New clinical research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York indicates some mesothelioma biomarkers are more effective than others to detect this devastating cancer. (survivingmesothelioma.com)
Clinical researchers at the school performed an analysis of at least 50 clinical studies on three mesothelioma biomarkers that are most popular. The conclusion was that two of them are excellent mesothelioma screening tools but one of them is not as effective.
The Difficulties With Early Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the lung lining and other organ linings that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. As with the majority of cancers, the chances of living longer with mesothelioma are greater if it is caught in the early stages. But the cancer victim does not experience significant symptoms in the early stages of the disease. This makes it difficult to diagnose until it is too late to treat symptoms near death effectively.
But even before serious signs of mesothelioma develop, including chest pain and coughing, there could be more subtle signs of cancer developing. One sign is higher levels in certain proteins in the lung fluid and blood. These proteins can be used as mesothelioma biomarkers.
But some mesothelioma biomarkers are more predictive than others. The researchers at Mount Sinai did a meta-analysis on three major mesothelioma biomarkers; a meta-analysis is a large study of many studies. The research team looked at medical literature for clinical studies on mesothelin, fibulin 3 and osteopontin in lung fluid or blood.
They determined there were 32 studies on levels of mesothelin levels, 12 studies on levels of osteopontin, and nine studies on levels of fibulin 3. The meta-analysis looked at the levels of these proteins in the lung fluid and blood in four different groups:
- People who are completely healthy
- People who have lung conditions that are not cancerous
- People who have mesothelioma
- People with various other cancers
Among the biomarkers for mesothelioma that were studied, the one with the strongest evidence seemed to be for mesothelin. There were statistically significant mean differences observed for patients with pleural mesothelioma and other groups for pleural and mesothelin levels.
There also were significant differences in levels of fibulin 3 levels between patients with mesothelioma and various other groups.
It was revealed that osteopontin was the only one of three biomarkers for mesothelioma that was not substantially different between people with asbestos cancer and those with other types of cancer.
The researchers wrote that osteopontin could be a highly useful biomarker for the screening of healthy people or those with more benign lung diseases. But it would not be helpful for the screening of patients with cancer. But the meta-analysis also concluded that fibulin 3 and mesothelin are excellent candidates for the screening of biomarkers.
It is estimated that approximately 3,000 are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States every year. Most do not know they have it until they are at stage 3 or 4.
In addition to searching for biomarkers, mesothelioma diagnosis also often involves studies of images and close study of suspected cancer tumor cells. A complete understanding of the patient’s work history, which means any possible history of asbestos exposure, is also key.
Should You File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is common to think only about your health and nothing else. But if you or your loved one have cancer-related to asbestos exposure, it is strongly recommended to talk to a California mesothelioma attorney today.
A personal injury lawsuit for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma can vastly improve your family’s financial health when you are dealing with huge cancer medical costs and loss of wages. But the filing of a successful mesothelioma personal injury lawsuit is a very complex and highly time-sensitive legal process. Choosing the right attorney is essential for the best outcome.
How to File Your Lawsuit
The initial step to filing a successful mesothelioma lawsuit legal action is selecting a good attorney who knows how to handle mesothelioma litigation. Note that asbestos exposure litigation is highly complicated. For a successful claim, everything hinges on the patient’s work history and personal circumstances. It must be determined with the company or companies that exposed you to asbestos and when. Then it must be determined the best jurisdiction to file the lawsuit in and ensure that you are in full compliance with legal regulations there.
How Long Will the Lawsuit Take?
People with mesothelioma are usually in serious financial jeopardy, and the sooner they can receive compensation, the better. The length of the legal process for a lawsuit related to asbestos depends on how healthy the plaintiff is or it was after death. If your health is poor, the legal process could be sped up. But if you are in better health, the legal process could take many months or even years.
Whatever the situation, you can bet the defendant will try to drag out the legal process. But your skilled mesothelioma attorney will try to resolve your case ASAP.
Do I Need to Travel?
The best location to file the mesothelioma lawsuit depends on many factors and will affect the length of the case. Wherever the case is filed, you do not usually need to travel. Your attorney can usually handle the entire legal process themselves and come to you as necessary.
Remember to speak to a California mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible if you have been diagnosed with asbestos cancer. The sooner you start the litigation process, the faster you may see compensation.
References
- Mesothelioma Biomarkers Analysis. (2019). Retrieved from https://survivingmesothelioma.com/mesothelioma-biomarkers-analysis/
