Understanding Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Closer Look at Genomic Patterns

Understanding Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Closer Look at Genomic Patterns

ByHolly Zink

Scientists studied how asbestos exposure alters the genes of malignant pleural mesothelioma. They published their findings in the Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology, and Oncology. This effort showed how the genes of three tumors form. Overall, the study deepened our knowledge of mesothelioma’s genetic changes and their connection to asbestos. The Genetic Secrets of Mesothelioma Cancer is a disease that can affect different parts of our bodies. One type of cancer that can develop in the lungs is called malignant pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer is rare and can be caused by being around a material called asbestos. Asbestos is a material that was used in buildings and factories in the past. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they…

Unveiling Mesothelioma’s Secrets: How Genes Can Help Predict Survival
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Unveiling Mesothelioma’s Secrets: How Genes Can Help Predict Survival

ByHolly Zink

Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos, a material once widely used in construction. This cancer is particularly dangerous because it grows and spreads quickly. Unfortunately, treatment options are limited. Even though asbestos is no longer used in many places, people who were exposed to it years ago can still develop mesothelioma, sometimes decades later. The current ways of classifying and treating mesothelioma are not very effective. There is a need for new ways to diagnose, predict outcomes, and treat this disease. The Role of Fibroblasts in Mesothelioma Researchers have been studying the environment around tumors, called the tumor microenvironment. They want to understand how it affects cancer growth. Fibroblasts are a type of cell…

Genes and Hope: The Promise of Personalized Treatment for Mesothelioma

Genes and Hope: The Promise of Personalized Treatment for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A new study used advanced technology to understand the genetic details of mesothelioma. New results are pointing to potential ways to personalize treatment for this rare and aggressive cancer. Mesothelioma starts in the thin lining around our organs. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. This cancer is known for being hard to treat and having few options for therapy. But recent research brings some hope. Exploring Mesothelioma with Sequencing Sequencing technology has been a big help in studying mesothelioma. It helps us understand its genetic makeup. One important finding is that more than 20% of the time, there are genetic issues. These issues may affect crucial genes called tumor suppressors. Some of the most common mutated genes in mesothelioma…

Why Genetic Testing for Mesothelioma Patients Is Now Essential
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Why Genetic Testing for Mesothelioma Patients Is Now Essential

ByHolly Zink

A new study published in JAMA Network Open recommends that doctors should run genetic tests on their mesothelioma patients to make sure they get the right care. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin. Mesothelioma is a serious type of cancer that mainly affects the lungs and abdomen. People with this cancer usually don’t live very long, around 18 months on average. The place where the cancer is found can affect how long someone lives.  People with mesothelioma in the abdomen might live a bit longer than those with it in the lungs. The main cause of mesothelioma is being exposed to asbestos. There is also a chance that some people…

Multi-Center Study Reveals “Genomic Basis” of Mesothelioma
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Multi-Center Study Reveals “Genomic Basis” of Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Doctors with the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, and the Departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Genome Technology at New York’s Langone Medical Center, have identified four specific genes they believe are directly linked to mesothelioma development. Scientists have long known that asbestos in the tissue can trigger genetic mutations that lead to mesothelioma. But, while past studies have focused on small sets of genes and have provided a limited view of these mutations, this new study is the first to analyze the entire gene for all possible genetic alterations. The new study involved whole exome sequencing – or a complete analysis of the DNA – on 22 malignant pleural mesothelioma patients. “Integrative analysis…

Study Finds Genes May Influence Site of Mesothelioma Tumors
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Study Finds Genes May Influence Site of Mesothelioma Tumors

ByAlex Strauss

An analysis of chromosomal abnormalities in people with malignant mesothelioma finds that genes may play a significant role in determining where mesothelioma develops in the body. Mesothelioma is an aggressive malignancy primarily associated with exposure to asbestos dust. It’s most common site is on the pleura, the membrane that surrounds the lungs. The second most common site for mesothelioma tumors – accounting for about 30% of cases – is the peritoneal membrane that lines the abdomen. A number of studies in recent years have suggested that, like many other types of cancer, mesothelioma also has a genetic component and people with certain kinds of abnormalities may be more prone to develop it. Now, a new study conducted by Japanese pathologists…

Using Genes to Predict Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Response
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Using Genes to Predict Mesothelioma Chemotherapy Response

ByAlex Strauss

British genetic researchers say a mesothelioma patient’s genes can influence their response to chemotherapy and the knowledge may open the door for more individualized and successful mesothelioma treatments. The team from Guy’s Hospital and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, focused on polymorphisms, genetic variations that can impact patients’ tolerance to Alimta- (pemetrexed) based chemotherapy. The combination of Alimta and a platinum derivative like cisplatin is currently the most popular first-line treatment for pleural mesothelioma. Using a genetic test called the Illumina Human Exome v 1.1 BeadChip, the researchers compared 28 polymorphisms on 11 key genes with clinical outcomes in patients with either non-small cell lung cancer or mesothelioma. All of the 136 study subjects were receiving combination chemotherapy with Alimta…

Is Mesothelioma Hereditary?
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Is Mesothelioma Hereditary?

ByAlex Strauss

Could susceptibility to mesothelioma pass from parent to child through the genes? That is a question Greek scientists are trying to answer as they try to determine why some families seem to be ‘prone’ to mesothelioma. Although many other cancers are known to have a hereditary component, mesothelioma is unique in that it is known to be caused by exposure to the mineral asbestos. Inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers can trigger a series of physiological changes that leads to mesothelioma years later. In most cases where multiple members of a family are diagnosed with mesothelioma, they are all found to have been exposed to asbestos. Children are sometimes exposed to the asbestos on a parent’s work clothes. Or several members…

Genes May be Targets for Mesothelioma Treatment
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Genes May be Targets for Mesothelioma Treatment

ByAlex Strauss

The same genes that can help predict which mesothelioma patients will do well after surgery, might also be good targets for gene therapy to combat the disease. That’s the conclusion of one of the nation’s top mesothelioma experts, Dr. David Sugarbaker, and his colleagues at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. After publishing research showing that certain genes can affect patients’ post-surgical prognosis, the team looked further into the genes themselves and how they relate to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is highly resistant to standard treatments. Gene therapy, which harnesses and uses the body’s own nature defense system, is being studied as a promising alternative. Starting with lung tissue from both healthy patients and those with malignant pleural mesothelioma, the researchers used…