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Review
. 2007 Aug;98(8):1147-51.
doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2007.00520.x. Epub 2007 May 25.

Diagnostic biomarker of asbestos-related mesothelioma: example of translational research

Hino Okio  1 , Shiomi Kazu, Maeda Masahiro
Affiliations
Review

Diagnostic biomarker of asbestos-related mesothelioma: example of translational research

Hino Okio et al. Cancer Sci. 2007 Aug.

Abstract

Mesothelioma is an aggressive tumor arising from the mesothelium, and is usually associated with previous exposure to asbestos. The incubation period of asbestos-related mesothelioma is estimated to be approximately 30-40 years. Once mesothelioma has occurred, there is no effective treatment. So, identification of tumor markers and a method for early diagnosis using such markers are urgently needed. Recently, several enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay systems for Erc/mesothelin have been developed, the reported usefulness of which has been assessed and demonstrated as a diagnostic tool. Asbestos-related mesothelioma should be ascribed as a typical environmental carcinogen. In this review, we will present asbestos-related mesothelioma for the study of problems in environmental carcinogenesis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Fan model of renal carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis looks like an opened Japanese fan. Primal force is ‘two hits’ of the predisposing gene. Initiated cells grow in many directions and culminate in diverse clinical cancers at the periphery. The edge of the fan corresponds to clinical tumors.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Characterization of anti‐Erc/mesothelin antibodies using western blot analysis. Lane 1, lane 2: lysate and culture supernatant of COS‐1 cells transfected with Erc/mesothelin cDNA, respectively. Soluble N‐Erc/mesothelin was detected in the culture supernatant.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Products of the Erc/mesothelin gene and the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. The primary product of the Erc/mesothelin gene, a 71‐kDa precursor protein. This protein is physiologically cleaved, releasing its 31‐kDa N‐terminal fragment into the blood. The authors’ system detects 31‐kDa N‐terminal fragments using a sandwich ELISA containing two antibodies against N‐terminal fragments.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Scatter plot of serum N‐Erc/mesothelin. The serum concentrations of N‐Erc/mesothelin were much higher in mesothelioma patients than in the healthy controls, carcinomatous pleuritis (lung cancer) patients and benign asbestos pleuritis patients.( 16 )
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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