Mesothelioma Early Detection Research

Mesothelioma Early Detection Research

Mesothelioma is an uncommon malignancy caused primarily by exposure to asbestos. Millions of people in the United States alone have been exposed to asbestos and are in danger of developing malignant mesothelioma. The number of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma is expected to continue to rise until 2020. In undeveloped countries where the use of asbestos has not been banned, the rate of asbestos-related disease will climb higher and for much longer.

Asbestos, a fibrous mineral that comes from the earth, was commonly used in many trades before the United States government banned its general use in the’80’s. Until then, asbestos was added to thousands of industrial and construction materials that are still around in buildings, ships, and automobiles. When the materials become disturbed or damaged in any way, the asbestos fibers become airborne and create a health hazard.

When airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they become lodged in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or chest cavities and can cause mesothelioma to develop years later. After a long latency period of 10 to 40 years after exposure, symptoms begin to appear. The symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to and often confused with many other more common illnesses. The non-specificity of symptoms along with a long lag time between exposure and disease make mesothelioma very difficult to diagnose. The aim of current research is to identify tumors before they have reached advanced stages when interventions would be more effective.

Many research centers are dedicated to finding a cure and striving to find ways to improve clinical outcomes for those diagnosed with mesothelioma. One hope is to discover better ways to diagnose mesothelioma earlier. Early detection has been historically very difficult and imperfect.

In recent years, mesothelioma specialists have been exploring blood-based tumor markers in attempts to find early and reliable detection of the disease, especially with patients who seem to be at higher risk. Particularly, researchers have been looking into the use of serum biomarkers that would lead to noninvasive detection of malignant mesothelioma. One potential marker, a soluble mesothelin protein, has shown the most promising results in being most sensitive and specific to early diagnosis of mesothelioma. Other markers are also being explored but have yet to yield reliable results.

Researchers continue their efforts to find new markers to use in the evaluation of patients who have a history of asbestos exposure. If mesothelioma can be detected earlier, new treatments and even a cure might be discovered. The costs of treating mesothelioma are high, both to patients and family members as well as financially. Any advances in detection methods would be useful for diagnosis of the disease and could possibly save thousands of lives.

Sally Clapper is a representative for the law offices of Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason in Sausalito, CA. If you or someone you know is in need of a attorney for mesothelioma, please contact the firm at 1-800-440-4262. As experts in the field of mesothelioma, the firm’s attorneys are recognized as some of the leading plaintiffs’ asbestos attorneys in the country.