title: Biomarkers and prognostic factors for malignant pleural mesothelioma.
abstract: The increasing incidence and the dismal prognosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma calls for the identification of biomarkers that will allow a timely diagnosis; display prognostic value; and, predict the response to pharmacological agents employed for the treatment of the disease. Biomarkers associated with early diagnosis currently include mesothelin in combination with miRNA miR-103a-3p. As for prognostic biomarkers, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) scores take into account different hematological and clinical parameters that distinguish patients with good prognosis from those with inferior outcomes. Fluorodeoxyglucose-PET, microarray expression data, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios, c-MET expression, Ki-67 ratios and fibulin-3 levels have also been associated with disease outcome. Finally, thymidylate synthase protein cutoffs may predict mesothelioma response to the association of pemetrexed with a platinum derivative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.|Unit of Medical Oncology, A.O.U. Policlinico 'Vittorio Emanuele', Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vigneri
authors.affiliation: Unit of Medical Oncology, A.O.U. Policlinico 'Vittorio Emanuele', Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martorana
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.|Unit of Medical Oncology, A.O.U. Policlinico 'Vittorio Emanuele', Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manzella
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stella
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: CALGB score; EORTC score; FDG-PET; Ki-67; NRL; fibulin-3; gene arrays; malignant pleural mesothelioma; mesothelin; nuclear grading score