title: Assessment of biomarkers in asbestos-exposed workers as indicators of cancer risk.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have shown that mortality from malignant mesothelioma (MM) and lung cancer have increased with increasing cumulative exposure to asbestos. To investigate whether tumour-related biomarkers can contribute towards the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk in populations exposed to asbestos, the DNA adduct 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (80HdG), interleukine-6 (IL-6), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFbeta) and soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRPs) were analysed in a cohort of workers differently exposed to asbestos fibres at the workplace. To document biomarker levels in an unexposed population, 54 age-matched subjects were enrolled. A total of 119 subjects with a history of occupational exposure to asbestos underwent clinical examination and were interviewed by trained personnel, responding to a detailed questionnaire related to duration of asbestos exposure, smoking, and occupational task. According to the occupational tasks, asbestos-exposed subjects were analysed for their asbestos cumulative dose and the association with the biomarkers was evaluated. Among the occupational groups, maintenance workers, pipe fitters and electricians were exposed to a higher cumulative dose of asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos significantly increased the steady-state content of 80HdG in DNA. Elevated levels of 80HdG and IL-6 best reflected a high level of SMRPs, which is related to cell transformation. Subjects heavily exposed to asbestos [> 60(ff/cm3) x years] showed also a higher level of angiogenic factors. A combination of angiogenic biomarkers with a specific mesothelioma-biomarker such as SMRPs could be used for close surveillance of workers with a history of asbestos exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. m.amati@univpm.it
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amati
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomasetti
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: Lucia Miria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tarquini
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.forename: Lory
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santarelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001194:Asbestos