Search Results for: mesomark

Predicting Mesothelioma Outcomes with Soluble Mesothelin
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Predicting Mesothelioma Outcomes with Soluble Mesothelin

ByAlex Strauss

New research suggests that a protein often used to help diagnose and track malignant mesothelioma may also be a valuable prognostic indicator. Soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) is a biomarker for pleural mesothelioma, an aggressive asbestos-linked cancer that causes few symptoms until in its late stages. The presence of SMRP in the blood indicates that mesothelial cells on the lining around the lungs have been damaged. By testing the level of SMRP in the blood of a person with suspected mesothelioma, doctors can both confirm the diagnosis and track how well mesothelioma treatments are working. The Mesomark laboratory test for SMRP has become a staple of mesothelioma care in recent years. Determining Mesothelioma Prognosis Many factors influence mesothelioma prognosis, or likelihood…

Measuring Mesothelioma Treatment Response with Biomarkers
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Measuring Mesothelioma Treatment Response with Biomarkers

ByAlex Strauss

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is notoriously difficult to treat and doctors often have to try different treatment combinations to produce a response. But how can they know if a particular treatment strategy is working? A team of researchers in Pisa, Italy suggest that three key biomarkers may be the answer. Soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP), plasma osteopontin (pOPM) and vimentin have all been studied as potential diagnostic tools. But University of Pisa scientists say these three key markers may also offer an efficient method for clinicians to track how well a mesothelioma tumor is responding to treatment. This could potentially improve mesothelioma outcomes by enabling doctors to change course if they are not seeing the hoped-for results. Understanding Mesothelioma Biomarkers Mesothelioma biomarkers…

In Search of a Diagnostic Blood Test for Mesothelioma
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In Search of a Diagnostic Blood Test for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Doctors in Turkey believe they may be a step closer to developing a more sensitive blood test that could improve the odds of surviving mesothelioma by allowing it to be identified earlier. While it’s extremely rare and usually only diagnosed in people who have been exposed to asbestos, malignant pleural mesothelioma is also one of the most universally lethal cancers. One reason for the high death rate among mesothelioma patients is that the disease often causes no symptoms until it is in its advanced stages, when treatments like chemotherapy and radiation are less likely to work. But a team of doctors in Diyarbakir, Turkey claim to have identified two of the most important biomarkers in blood serum that could be…

A New Look at the Complex Process of Mesothelioma Diagnosis
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A New Look at the Complex Process of Mesothelioma Diagnosis

ByAlex Strauss

Mesothelioma is not only a difficult cancer to treat. It’s also notoriously difficult to diagnose. Because there are no definitive biomarkers that can quickly reveal if a patient has this aggressive cancer, diagnosing mesothelioma typically involves a combination of different techniques. A new article in the Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine highlights some of the most useful and important diagnostic tests for mesothelioma. Pathologists Qudsia Arif, MD, and Aliya Husain, MD, of the University of Chicago used peer-reviewed publications, text books, and consensus among their fellow pathologists to compile their recommendations. According to the report, among the possible diagnostic biomarkers for mesothelioma, four of the most reliable are the proteins calretinin, WT-1, cytokeratin 5/6, and podoplanin. These, say the…

A New Test for Mesothelioma?
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A New Test for Mesothelioma?

ByAlex Strauss

Malignant pleural mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the pleural membrane that encases the lungs, can be difficult to diagnose.  Early symptoms of the disease can be vague and mimic other lung conditions.  But the longer a patient goes without a firm diagnosis, the poorer the prognosis is likely to be since mesothelioma is resistant to many traditional therapies. In addition to considering the patient’s symptoms and history of asbestos exposure, doctors often rely on biomarkers – compounds found in the blood or lung fluid – to pinpoint mesothelioma. Now, a group of Danish scientists are investigating a new biomarker that may eventually allow for an earlier, more accurate, mesothelioma diagnosis. Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is a key enzyme used to help cells…

New Biomarker May Help Diagnose Mesothelioma
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New Biomarker May Help Diagnose Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Scientists in Japan believe that a protein found in the blood serum of rheumatoid arthritis patients may help doctors diagnose malignant pleural mesothelioma earlier. Every year in the U.S., as many as 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a fast-growing asbestos-linked cancer that often causes few symptoms until in its later stages, when treatment options may be limited. Because earlier detection can increase the odds of survival, researchers around the world are searching for methods to detect mesothelioma sooner.  Much of that research has centered on substances, known as biomarkers, that are overproduced by tumor cells and can be detected in blood serum. The latest biomarker found to be elevated in mesothelioma cells is serum thioredoxin-1 (TRX), a biomarker for rheumatoid…

Promising New Target for Mesothelioma Therapy
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Promising New Target for Mesothelioma Therapy

ByAlex Strauss

Mesothelin, a protein found on the surface of cells, may be a promising new target for treating mesothelioma, as well as several other types of cancers, according to a recent study in the journal, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. This protein might also help doctors diagnose certain cancers. The reason why mesothelin has captured researchers’ attention as a potential therapeutic target has to do with the way it is distributed in the body. In healthy people, mesothelin is only found in small amounts in cells lining the lungs, abdominal cavity, and heart. However, this protein is produced in higher amounts by mesothelioma, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer cells. To attack these cancers, researchers are looking at using specialized antibodies (a type of immune…