Category: Mesothelioma
Mesothelin Combined with a MiRNA May Be Effective Diagnostic Biomarker for Mesothelioma
German researchers have shown that a combination of protein and nucleic acid biomarkers improves the diagnostic performance of a blood-based screening test for mesothelioma compared to the use of an individual biomarker from a single molecular class.
Malignant mesothelioma, an aggressive asbestos-caused cancer with a long latency period of 40 or more years, has a low median survival rate of 9-13 months from diagnosis due to the fact that symptoms typically only occur during late stages of the disease. Diagnosis at early stages has the potential to improve therapy and survival, but the development of a reliable blood test has been hindered by the low diagnostic performance of most prominent biomarker to date for mesothelioma—mesothelin.
The biomarker mesothelin, according to the authors of a new study published online by PLUS ONE, is characterized by high specificity (89%) but low sensitivity (58%). That is, in patients with mesothelioma, blood tests that use mesothelin as a biomarker generate false positives 11% of the time and false negatives 42% of the time. The AUC (a measure of diagnostic accuracy) of mesothelin is 0.85.
By combining the protein biomarker mesothelin with the microRNA (miRNA) biomarker miR-103a-3p, the researchers improved the overall diagnostic performance of a blood-based biomarker for mesothelioma to an AUC of 0.93.
“In conclusion,” writer the authors, “we showed that the combination of mesothelin and miR-103a-3p improved the diagnostic performance of a blood-based screening test, resulting in higher sensitivity and specificity to detect malignant mesothelioma.”
Malignant mesothelioma is a form of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that surrounds the lungs, abdomen and heart. Asbestos exposure in the only proven cause of mesothelioma.
Up to 3,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed in the United States each year, with 85,000 U.S. cases expected until 2054.
Anyone who was exposed to asbestos in the past—or who worked in occupations at risk for exposure—should be aware of mesothelioma symptoms, which include chest or abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and unusual lumps in affected areas.
Because early diagnosis is the key to a favorable prognosis, schedule a doctor visit immediately if you have symptoms that might indicate mesothelioma.
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Sources :
- biomarker
http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?cdrid=45618 - (new study published online by) PLUS ONE
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0114483
Daughter Reflects on the Memories With Her Father Lost to Mesothelioma
A few short weeks ago, my husband and I were blessed to become parents to a healthy and beautiful baby girl. It’s amazing the love that a parent feels for a child (and a child for a parent, for that matter). A mother and father will do anything they can to protect their little one. This made me think about the relationship I had with my Dad and how it impacted his journey with mesothelioma.
Dad and I had a very close relationship; I always knew that I could talk to him about anything. His kindness and amazing ability to give advice always amazed me. When he was diagnosed, we talked about the disease and what the next steps were. He talked about everything being in God’s hands and that we needed to put all our trust in Him. Once he was free of the disease, he told me that prior to this milestone, he felt awful. We discussed how his chemotherapy treatment made him feel – it seemed like we mulled everything over.
As difficult as it may seem, he even took the time to discuss his final wishes.
Now, I wonder if he was holding back to protect me. Did he really tell me everything, or did he keep a little in to keep me from worrying like I always do? Was he feeling as good as he said, or did he put on a braver face for my benefit? I guess these are questions that I will never know the answer to, but regardless, even if he did hold back, I know that it was done out of pure love.
I miss my Dad every single moment of the day, but I take comfort in knowing, and now understanding, the amount of love that he had for me and my family. I pray that I can be half the parent that he was… then, I’ll be doing pretty great.
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Gift Suggestions for Mesothelioma Patients
What do you get for the person who has everything? This is a common question, usually displayed in stores and commercials during the Christmas season. Some people ask the question in a different way: What do you get for the person who has mesothelioma?
This can be answered in a lot of different ways and it could depend on what they have going on in their lives as well. For someone who is currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments, it might be nice to give them a basket of foods that are easy on their stomach. Or maybe movies, books, or magazines to occupy them during their treatments, and while they are at home recuperating.
For someone who travels a lot for appointments, etc., maybe think of a nice travel bag or something to keep them busy during the trip. Comfortable clothing might also be something that they would enjoy. Religious gifts like prayer books or inspirational stories could also be a good idea. Homemade gifts are always wonderful and can become treasured keepsakes for years to come.
Whatever you decide, remember that your loved one is still the same person that they were before they were diagnosed. Even if you purchase some items that I suggested, remember the real person underneath the mesothelioma. Cater your gift to what they enjoy, not to the disease itself. If in doubt, you can always ask the mesothelioma warrior themselves what they would like, or talk to a close family member about it! They are sure to have some useful yet thoughtful ideas to share. Happy shopping!
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What are Some of the Preoperative Tests for Mesothelioma Patients?
Many mesothelioma patients have surgery to remove tumors, parts of tumors, or parts of organs that have been affected by the disease. Before any surgery, however, there are necessary tests to determine if the disease has spread, whether it has advanced to another stage, and the size of the tumor being targeted.
Accurate staging is important for deciding on mesothelioma treatment.
Advanced Diagnostic Tools Let Physicians See Organ Damage from Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma, which invades the linings around the lungs, is the most common form of mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma, which is rarer, invades the linings around the heart.
Surgeons will often perform mediastinoscopy on patients with these kinds of mesothelioma. This is a minimally invasive procedure where a small incision is made in the chest so that a scope can be inserted to look in the area around the lungs or heart. A needle can be used to remove tissue and fluids for testing to help determine the disease stage.
Pericardioscopy is another minimally invasive surgery used to determine the extent that the heart linings have been damaged. A surgeon makes a small cut in the skin over the heart and places a small tube with a camera inside. Cell samples are often removed during pericardioscopy.
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a newer treatment that doesn’t require an incision. Instead, a physician places a bronchoscope, with a special endoscope attached to it that is outfitted with an ultrasound processor and fine-gauge aspiration needle, down the patient’s throat and through the trachea. EBUS lets physicians see more of the airways, lungs, and smaller lymph nodes than they would through mediastinoscopy. Views are clearer and illuminate areas missed in the mediastinoscopy.
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) might be used on patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the linings of abdominal organs. During EUS, a tube with an endoscope is placed down the throat or through the rectum to view the digestive tract. A transducer on the tip of the endoscope provides higher-quality images than those obtained through traditional ultrasound. It can also get closer to the affected organs and provide more detail on lymph node activity.
What Do These Tests Show?
Physicians order these tests to get closer views and details about organ damage and changes in lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes are small glands found throughout the body that are a key part of the immune system. The largest lymph nodes are located in the neck, around the groin, and in the armpits. Smaller ones are found throughout the body.They send lymph fluids around the body to trap bacteria, viruses, and other threats and send lymphocytes—special white blood cells—to destroy them. They also carry nutrients to different parts of the body and help remove waste.
When lymph nodes are overwhelmed by disease, infection, or an injury, they become swollen in the affected area. This swelling is an important sign that a disease may have taken hold or spread.
Mesothelioma attacks the linings that protect organs, specifically, mesothelial cells on the inside of these linings. These cells provide lubricating fluids that let these organs move and function smoothly. Asbestos fibers that are inhaled or swallowed attach to these linings and damage the mesothelial cells.
Advocate for Mesothelioma Research During Lung Cancer Awareness Month
November is lung cancer awareness month, a great time to reflect and work on new ways to spread the message about mesothelioma prevention, lack of funding, and advocacy. Keep in mind that many people do not realize that mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer, so the general public may be surprised (just like I was) to learn this devastating fact.
Look for events in your community that you can participate in. Check with local hospitals and doctor’s offices about what they are doing to recognize this month. If they need some help, volunteer to assist them with existing programs, or even ask if you can implement one of your own! If time constraints are too tight this year, start working on something for 2015!
Holding a fundraiser during this month of awareness would tie the message together. It would get the word out about mesothelioma and how much help is needed to work towards better treatments and an eventual cure, as well as raise money for an excellent cause.
This month may also be a great time to put on your advocacy hat and petition your local, state, and national government about laws concerning asbestos and regulations concerning mesothelioma. Get as many people involved as you can and make your presence known; send letters, make phone calls. With this month being recognized, it should be brought to the forefront of the minds of those who can help to put new programs into action.
Remember that any bit of awareness that you can bring to lung cancer and mesothelioma victims, warriors, and their families will make a difference. Reach out and remember our end goal of eradicating this awful disease forever!
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Free Mesothelioma Patient & Treatment Guide
We’d like to offer you our in-depth guide, “A Patient’s Guide to Mesothelioma,” absolutely free of charge.
It contains a wealth of information and resources to help you better understand the condition, choose (and afford) appropriate treatment, and exercise your legal right to compensation.
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