Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
3992257 Journal of Thoracic Oncology 2008 8 Pages PDF
Abstract

Introduction and MethodsWe investigated the diagnostic and prognostic value of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRP) in sera from patients with newly diagnosed malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) (n = 100), MPM patients at tumor relapse (n = 29), primary lung cancer (n = 139), and benign asbestosis (n = 75) using Mesomark—enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Fujirebio Diagnostics, Malvern, PA).ResultsSMRP concentrations were significantly higher in MPM compared with benign asbestosis (p < 0.001) or lung cancer (p < 0.001). The median values were 1.4 nM, 0.9 nM, and 0.8 nM, respectively. The best statistical cutoff was found to be 1.35 nM resulting in a sensitivity of 53% and a specificity of 82.7%. Receiver operating characteristics curves gave an area under curve of 0.72 for the discrimination between MPM and non-MPM patients (p < 0.001). No significant differences in SMRP levels were found among histologies and stages of MPM. The highest median SMRP levels (4.2 nM) were measured in 29 MPM patients with relapse/progression (75.8% > 1.35 nM). Univariately, SMRP discriminated significantly (p < 0.003) between favorable (n = 71, median survival: 17.1 month; 1-year survival: 63.1%) and worse prognosis (n = 20, median survival: 8.4 months, 1-year survival: 32%) at 3.5 nM. In multivariate analysis, histology, therapy, and SMRP were shown to be independent prognostic factors in all MPM patients (hazard ratio for SMRP: 1.96; p = 0.025). Nevertheless, subtype-driven reanalysis showed only a trend in epithelial MPM.ConclusionIn conclusion, SMRP add limited information to the diagnosis of MPM. Nevertheless, SMRP might be a useful measure in treatment and monitoring of MPM. The prognostic impact of SMRP in MPM is not conclusive and needs further evaluation.

Related Topics
Health Sciences Medicine and Dentistry Oncology
Authors
, , , , , ,