title: Malignant mesothelioma: clinical characteristics, asbestos mineralogy and chromosomal abnormalities of 41 patients.
abstract: The clinical characteristics and the results of mineral fibre and cytogenetic analyses were coordinated prospectively for 41 patients with confirmed malignant pleural mesothelioma. A correlation was found between high total fibre concentration, and partial or total loss of chromosomes 1, 4 and 9 and chromosomal rearrangements involving a breakpoint at 1p11-p22. There was also a correlation between crocidolite/amosite as the main fibre type and partial or total loss of chromosomes 1, 3 and 4 and chromosomal rearrangements involving del (3p). Positive prognostic factors were female gender, low total fibre concentration (less than 10(6) fibres per g dried lung tissue), anthophyllite as the main fibre type and normal chromosome 7. In addition, we found 4 patients with malignant mesothelioma who had been exposed mainly to anthophyllite fibres (total lung fibre concentrations of 1.2, 0.4, 0.2 and 0.1 x 10(6) fibres per g dried lung tissue). This would seem to indicate that there may be a carcinogenic role for anthophyllite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tammilehto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuomi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiainen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rautonen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knuutila
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pyrhönen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mattson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017639:Asbestos, Amosite; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D002897:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite; D017639:Asbestos, Amosite; D001194:Asbestos; C025965:anthophyllite