Mesothelioma Diagnosis May Come Earlier With New Testing: Study

Oxford scientists believe they have developed a new way to test for mesothelioma cancer that could lead to earlier diagnosis, more timely treatment and improved quality of life for people suffering from the asbestos-related ailment.

A report published in the September 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine indicates that the Oxford team has found a way to detect proteins most commonly associated with mesothelioma in fluid build-up in the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. They believe their new testing method will be more sensitive and result in earlier diagnosis than current testing methods, which consist of looking for cancerous cells within the fluid.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and breathing asbestos fibers. It is a very serious disease, which is often at a very advanced stage when a mesothelioma diagnosis is made. Early symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest wall pain or substantial weight loss. Because the mesothelioma symptoms are not always recognized, by the time the cancer is diagnosed, the median survival time is often under a year.

Fluid build-up in the lung lining and chest cavity surrounding the lungs, also known as the pleural cavity, is a symptom associated with many lung ailments, including other types of lung cancer. However, the researchers have found that levels of the protein mesothelin were almost six times higher in patients with mesothelioma than in patients with other cancers, and 10 times higher than in patients with non-cancerous lung conditions.

Researchers suggest that detecting the protein can allow for rapid diagnosis well ahead of other methods. A more timely diagnosis could increase standard of living for those suffering from mesothelioma through the use of early, more effective and less invasive treatments. It could also have other benefits, including giving victims more advanced warning to file for worker compensation or asbestos injury lawsuits.

Mesothelioma is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure. Asbestos was widely used in a variety of manufacturing and construction applications throughout the last century, and more than 600,000 people diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or other asbestos-related diseases have filed lawsuits against more than 6,000 defendants who manufactured, sold or worked with the toxic substance.

According to a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on April 24, 2009, the number of malignant mesothelioma deaths that occur each year is continuing to increase, even though most uses of asbestos were banned in the 1982. Given the long latency period, the federal health agency expects the number of annual asbestos deaths to peak by 2010 and to decrease to background levels by 2055.