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Published on: February 8, 2018
Immunohistochemical expression of cAMP in fluoroedenite‑induced malignant pleural mesothelioma: Preliminary results
Giuseppe Broggi1, Veronica Filetti2, Gaetano Magro1
1Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies G.F. Ingrassia, Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, I‑95123 Catania, Italy.
Abstract:
Despite advances in understanding of the biology of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), the prognosis of this malignancy remains poor. Although asbestos still remains the main pathogenic agent of MPM, other asbestos‑like fibers such as fluoro‑edenite (FE) fibers, induce MPM. Notable incidence and mortality rates of MPM have been found in Biancavilla, Italy, where FE fibers have been extracted from building materials for >50 years. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a secondary messenger that plays a key role in several physiological and pathological mechanisms regulating protein kinase A (PKA) and the CREB pathway. Hyperactivation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway is involved in many neoplastic processes, including tumor cell proliferation, invasion and metastatic spread. The present study investigated immunohistochemical expression of cAMP in patients with FE‑induced MPM, which included six males and four females with an age range of 50‑93 years. There was high immunoexpression of cAMP in 5 out of 10 tumors while the remaining 5 cases showed low immunoexpression. In addition, there was a correlation between cAMP overexpression and decreased survival times (mean overall survival times, 7.5 months in high expression group vs. 18 months in low expression group).
Insights
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) linked to fluoro-edenite fibers shows high cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) expression. This overexpression correlates with significantly shorter survival times in patients with this asbestos-like fiber-induced cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Environmental Medicine
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) prognosis remains poor despite biological understanding.
- Asbestos and asbestos-like fibers, such as fluoro-edenite (FE), are primary causes of MPM.
- High MPM incidence and mortality are noted in Biancavilla, Italy, due to long-term FE fiber exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in fluoro-edenite (FE)-induced MPM.
- To explore the correlation between cAMP expression levels and patient survival in FE-induced MPM.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of cAMP expression in tumor samples from 10 patients with FE-induced MPM.
- Correlation analysis between cAMP immunoexpression levels and overall survival data.
Main Results:
- High cAMP immunoexpression was observed in 50% (5/10) of FE-induced MPM tumors.
- Low cAMP immunoexpression was observed in the remaining 50% (5/10) of tumors.
- A significant correlation was found between high cAMP overexpression and decreased overall survival (7.5 months vs. 18 months).
Conclusions:
- Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway may play a role in the pathogenesis of FE-induced MPM.
- High cAMP expression is associated with poorer prognosis in patients with FE-induced MPM.
- Targeting the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway could be a potential therapeutic strategy for MPM.
