New Marker Could Improve Mesothelioma Diagnosis

There has been another potential breakthrough in the ongoing worldwide effort to find an effective way to diagnose mesothelioma earlier.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a fast-growing cancer of the mesothelium.  As with all cancers, early detection can greatly improve the odds of survival.  But because the early symptoms can be mild or mimic other lung diseases, mesothelioma is often not definitively diagnosed until its later stages, when treatment may be less effective. 

Now, a team of Austrian doctors has identified a cellular protein that they say may be a promising diagnostic marker for mesothelioma. Elevated levels of serum integrin-linked kinase, a protein associated with multiple cellular functions, have already been found in cases of ovarian cancer.  To test its presence in mesothelioma cells, researchers took blood serum samples from 36 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, 98 patients with other types of malignant chest disease, and 23 patients with benign chest diseased.  They used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test to measure the amount of integrin-linked kinase in the serum.

The results were significant. Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were found to have a higher level of integrin-linked kinase (8.89 ng/mL) in their serum than the other test subjects (0.66 mg/mL for malignant chest disease, 0.78 mg/mL for benign chest disease). They found that serum integrin-linked kinase had an overall accuracy of 91% for distinguishing between mesothelioma and other diseases. The level of serum integrin-linked kinase was not affected by mesothelioma subtype and did not appear to have an impact on prognosis.

In an article in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, the researchers concluded that integrin-linked kinase can be used as another diagnostic marker for mesothelioma.  Serum levels of other compounds, including osteopontin and mesothelin, are already being used, along with imaging studies like PET/CT, to aid in mesothelioma diagnosis.  Identification of additional compounds and tests for them could help doctors identify mesothelioma earlier, more quickly and more accurately.

Sources:

Watzka, SB et al, “Detection of integrin-linked kinase in the serum of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, May 25, 2011, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Epub ahead of print.

Mesothelioma Questions & FAQs

Following a mesothelioma diagnosis, many patients and their loved ones have numerous questions about the cancer. Detailed below are answers to top mesothelioma questions.

What is mesothelioma cancer?

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer. The cancer develops in the mesothelium, a protective membrane that lines three body cavities: the thoracic cavity (pleura), abdominal cavity (peritoneum) and the heart sac (pericardium). In the case of testicular mesothelioma, the cancer develops in the tunica vaginalis, the membrane surrounding the testicles.

Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually.

What is the proper mesothelioma pronunciation?

Mesothelioma is pronounced mez-uh-thee-lee-oh-muh.

What are the different types of mesothelioma?

The four different types of mesothelioma are named for the area of the body they affect. The most common type of the cancer is pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the membrane surrounding the heart, known as the pericardium while testicular mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis, the lining around the testicles.

How does mesothelioma develop?

The cancer develops when asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested into the body where they can become lodged in organs or cavities, causing inflammation or infection and cellular damage. Overtime, the cancerous cells begin to divide uncontrollably, causing the membranes in the affected location to thicken. Fluid then begins to build up in the spaces between membrane layers and tumors begin to form, causing impaired bodily function.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

A mesothelioma patient will generally not demonstrate symptoms of mesothelioma until 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Symptoms often resemble illnesses such as influenza and pneumonia, and in the case of pericardial mesothelioma, symptoms can resemble other cardiac conditions. This can make diagnosis difficult though informing a doctor of prior asbestos exposure can alert them of the possibility of an asbestos-related disease.

Patients with pleural mesothelioma may experience symptoms including persistent raspy cough, difficulty breathing and swallowing, night sweats, fatigue and chest pain. Symptoms expressed by a peritoneal mesothelioma patient include diarrhea or constipation, nausea, fever, swelling or pain in the abdomen and anemia. Pericardial mesothelioma patients may experience chest pain, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, fever and fatigue. The only known symptom of testicular mesothelioma is the appearance of testicular lumps.

What is the typical prognosis for a patient with mesothelioma?

A mesothelioma patient’s prognosis, or the probable course and outcome of a disease’s influence on the body, is controlled by numerous factors. Since a mesothelioma diagnosis often occurs once the cancer has progressed to later stages of development, prognosis is typically poor. However if a patient is diagnosed before the cancer has spread or elects to undergo treatment to combat the cancer, their prognosis may improve. Factors that may influence prognosis include: the stage of a patient’s mesothelioma at the time of diagnosis, type of mesothelioma, size of the tumor, location of the tumor and whether it may be surgically removed and the age and overall health of the patient. Asbestos.com offers additional information about mesothelioma and treatment options to help improve prognosis through a comprehensive packet. Please fill out the form on the right side of this page to receive your copy of the complimentary packet.

Is there a cure for mesothelioma?

While a cure for mesothelioma does not currently exist, treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are available for patients to help combat the cancer. Extensive studies and clinical trials are in progress internationally and cancer specialists and doctors are constantly working towards the discovery of a cure.

What is the definition of mesothelioma?

Merriam-Webster defines mesothelioma as a malignant tumor derived from mesothelial tissue.

What is the difference between mesothelioma and asbestosis?

Asbestosis is a progressive pulmonary disease caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestosis is characterized by scar tissue on the lungs, making it difficult for the lungs to expand or contract. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, the membrane that lines several body cavities.

What is the history of mesothelioma?

Medical researchers Chris Wagner and Ian Webster and physician Chris Sleggs conducted a study on South African mesothelioma patients who worked in the area of an asbestos mine in the 19050s. In 1959 the men presented their findings at an international conference. The team and submitted the reports from the study to a British medical journal and an article was published in 1960, highlighting the link between mesothelioma and exposure to crocidolite asbestos. Before this study was published, mesothelioma was rare and many professionals questioned whether or not it was a real condition. The first patient was officially diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1962, when an Australian man who worked with asbestos was diagnosed.

Reports and studies continued to surface linking asbestos exposure to the development of mesothelioma. Unfortunately the mineral was heavily used throughout the 20th century until the 1980s. Many industries used asbestos due to its innate resistance to heat and fire. Many of the patients who have later developed mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos on the job or during service.