title: Biomarkers in malignant mesothelioma: diagnostic and prognostic role of soluble mesothelin-related peptide.
abstract: Soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) is a biomarker that has been proposed for differential diagnosis from pleural metastatic cancer, as well as prognosis and treatment monitoring of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of SMRP in clinic management of MM. We assayed the SMRP concentrations in 354 subjects: 109 healthy volunteers with no history of exposure to asbestos, 26 patients with previous occupational asbestos exposure but who were free from pleural or parenchymal disease, 48 patients with asbestosis, 110 patients with pleural plaques, 25 patients with lung cancer, and 36 patients with MM. We also tested SMRP titers in 2 patients with MM at 5 different times of the disease, to evaluate the trend of the biomarker in the course of therapy. Our data confirm previous experiences with the use of SMRP as a diagnostic marker of MM. Low SMRP levels at diagnosis seem to have a positive prognostic significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, "Policlinico" University Hospital, Bari - Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dipalma
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Luisi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Serio
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maggiolini
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Licchelli
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mera
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bisceglia
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galise
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loizzi
authors.forename: Maria Annunziata
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pizzigallo
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molinini
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vimercati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D000090204:Mesothelin; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D000090204:Mesothelin