Evaluation of ovarian cancer biomarkers in subjects with benign asbestos-related pleural diseases.
BACKGROUND
Mesothelioma and ovarian cancer have been reported to have a similar pathogenesis, and for this reason it was hypothesized that there may be biomarkers in common and possibly associated with benign pleural diseases caused by asbestos exposure.


METHODS
Serum biomarkers including insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), leptin, prolactin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured in an observational study of subjects with benign asbestos-related pleural diseases (BARPD) (n=24) and healthy subjects with an asbestos exposure history (n=12).


RESULTS
Mean serum IGF-II and VEGF concentration in healthy subjects with a history of asbestos exposure were higher than those with BARPD. Mean serum concentrations of leptin and prolactin showed opposite trends when compared to IGF-II and VEGF concentrations among these groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that IGF-II and VEGF concentrations are lower in BARPD, similar to studies of ovarian cancer. This finding warrants further investigation with malignant asbestos-related diseases.
Department of Thoracic Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
Eun-Kee
EK
Park
Anthony R
AR
Johnson
Deborah H
DH
Yates
Paul S
PS
Thomas
D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000506:poisoning*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020738:Leptin; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D001194:Asbestos; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II