Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
Generation and Expansion of Primary, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Tumor Lines
Published on: April 21, 2022
Protocol for Mesothelioma Observational study of Risk prediction and Generation of paired benign-meso tissue samples,
Mark D J Neilly1,2, Alexandrea MacPherson2, Laura Alexander3
1Glasgow Pleural Disease Unit, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Introduction:
Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is often presaged by benign asbestos-associated pleural inflammation (AAPI), offering a unique window of opportunity for translational research. The PREDICT-Meso International Accelerator Network is leveraging this natural history to perform target identification and develop novel therapies for early-stage or pre-invasive disease. This requires assembly of a unique bioresource of longitudinal human tissue samples spanning the terminal stages of PM evolution, development of preclinical models for drug screening and reliable tools for risk prediction in patients presenting with AAPI.
Methods And Analysis:
Mesothelioma Observational study of Risk prediction and Generation of paired benign-meso tissue samples, Including a Nested MRI Substudy (Meso-ORIGINS) is a prospective, multicentre observational study, comprising two arms (A and B), with a nested MRI substudy in arm A. Arm A will recruit 300 AAPI patients and perform 6-monthly surveillance for 2 years. Suspicion of PM evolution will prompt repeat biopsy and banking, delivering a primary objective of ≥38 longitudinal AAPI-PM tissue pairs. This target reflects a projected PM evolution rate of 14% (95% CI 10.5 to 19.2) derived from a prior multicentre feasibility trial. Multiomic risk profiling will be performed in arm A, using blood proteomics, exhaled breath metabolomics and perfusion MRI. Arm B will recruit 300 patients with suspected PM, permitting collection of multiregion pleural biopsies in patients spanning AAPI and PM timepoints for evaluation of anatomical heterogeneity. Where possible, patients in arm B diagnosed with AAPI will be recruited to arm A for 2-year surveillance +/- repeat biopsy in subsequent PM evolution cases. Pleural fluid will be collected in arm B for cell-line generation and diagnostic biomarker evaluation. Exhaled breath will be collected in arm B for diagnostic biomarker evaluation.
Ethics And Dissemination:
The study has ethical approval (REC Ref 21/WS/0120). Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journals and national/international scientific conferences. Tissues, data and derived omics will be shared via the PREDICT-Meso Research Tissue Bank (REC Ref 21/WS/0011).
Trial Registration Number:
ISRCTN22929761.
Insights
This study tracks patients with asbestos-associated pleural inflammation to identify early signs of pleural mesothelioma. Researchers aim to collect tissue samples and use multiomic profiling to predict disease progression and develop new treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Translational Research
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Pleural mesothelioma (PM) often follows benign asbestos-associated pleural inflammation (AAPI).
- This progression offers a critical window for early intervention and translational research.
- The PREDICT-Meso network focuses on identifying targets for early-stage or pre-invasive disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a bioresource of longitudinal tissue samples from AAPI to PM evolution.
- To develop preclinical models for drug screening.
- To create reliable tools for risk prediction in AAPI patients.
Main Methods:
- The Meso-ORIGINS study is a prospective, multicentre observational study with two arms.
- Arm A (300 AAPI patients) involves 2-year surveillance with 6-monthly check-ups and repeat biopsies for PM evolution, plus multiomic profiling (proteomics, metabolomics, MRI).
- Arm B (300 suspected PM patients) focuses on multiregion pleural biopsies and pleural fluid/breath collection for cell lines and biomarker evaluation.
Main Results:
- The study aims to collect at least 38 longitudinal AAPI-PM tissue pairs.
- Projected PM evolution rate is 14% (95% CI 10.5-19.2) based on prior feasibility data.
- Multiomic profiling and MRI will be used for risk stratification.
Conclusions:
- The Meso-ORIGINS study will provide crucial longitudinal data and tissue samples for understanding PM development.
- This research aims to enable early detection and targeted therapies for pleural mesothelioma.
- Findings will contribute to developing predictive tools for patients at risk.
