BAP1 Expression Not an Independent Factor in Mesothelioma Prognosis
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BAP1 Expression Not an Independent Factor in Mesothelioma Prognosis

ByAlex Strauss

A new report says the prognostic role of BAP1 expression in mesothelioma is not as cut-and-dried as some studies suggest. Italian researchers analyzed the cases of 698 patients with pleural mesothelioma. The group included 60 of their own patients and another 638 from other studies. Their analysis suggests that mesothelioma prognosis has more to do with subtype than with genetic BAP1 expression. They caution doctors not to put too much stock in a patient’s BAP1 status without also considering other factors. Genetic Alterations and Mesothelioma Survival Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. But not everyone who is exposed to asbestos gets cancer. This may have to do with their genetic makeup. Certain genetic alterations may make a person…

Artificial Intelligence in Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment Planning
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Artificial Intelligence in Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment Planning

ByAlex Strauss

Two newly-published studies highlight some of the ways that artificial intelligence may help with the diagnosis and treatment of malignant mesothelioma.  The first study focuses on machine learning algorithms for mesothelioma diagnosis. Researchers used data from Turkey, which has a high rate of mesothelioma among families.  A separate study from New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center demonstrates the role that artificial intelligence can play in planning mesothelioma radiotherapy. Both studies suggest that machine learning may be a valuable tool to help doctors tackle asbestos cancer.  How Does Machine Learning Work? Artificial intelligence refers to intelligence generated by a computer. Like people, computers have to “learn” before they can provide intelligent answers to medical questions.  In both of the new studies,…

Breast Cancer and Mesothelioma: Case Study Illustrates Diagnostic Challenge
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Breast Cancer and Mesothelioma: Case Study Illustrates Diagnostic Challenge

ByAlex Strauss

A newly published Croatian case illustrates how challenging it can sometimes be to distinguish between breast cancer and mesothelioma. The case involves a 61-year-old woman with what appeared to be breast cancer. Further study revealed that what the woman actually had was pleural mesothelioma. The mesothelioma had spread to her breast.  Breast cancer and mesothelioma cells look similar under the microscope. But they are very different. The authors of the new report caution doctors against the “pitfall” of mistaking one for the other.  Breast Metastasis is Rare Pleural mesothelioma occurs on the membrane that surrounds the lungs. It is rare for mesothelioma to spread to the breast. The most common place for mesothelioma cells to spread is the lungs.  Women…

PD-L1 Expression and Mesothelioma Prognosis
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PD-L1 Expression and Mesothelioma Prognosis

ByAlex Strauss

The largest study yet on PD-L1 expression and mesothelioma prognosis shows that patients with more of this protein in their cells have poorer odds of survival. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) helps cancer cells evade immune system attack.  Other studies have suggested a link between PD-L1 expression and mesothelioma prognosis. But the new meta-analysis performed by two Chinese researchers appears to confirm it with an even bigger data set.  Understanding Mesothelioma Prognosis Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon cancer that typically carries a poor prognosis. Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma lose their lives to the illness within a year.  But there are also many exceptions. Some mesothelioma survivors live for decades after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Australian Paul Kraus is an example….

The Importance of Subtype in PET Scanning for Mesothelioma Prognosis
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The Importance of Subtype in PET Scanning for Mesothelioma Prognosis

ByAlex Strauss

A new study of PET scanning for mesothelioma prognosis shows how much radioactive tracer a tumor absorbs can predict survival. This is especially true in people with the epithelioid mesothelioma subtype.  The study comes from the Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea. Researchers studied the medical records of dozens of mesothelioma patients diagnosed between 2009 and 2018. They found that SUVmax, a key factor in PET scanning for mesothelioma, is directly related to mesothelioma survival.  How PET Scanning Works Mesothelioma diagnosis is challenging. Pleural mesothelioma grows quickly on the membrane around the lungs. It is one of the rarest and deadliest cancers. Positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT) can help with diagnosis.  During a…

It May Be Possible to Predict Recurrence of Mesothelioma with Help from AI
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It May Be Possible to Predict Recurrence of Mesothelioma with Help from AI

ByAlex Strauss

A newly-published report suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) might help pathologists predict recurrence of mesothelioma. The report focuses on technology developed by the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP) in Japan. The Center claims the computer program taught itself to recognize key features in images of cancer.  Some of the features were ones that even pathologists did not know about. The findings suggest that AI and pathologists could predict recurrence of mesothelioma better than pathologists alone.  How AI Might Predict Recurrence of Mesothelioma  A computer program usually has to be “taught” to perform a certain task. But this limits how far the learning can go. Instead of “teaching” it about cancer, researchers let the RIKEN technology learn on its…

Minimally Invasive Mesothelioma Diagnosis from Lung Fluid
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Minimally Invasive Mesothelioma Diagnosis from Lung Fluid

ByAlex Strauss

Minimally invasive mesothelioma diagnosis with lung fluid may be just as effective as a tissue biopsy. That’s according to Australian mesothelioma researchers. Australia was once one of the biggest producers of asbestos and now has some of the highest mesothelioma rates in the world. It is also home to high-level mesothelioma research. In the latest study, scientists ran a meta-analysis comparing surgical biopsy with a minimally invasive mesothelioma diagnosis tool called cytology. Their conclusion is that surgery may not always be necessary to diagnose malignant mesothelioma. Tissue Versus Lung Fluid Malignant mesothelioma is a fatal cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It is challenging to diagnose because the symptoms are often vague and similar to other less serious conditions. Doctors…

Systemic Inflammation Linked to Shorter Mesothelioma Survival
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Systemic Inflammation Linked to Shorter Mesothelioma Survival

ByAlex Strauss

Mesothelioma patients whose bodies respond to the illness with systemic inflammation are less likely to survive. Chinese researchers have linked a measure of systemic inflammation called SII to shorter survival in people with pleural mesothelioma. The new study involved 97 people with confirmed malignant mesothelioma. It suggests that SII could be a simple, non-invasive way to determine mesothelioma prognosis. What is SII? SII stands for “systemic immune-inflammation index”. When a body is under stress, such as when it is fighting mesothelioma, the innate immune system kicks into action. Certain kinds of white blood cells and proteins are released. The result is systemic inflammation. SII can be determined with a blood test. The test measures the levels of white blood cells…

New Research Reveals Gene Signature for Mesothelioma
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New Research Reveals Gene Signature for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Researchers in China say they have come up with a three-gene signature for mesothelioma. The gene signature may help doctors determine mesothelioma prognosis and plan treatment. Pleural mesothelioma is challenging to diagnose and even harder to treat. Many patients do not receive a diagnosis until the disease is in an advanced stage. The new study finds that the gene signature for mesothelioma is “significantly associated”  with overall survival in people with the pleural variety. Testing a Gene Signature for Mesothelioma Genes play an important role in the development and progression of cancers like mesothelioma. The Chinese researchers started by searching for other studies on  mesothelioma prognosis and genes. “The lack of relevant search results indicated that no gene prognostic signatures…

Nutritional Status of Mesothelioma Patients and Prognosis
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Nutritional Status of Mesothelioma Patients and Prognosis

ByAlex Strauss

The nutritional status of mesothelioma patients could impact their treatment outcomes. That is the conclusion of a new Chinese study. The study focused on patients with peritoneal mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer that grows on the abdominal lining. About a fifth of mesothelioma patients have this type. Researchers at Cangzhou Central Hospital measured the nutritional status of mesothelioma patients with a tool called the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score. When they compared the scores with patients’ survival rates, they found that those with worse scores did not live as long. Measuring Nutritional Status of Mesothelioma Patients with CONUT CONUT is a computer-based tool. It calculates the nutritional status of mesothelioma patients based on laboratory information. Lab values considered by…