title: FBLN-3 as a biomarker of pleural plaques in workers occupationally exposed to carcinogenic fibers: a pilot study.
abstract: FBLN-3 has recently been proposed as a biomarker for malignant mesothelioma. A significantly increased standardized mortality rate from malignant mesothelioma has been reported in Biancavilla, Italy. Its cause has been identified in environmental exposure to fluoro-edenite. The aim of this study was to seek a correlation between plasma FBLN-3 concentration and pleural plaques in subjects exposed to fluoro-edenite and in a nonexposed control group. Pleural plaques was never detected in the control group, whereas it was found in 52% of exposed subjects. Median FBLN-3 concentrations were 12.96 and 5.29 ng/ml in the exposed and the control group, respectively (p < 0.001). FBLN-3 plasma levels exhibited a high predictive value for the presence of pleural plaques.
authors.affiliation: Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Venerando
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rapisarda
authors.affiliation: Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ledda
authors.affiliation: Academic Thoracic Surgery Unit, University Hospital 'Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele', Department of Surgery, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Migliore
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical & General Pathology & Oncology, Department of Biomedical & Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salemi
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, University Hospital 'Policlinico - Vittorio Emanuele', Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.affiliation: Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical & Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bracci
authors.affiliation: Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomy & Histology, Department of Biomedical & Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical & General Pathology & Oncology, Department of Biomedical & Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libra
mesh_terms: D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; D015415:Biomarkers; D002273:Carcinogens; C119630:EFEMP1 protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C492470:fluor-edenite
keywords: Biancavilla; FBLN-3; Mt Etna; environmental; fibers; fluoro-edenite; malignant mesothelioma; occupational exposure; pleural plaques