Study Reals New Biomarker for Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Prognosis, According to Surviving Mesothelioma
(PRWEB) December 08, 2016 -- Earlier this week, researchers in Austria, Yugoslavia, and Australia presented their findings on the value of a protein called FGF18 as a potential diagnostic biomarker for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Surviving Mesothelioma has just posted a new article on the presentation. Click here to read it now.
To test the protein’s value as a mesothelioma biomarker, the team collected samples of blood plasma from 107 mesothelioma patients, 49 healthy people, and 8 people with non-malignant pleural diseases.
According to the report presented to lung cancer experts at this week's annual conference of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, the FGF18 level was much higher in mesothelioma patients than it was in healthy patients or those with other conditions.
“Importantly, malignant pleural mesothelioma patients presenting with FGF18 levels below the median had a significantly longer overall survival when compared to those with high FGF18 levels,” states the report summary.
“Because there is currently no definitive way to test for mesothelioma, treatment is often delayed while patients wait for a diagnosis,” says Alex Strauss, Managing Editor for Surviving Mesothelioma. “Every potential new mesothelioma biomarker is a step toward more effective diagnosis and treatment planning.”
For a complete overview of the mesothelioma biomarker report presented at the IASLC meeting, see International Team Identifies Potential New Mesothelioma Biomarker, now available on the Surviving Mesothelioma website.
Dong, Y, et al, “Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 is Elected in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Patients - A Multi-Institutional Study,” Paper presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer annual conference, December 2016, Vienna, Austria, http://library.iaslc.org/search?search_location=Stolz+2
For nearly ten years, Surviving Mesothelioma has brought readers the most important and ground-breaking news on the causes, diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. All Surviving Mesothelioma news is gathered and reported directly from the peer-reviewed medical literature. Written for patients and their loved ones, Surviving Mesothelioma news helps families make more informed decisions.
Michael Ellis, Cancer Monthy, http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com, +1 (919) 570-8595, [email protected]
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