Asbestos Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Asbestos, including details on mesothelioma, lung disease, dangers, effects, risks.

Soluble mesothelin-related protein--a blood test for mesothelioma.

Robinson BW, Creaney J, Lake R, Nowak A, Musk AW, de Klerk N, Winzell P, Hellstrom KE, Hellstrom I

University Department of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia. bwsrobin@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

Identification of tumor marker for mesothelioma (MM) might prove useful in diagnosis as well as for monitoring tumor in response to therapy and for screening at-risk individuals. We tested the hypothesis that soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP), a mesothelin family member, in the serum would be such a marker. Our data show that determination of SMRP in serum is a marker of MM with a sensitivity of sensitivity 83% and specificity 95% in the first 48 MM patients tested. Changes in serum SMRP levels parallel clinical course/tumor size and SMRP is elevated in 75% of patients at diagnosis. SMRP should also be useful for monitoring disease progression, and importantly, may prove useful for screening asbestos-exposed individuals for early MM.

Published 13 June 2005 in Lung Cancer, 49: S109-11.
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