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…

Two New Diagnostic Tissue Biomarkers Discovered for Mesothelioma
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Two New Diagnostic Tissue Biomarkers Discovered for Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Scientists have now identified two new diagnostic tissue biomarkers for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Doctors identify mesothelioma using diagnostic tissue biomarkers. This is called immunohistochemistry. The use of immunohistochemistry improves the accuracy of mesothelioma diagnosis in clinical practice. Yet, new methods for discovering diagnostic markers are still needed. Following a Reverse Approach in a Rare Case Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after a person experiencing symptoms goes to a doctor. One thing a doctor may do is perform a tissue biopsy. The doctor will remove a part of the tissue (suspected mesothelioma) for examination. Most tissue biopsies are done with a needle and then examined in a laboratory. The lab will look for specific biomarkers to find out if the tissue contains…

Mesothelin Flawed But Still the Best Mesothelioma Biomarker
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Mesothelin Flawed But Still the Best Mesothelioma Biomarker

ByAlex Strauss

Patients who are suspected of having mesothelioma often want to know whether there is a test to determine for certain if they have the disease. Unfortunately, no such test exists. Instead, mesothelioma diagnosis typically involves a complex combination of work and family history, symptoms, scans, biopsies and, often, a test for a protein called mesothelin. While mesothelin is not a perfect biomarker for malignant mesothelioma, a team of Australian mesothelioma researchers has confirmed that it is probably still the best one available. Biomarkers are measurable substances that can help indicate whether a patient has a particular disease. As the search for the most effective mesothelioma biomarkers continues, doctors at the University of Western Australia’s National Center for Asbestos Related Diseases…

Mesothelioma Diagnosis Improved With New Biomarkers
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Mesothelioma Diagnosis Improved With New Biomarkers

ByAlex Strauss

As scientists continue to look for less invasive ways to diagnose the devastating asbestos-linked cancer mesothelioma, three important biomarkers have emerged in recent months. One of the biggest challenges with mesothelioma is obtaining an accurate diagnosis so that appropriate treatments can be started as soon as possible.  Because mesothelioma symptoms tend to be ambiguous and can mimic the symptoms of other diseases, this is rarely simple.  Many mesothelioma patients are not diagnosed until the disease is in its later stages and most patients survive only 6 to 18 months after diagnosis. But a study conducted at Oxford University and published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine may help to improve those odds.  The English researchers studied levels…