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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice
Published on: December 21, 2019
Diagnostic biomarker of asbestos-related mesothelioma: example of translational research
Hino Okio1, Shiomi Kazu, Maeda Masahiro
1Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Tokyo, Japan. ohino@med.juntendo.ac.jp
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.
Insights
Asbestos exposure causes aggressive mesothelioma tumors with a 30-40 year incubation. Early diagnosis is crucial as effective treatments are lacking, highlighting the need for novel tumor markers.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Oncology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer originating from the mesothelium.
- It is strongly linked to prior asbestos exposure, with a long incubation period of 30-40 years.
- Current treatments for mesothelioma are largely ineffective once the disease has developed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the challenges and advancements in understanding asbestos-related mesothelioma.
- To emphasize the urgent need for early diagnostic methods and tumor markers.
- To present mesothelioma as a model for studying environmental carcinogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure.
- Discussion of diagnostic tools, specifically enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems for Erc/mesothelin.
- Analysis of mesothelioma as an environmental carcinogen.
Main Results:
- Asbestos is a significant environmental carcinogen causing mesothelioma.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems for Erc/mesothelin show promise as diagnostic tools.
- Early detection methods are critical due to the lack of effective treatments.
Conclusions:
- Mesothelioma, often caused by asbestos, necessitates urgent development of early diagnostic markers.
- Erc/mesothelin shows potential as a diagnostic marker for mesothelioma.
- Studying asbestos-related mesothelioma offers insights into environmental carcinogenesis.
