Unlocking the Role of Osteopontin in Mesothelioma Tumor Growth
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Unlocking the Role of Osteopontin in Mesothelioma Tumor Growth

ByHolly Zink

Scientists have discovered that a protein called osteopontin is found in higher levels in mesothelioma tumors than in normal tissues. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining of some organs in the body. It is caused by exposure to tiny fibers called asbestos. When these fibers are breathed in, they can get stuck in the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. Over time, they can cause cancerous cells to grow there. Mesothelioma is also very rare. This means that doctors and scientists are still learning about how this cancer grows and the best ways to treat it. The current treatments for mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. These treatments are not always effective, so scientists are…

Osteopontin and Mesothelioma: Unraveling the Connection
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Osteopontin and Mesothelioma: Unraveling the Connection

ByHolly Zink

Scientists in Italy found that a protein called osteopontin is important to the growth of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. It most often develops in the lungs or abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma is rare, with only 2,000 cases in the United States each year. The disease occurs more often in men than women. It can take decades after asbestos exposure for symptoms of the cancer to start affecting a patient. Mesothelioma is often difficult for doctors to treat. They usually create treatment plants that involve surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. But there is still much that we do not know about mesothelioma, including the best ways to shrink tumors and improve survival. Key Protein in…

Analysis of Three Top Mesothelioma Biomarkers
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Analysis of Three Top Mesothelioma Biomarkers

ByAlex Strauss

New research confirms that some mesothelioma biomarkers are much more effective than others for detecting asbestos cancer. The news comes from a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Researchers ran an analysis of more than 50 studies on three popular mesothelioma biomarkers. They concluded that two of them make good mesothelioma screening tools but one of them does not.   The Challenge of Early Mesothelioma Diagnosis Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. As with most cancers, the odds of surviving mesothelioma are higher if it is caught early. But mesothelioma does not cause many symptoms in the early stages. This can make it challenging to diagnose. Even…

Australian Study Reveals New Mesothelioma Biomarker
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Australian Study Reveals New Mesothelioma Biomarker

ByAlex Strauss

A large multi-center Australian study has revealed what researchers say could be an important new biomarker for malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a virulent cancer of internal body membranes usually caused by exposure to asbestos. As with other cancers, mesothelioma cells produce certain compounds at higher levels than healthy cells do. Micro RNAs, or miRNAs, are short chains of ribonucleic acid, some of which are produced in abundance by cancer cells. Using miRNA microarrays, the Australian researchers profiled plasma samples from patients with malignant mesothelioma and from healthy controls. After reviewing 90 miRNAs previously associated with mesothelioma, they found two – miR-29c and miR-92a – in particularly high amounts. Further testing found a total of 15 novel miRNAs in the plasma of…