New Potential Blood Biomarker for Pleural Mesothelioma
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New Potential Blood Biomarker for Pleural Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A team of researchers just published a study looking at whether a gene called FGF18 can be used as a biomarker for pleural mesothelioma. The study was published in the journal Thoracic Cancer. Signs and Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. When it grows in the lining of the lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma. Signs and symptoms may include shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and fatigue. This cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. Conventional treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, and. The median survival with conventional treatment is little more…

New and More Objective Way to Diagnose Mesothelioma
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New and More Objective Way to Diagnose Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A study published in Cancers looked at a new way to diagnose malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The usual way to diagnose MPM is through a biopsy or looking at fluid in the chest, but these methods are not very accurate. The researchers in this study used mass spectrometry-based proteomics to look for biomarkers that can pinpoint MPM in the body. Identifying Cancer MPM is a serious cancer that is linked to exposure to asbestos and is usually found late, making it hard to treat. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. The prognosis is poor, with a median survival rate of 12 months. Conventional treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Improving the…

New Biomarker for Early Mesothelioma Diagnosis
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New Biomarker for Early Mesothelioma Diagnosis

ByHolly Zink

Early treatment for mesothelioma is critical for overall survival. Researchers from Italy may have found a biomarker that can identify malignant pleural mesothelioma up to five years before a clinical diagnosis. This is an important area of research for mesothelioma because it is hard for doctors to diagnose this disease until it has become too difficult to treat. The sooner that doctors can diagnose a patient with mesothelioma, the sooner they can begin life-saving treatment. In addition, the current diagnosis methods involve surgically removing cancerous tissue for testing. This type of procedure can be hard even for healthy patients. Because of this, patients who are already too sick from mesothelioma might not be able to get a proper diagnosis. MicroRNA…

New Set of Biomarkers for Mesothelioma
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New Set of Biomarkers for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A new set of biomarkers to diagnose mesothelioma has been identified by researchers in Italy. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. It takes decades for symptoms to appear after being around asbestos. It is also a deadly cancer with an average survival time of 13 months. Diagnosing mesothelioma as early as possible is critical to successful treatment. Doctors diagnose mesothelioma with a few different procedures. They might perform a scan on a patient first. This is usually an x-ray or a CT scan. Once they find a potential cancer site, the doctor needs to remove part of the tissue to take a closer look. The doctor will perform a biopsy to get…

Mesothelioma and the Promising New Hippo Biomarker
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Mesothelioma and the Promising New Hippo Biomarker

ByHolly Zink

A new review in Targeted Oncology looks at a promising new Hippo biomarker in malignant pleural mesothelioma. The new biomarker is rooted in the mesothelioma molecular pathway. A molecular pathway is how molecules work together inside your body. These pathways control cell function. And they are important in developing mesothelioma treatments. Think of molecular pathways as the airport tower controller. These pathways tell mesothelioma treatments where to go and what to do in the body. If doctors can understand how pathways work, they can develop better treatments. The goal is to develop more, and more effective, mesothelioma treatments. Promising Hippo Pathway in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma While several drugs have been approved for treating mesothelioma, there aren’t a lot. This is…

Serum IgG4: A New Biomarker for Mesothelioma Pleural Effusion
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Serum IgG4: A New Biomarker for Mesothelioma Pleural Effusion

ByHolly Zink

Egyptian scientists say a new biomarker is very good at identifying mesothelioma. Pleural effusions are pockets of excess fluid. They collect around the lungs of people with certain kinds of cancer and other conditions. Biomarkers in pleural effusions are proteins and other substances found in mesothelioma patients. The new study suggests that using this biomarker the right way can lead to more accurate diagnoses. The Importance of Biomarkers in Pleural Effusions Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lung lining. It is a challenge to diagnose. The early symptoms can be as vague as cough and fatigue. But an accurate diagnosis is often the difference between life and death. As tumors grow, mesothelioma patients produce pleural effusions or ‘water…

Identifying New MicroRNA Tumor Biomarkers for Mesothelioma
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Identifying New MicroRNA Tumor Biomarkers for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Identifying New MicroRNA Tumor Biomarkers for Mesothelioma Italian researchers have taken an important step forwards in what amounts to a microRNA tumor biomarker for mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos fibers causes malignant pleural mesothelioma. An early diagnosis and comprehensive health monitoring is vital for patients exposed to asbestos fibers. Researchers at the University of Catania in Italy say these two clinical issues “may be solved by the identification of specific biomarkers.” A new article in Nature Scientific Reports identifies RNA molecules could serve as a microRNA signature for mesothelioma. This “signature” could help doctors distinguish mesothelioma from other types of cancer. The Challenge of Mesothelioma Diagnosis Pleural mesothelioma is particularly hard to diagnose. The early symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to the…

New Tips for Diagnosing Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma
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New Tips for Diagnosing Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that often mimics other conditions. This can make it difficult to get a definitive diagnosis. But a new report in Pathology Case Reviews provides tips for identifying peritoneal mesothelioma. Diagnosing Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after a person experiencing symptoms goes to a doctor. Patients often complain of vague abdominal symptoms, such as pain, nausea, bloating, weight loss. Distinguishing peritoneal mesothelioma from other cancers is important to ensure appropriate treatment. One thing a doctor may do is perform a tissue biopsy. The doctor will remove a part of the tissue (suspected mesothelioma) for examination. A biopsy is the “gold standard” and the single most important procedure for an accurate diagnosis. Doctors…

Japanese Researchers Discover ‘Novel Diagnostic Marker’ for Mesothelioma
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Japanese Researchers Discover ‘Novel Diagnostic Marker’ for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

A protein called CDLN15 could be a novel diagnostic marker for malignant pleural mesothelioma, allowing doctors to pinpoint asbestos cancer earlier and boost the odds of survival. That is the message from a recently published Japanese study.  Pleural mesothelioma is notoriously difficult to diagnose. It rarely causes any symptoms at all until it is in a late stage. When the symptoms do show up, they are easy to confuse with other illnesses. Earlier diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma depends on finding things that set it apart from other diseases. This novel diagnostic marker could serve as a red flag for this rare but deadly cancer.  CDLN15 as a Novel Diagnostic Marker CDLN15 stands for claudin-15. Claudins are a family of proteins…

Epithelioid Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer: Biomarker Shows Which is Which
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Epithelioid Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer: Biomarker Shows Which is Which

ByAlex Strauss

Researchers from Hiroshima University say they have found a nearly foolproof way to tell the difference between epithelioid mesothelioma and lung cancer.  This is critical because the prognosis can be very different between the two. They are also treated differently.  But epithelioid mesothelioma and lung cancer are similar in many ways. They cause many of the same symptoms. Even their cells look similar under the microscope. This can make it hard for doctors to deliver an accurate and timely diagnosis.  If the new findings are right, the biomarker identified by the Hiroshima researchers could be a diagnostic gamechanger.  Lung Adenocarcinoma or Pleural Mesothelioma? At first glance, epithelioid mesothelioma and lung cancer seem to be very different. Mesothelioma makes up about…