising awareness of mesothelioma and the urgent need for research funding. He became a board member of MARF -- whose mission is to eradicate mesothelioma as a life-ending disease -- and in May gave a speech endorsing MARF's call for more research:

"Mesothelioma patients ... need advocates in the laboratories and in the corridors of Congress where some cancer research money is allocated. AIDS, breast and prostate cancer all have their advocacy groups. MARF should fill the void for mesothelioma patients.... We believe that mesothelioma can be cured, if we are committed, if we mobilize, if we apply our collective brains and strength. We need to bridge the gap between the medical libraries and the hospital rooms; take the information out there already, add to it, focus it, harness it -- and bring it to the patient who was just diagnosed today." (Congressman Vento's entire speech is published at http://www.marf.org/brochure/Profiles/Vento.htm.)

In the days following Congressman Vento's death, the urgency of adequate mesothelioma research funding has become even more clear. According to Worthington, "In the past few days, many mesothelioma patients have expressed great sympathy at the loss of this wonderful man; many feel that if modern medicine cannot save or even meaningfully extend the life of such a powerful and influential leader, then they -- the rank and file of America -- have little chance. For their sake and Congressman Vento's memory, we cannot continue to ignore this disease, call it something else, pretend that it only affects blue collar workers, or hope that it will merely fade away. This tumor does not respect titles, rank, power, leadership, fitness, beauty, family or faith."

For more information, or to contact Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, see their website at: www.marf.org