Search Results for: mesomark

MesoMark Falls Short for Early Mesothelioma Diagnosis

MesoMark Falls Short for Early Mesothelioma Diagnosis

ByAlex Strauss

The Mesomark blood test for mesothelioma may miss the mark when it comes to diagnosing mesothelioma in its earliest stages. That is the conclusion of a large new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.  The report was a meta-analysis of patients in 16 studies on the value of serum mesothelin as a marker for mesothelioma.  The studies included data on 4,491 patients, including 1,026 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma and various control groups. All were measured for the level of mesothelin in their blood serum using the Mesomark test. Mesothelin is a protein present in the cells of the mesothelial membrane which surrounds the lungs and other internal organs. However, mesothelin is overexpressed in several types of tumors, including mesothelioma….

Mesothelioma Blood Test Could Help Delay Time Between CT Scans
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Mesothelioma Blood Test Could Help Delay Time Between CT Scans

ByAlex Strauss

A mesothelioma blood test could make it possible to stretch the time between CT scans to monitor treatment progress. That is the conclusion from a team of cancer experts in Italy. The researchers compared the results of the SMRP mesothelioma blood test to CT scans and other prognostic indicators in pleural mesothelioma patients.  Doctors typically use a set of criteria called mRECIST to assess how well a particular therapy is working. mRECIST includes measurements from CT scans. But CT scans are expensive, time-consuming, and expose patients to ionizing radiation.  The goal of the new study was to see how closely SMRP levels correlated with mRECIST results. The team says the blood test appears to be accurate enough that it could…

Standard Biomarkers for Pleural Mesothelioma “Not Useful” for Immunotherapy
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Standard Biomarkers for Pleural Mesothelioma “Not Useful” for Immunotherapy

ByAlex Strauss

Two of the most important biomarkers for pleural mesothelioma are not much help when it comes to tracking response to immunotherapy. Top mesothelioma researchers at the University of Pennsylvania drew that conclusion based on data from a cohort of 58 patients.  They focused on two primary biomarkers for pleural mesothelioma: SMRP and fibulin-3. Doctors use both of these markers to diagnose and plan treatment for mesothelioma.  The study confirms the correlation between these markers and mesothelioma tumor volume. But the Penn Medicine researchers say these biomarkers of pleural mesothelioma were “not useful” for measuring immunotherapy response. Understanding Biomarkers for Pleural Mesothelioma A biomarker is a substance produced by the body that indicates a biological process or condition. Most mesothelioma biomarkers…

The Best Biomarkers for Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Prognosis, & Monitoring
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The Best Biomarkers for Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Prognosis, & Monitoring

ByAlex Strauss

What are the best biomarkers for mesothelioma? The answer is still Soluble Mesothelin-Related Proteins (SMRPs). That is the conclusion of a major review of medical literature by some of the world’s top mesothelioma experts. Dr. Harvey Pass of New York University’s Langone Medical Center and Dr. Michele Carbone of the University of Hawaii are among the authors on the new report.  They analyzed 20 years of research on the best biomarkers for mesothelioma. Several were valuable for mesothelioma prognosis. But SMRPs once again came out the winner for mesothelioma prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring.  How Do Biomarkers Work? A biomarker is any substance produced by the body that can act as a biological signpost. Proteins usually make the best biomarkers…

Genetics Affect Accuracy of SMRP Test for Mesothelioma
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Genetics Affect Accuracy of SMRP Test for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

The SMRP test for mesothelioma is a tool doctors use to help diagnose asbestos cancer and plan treatment. But new research suggests that the test is not as useful as it could be due to genetic variability.  Slovenian doctors say a person’s genetics influence how much SMRP they produce.  Based on their research, they recommend combining the SMRP test for mesothelioma with genetic testing. Their findings suggest the combination method produces a more accurate and useful mesothelioma biomarker. What is the SMRP Test for Mesothelioma? SMRP stands for soluble mesothelin-related peptides. They are produced when proteins found in the mesothelial membranes start to break down. Malignant mesothelioma is one condition that can trigger this breakdown.  As a mesothelioma tumor grows…

Mesothelioma Tumor Progression Can be Tracked With Blood Test
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Mesothelioma Tumor Progression Can be Tracked With Blood Test

ByAlex Strauss

Italian researchers say it’s possible to monitor mesothelioma tumor progression with a simple blood test. They make their case in a Letter to the Editor in the latest edition of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. The researchers say blood serum levels of the protein mesothelin correlate closely with tumor volume in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients. They are recommending that the blood test be used alongside CT to track mesothelioma tumor progression. The Importance of Monitoring Mesothelioma Tumor Progression Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer with a grim prognosis. Mesothelioma tumors tend to grow and spread quickly. Doctors have to carefully monitor mesothelioma tumor progression to tell if a treatment is working. Most mesothelioma patients have chemotherapy with Alimta (pemetrexed) and…

SMRP Still Among Best Diagnostic Biomarkers for Mesothelioma
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SMRP Still Among Best Diagnostic Biomarkers for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Chinese researchers say soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP) in lung fluid is still one of the best biomarkers for mesothelioma, even if it sometimes produces false positives.. SMRP has been studied extensively as a way to help diagnose mesothelioma. The most popular test to check levels of SMRPs in the body is a blood test called MESOMARK. In recent years, other biomarkers for mesothelioma have also emerged. But SMRPs are not just in the blood. A new meta-analysis of SMRPs from pleural effusions finds that they have a valuable place among top biomarkers for mesothelioma. Biomarkers for Mesothelioma: SMRPs and Others Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that starts on the membranes around the lungs, heart or abdomen. SMRPs are…

Immune System Changes Could Signal Mesothelioma Risk
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Immune System Changes Could Signal Mesothelioma Risk

ByAlex Strauss

The state of an asbestos-exposed person’s immune system might give doctors clues about how likely they are to develop malignant mesothelioma. It’s a fear for any person who has worked around asbestos – that one day they may develop the asbestos-linked cancer, mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma can take decades to develop, causes few symptoms at first, and is extremely hard to treat. Right now, there is no definitive way to screen for it. Even making a mesothelioma diagnosis is a challenge. Now, a team of occupational medicine experts in Japan and China have released an article in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine detailing a list of biomarkers they believe may indicate asbestos-induced immune changes that could result in mesothelioma. How Asbestos…

Blood Tests & Biomarkers

ByAlex Strauss

Using Blood Tests and Biomarkers In Mesothelioma Diagnosis Clinicians have been experimenting with different mesothelioma blood tests for many years. There are a variety of goals with these tests. Here are several of them: To have an easy and non-invasive method to test if a patient has mesothelioma. To detect mesothelioma in the earliest stages possible. To determine whether mesothelioma is spreading, growing, or decreasing. To determine if treatments are working. So far, there are have been many promising blood tests designed to do one or more of the above. Nonetheless, no mesothelioma blood test has yet been accepted as part of the standard of care. Mesomark Perhaps the best known mesothelioma blood test is called MESOMARK. MESOMARK is an…

A Breath Test for Mesothelioma?
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A Breath Test for Mesothelioma?

ByAlex Strauss

Researchers in Belgium say a breath analysis tool could provide the next big breakthrough in the effort to diagnose malignant mesothelioma earlier. The team, made up of scientists from Ghent and Antwerp Universities, says the technique looks “very promising” and fits well within the aims of the “National Cancer Moonshot” research initiative established by President Obama. The Challenge of Mesothelioma Diagnosis Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare, lung-related cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Although scientists have identified several compounds or “biomarkers” in blood or lung fluid that seem to be overproduced by mesothelioma tumors, these markers are not reliable enough to use as stand-alone diagnostic tools. Instead, they are currently used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools such as…