Study Uncovers Mesothelioma’s Unique Genetic Profile

A forthcoming study in the Journal of Experimental and Molecular Pathology concludes that the genetic makeup of pleural mesothelioma (PlM) tumors could lead to future treatment breakthroughs.

The researchers say their work “lays the foundation for future investigations, including the development of biomarkers, with potential implications for the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of PlM.”

Lead researcher Elisa Frullanti said the project was not just about cataloging genes. “It’s about constructing a molecular roadmap of asbestos-induced cancer development. With further validation, this could translate into real-world clinical applications.”

PlM is a rare and highly aggressive cancer primarily linked to asbestos exposure through inhalation of fibers in an occupational setting. The inhalation of asbestos fibers causes chronic inflammation, driven by interactions between mesothelial cells and macrophages, releasing cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which perpetuate cellular damage. Recent studies suggest that ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, may also play a role in MPM progression.

Despite significant advances in cancer treatment, people with PlM have a poor prognosis with a median survival of up to 18 months.

PlM is the most common asbestos exposure disease, but it is only one of many serious, and usually fatal, conditions that this mineral causes.

Diagnosis and treatment issues combine to make mesothelioma a deadly disease. Inhaled asbestos dust and fibers cause malignant tumors to form in the mesothelium (the membrane layer that separates the heart and lungs). These tumors are hard to detect, mostly because many doctors are not looking for tumors in these situations. Most environmental and occupational cancer victims have no genetic or other cancer risk factors.

Because of the delayed diagnosis, the cancer is often at Stage II or III before doctors begin treatment. At that point, since the cancer has aggressively spread, treatment options are limited. Doctors hope that genetic advances will change that prognosis. More on that below.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma (PtM) is a rare and aggressive form of abdominal cancer. Swallowed asbestos fibers often cause PtM, which is similar to PlM in many ways. Other kinds of asbestos-related digestive tract cancer include throat and stomach cancer.

Asbestos exposure also causes a number of other kinds of cancer. Asbestos particles increase the number of free-radical precancerous particles in the body. So, if you or a loved one develops cancer out of the blue, a nationwide asbestos exposure lawyer should at least evaluate your case to determine if there’s a possible connection between the illness and an asbestos hotspot or an asbestos-laced product.

Toxins, like asbestos, alter cell DNA, causing cells to multiply too quickly. Many doctors reason that if uncontrolled genetic mutations cause tremors, controlled genetic mutations can break up tumors.

That’s the premise of CRISPR gene editing. The FDA has already approved one clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats drug, which doctors use to treat sickle cell disease in patients over 12. The drug has shown some promise. The drug is also extremely costly. A full round of treatment could cost several million dollars. Anti-cancer CRISPR drugs and therapies will probably be at least as expensive.

A nationwide mesothelioma lawyer connects victims with top-notch doctors who, in many cases, charge nothing upfront for their services. These services usually include necessary prescription drugs and medical therapies.

Traditional cancer treatments have also improved significantly since the 1990s. Radiation therapy, which usually shrinks tumors, is a good example.

In the old days, doctors bombarded an area of the body, like the chest, with radiation, hoping to affect a tumor. They had to dial it down because the excessive radiation caused too much collateral damage to other organs. Today’s targeted radiation treatments practically project a laser beam directly onto the tumor.

These advances are meaningful for PlM patients if doctors order expensive tests and diagnose the illness early. Asbestos exposure lawyers connect potential PlM victims with such doctors.

Mesothelioma victims need and deserve significant compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced nationwide mesothelioma lawyer, contact the Throneberry Law Group. Virtual appointments are available.