New Findings May Lead to Diagnosis and Treatment of Mesothelioma

By Jim Greene

Published on July 09, 2010

A group of university researchers in the United States, England, and Italy think they may have discovered how asbestos fibers cause the deadly cancer mesothelioma. They hope their findings will lead to the ability to diagnose and treat the disease, which attacks the outer lining of the lungs, heart, and other organs, and the inner lining of the chest and abdomen.

A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A., examined the question of how asbestos fibers can both kill healthy cells and trigger the growth of cancerous cells. Researchers found that the killing of cells by asbestos releases a protein molecule that, in turn, releases mutagens that promote tumor growth.

Drs. Haining Yang and Michele Carbone of the University of Hawai'i Cancer Research Center wrote the study report for a team that included researchers from New York University, University of Chicago, University of Pittsburgh, Imperial College London, and San Raffaele University of Milano.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis Comes Too Late for Treatment

Inhaling asbestos fibers is the only known cause of mesothelioma, which most commonly attacks those who have had long-term exposure, especially in occupational settings. Using current medical practices, mesothelioma is not detectable until years, or even decades, after it begins to develop, by which time there is no treatment.

The new study offers hope on two fronts. First, researchers think they may be able to diagnose early mesothelioma using blood tests to detect the protein molecules released by cell death caused by asbestos. They also hope to find treatments that will interfere with the inflammatory reactions caused by those protein molecules and by asbestos fibers, thereby reducing the incidence of mesothelioma in those exposed to the fibers.

Detection Field Test Planned for Turkish Town

The researchers are planning a field test of their detection theory in Cappadocia, Turkey, where more than half of the population dies of mesothelioma.

While this new study offers hope for the future, it is too late for the thousands of Americans whose asbestos exposure has already caused mesothelioma. If you have developed this currently incurable disease, or lost a loved one to it, contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney. In many cases, those responsible for causing mesothelioma exposure have been held accountable to compensate victims and their families.

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