Biomarker for Pleural Mesothelioma: Transforming Growth Factor-Beta
A protein called transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) might be an effective biomarker for pleural mesothelioma. New research shows it could help diagnose the asbestos cancer and distinguish it from other lung conditions. The findings come from researchers at the West German Cancer Center in Essen, Germany. They studied patients with malignant mesothelioma, non-malignant pleural diseases or lung cancer. TGF-β levels were different in mesothelioma patients than they were in people with other diseases. They correlated with mesothelioma survival. This suggests that TGF-β could make a good biomarker for pleural mesothelioma. How Do Doctors Use a Biomarker for Pleural Mesothelioma? A biomarker for pleural mesothelioma is a substance whose presence indicates that a person has the disease. Some biomarkers occur in…