title: A molecular epidemiology case control study on pleural malignant mesothelioma.
abstract: Pleural malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon neoplasm usually associated with asbestos exposure. The increasing incidence of malignant mesothelioma cases involving individuals with low levels of asbestos exposure suggests a complex carcinogenetic process with the involvement of other cofactors. Cytogenetic studies revealed the complexity of the genetic changes involved in this neoplasm reflecting the accumulation of genomic damage. One of the most used methodologies for assessing genomic damage is the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus test applied in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). This approach allows the detection of chromosomal alterations expressed in binucleated cells after nuclear division in vitro. This marker could provide a tool for assessing genetically determined constitutional differences in chromosomal instability. A biomonitoring study was carried out to evaluate the micronuclei frequency in PBLs of patients with pleural malignant mesothelioma with respect to lung cancer, healthy, and risk controls as a marker of cancer susceptibility in correlation with the presence of SV40. A significant increased micronuclei frequency was observed in patients with malignant mesothelioma in comparison with all the other groups, the mean micronuclei frequency was double in patients with malignant mesothelioma compared with healthy controls, risk controls, and patients with lung adenocarcinoma (median 11.4 binucleated cells with micronuclei/1,000 binucleated cells versus 6.2, 6.1, and 5.1, respectively). Our data indicate that human T lymphocyte samples carry DNA sequences coding for SV40 large T antigen at low prevalence, both in cancer cases and controls. Evidence of cytogenetic damage revealed as micronuclei frequency in mesothelioma cancer patients could be related to exogenous and endogenous cofactors besides asbestos exposure.
authors: Environmental Carcinogenesis Unit, National Cancer Research Institute, L. go Rosanna Benzsi, 10 Genoa, Italy 16132. claudia.bolognesi@istge.it
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Bolognesi
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Martini
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Tognon
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Filiberti
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Neri
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Perrone
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Landini
authors: Paolo A
authors: PA
authors: Canessa
authors: Gian Paolo
authors: GP
authors: Ivaldi
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Betta
authors: Luciano
authors: L
authors: Mutti
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Puntoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos