Pathogenesis of malignant pleural mesothelioma and the role of environmental and genetic factors
Saturday, September 13th, 2008.
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology. 2009 Jan;135(1):15-27. Epub 2008 Sep 12. [Link]
Weiner SJ, Neragi-Miandoab S.
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Abstract
Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive tumor for which no effective therapy exists despite the discovery of many possible molecular and genetic targets. The late stage of MPM diagnosis and the long latency that exist between some exposures and diagnosis have made it difficult to comprehensively evaluate the role of risk factors and their downstream molecular effects.
Methods: This manuscript is a review of current literature about the pathogenesis of malignant mesothelioma. In this overview, current published studies concerning pathogenesis of malignant mesothelioma are reviewed, with insights into its etiology and pathogenesis. We searched pubmed using the following subjects: mesothelioma, radiation, genetics, pediatric malignant mesothelioma, SV40 virus, and growth factors. We selected 350 valuable articles of which 152 sources were used to complete this review.
Conclusion: Many risk factors for MPM development have been recognized including environmental exposures, genetic susceptibility, viral contamination, and radiation. In this review, we discuss the current molecular and genetic contributors to MPM pathogenesis and the risk factors associated with these carcinogenic processes.
Keywords: Radiation – Genetics – Pediatric malignant mesothelioma – SV40 virus – Growth factors
Glossary
- therapy
- any of the measures taken to treat a disease. Unproven therapy is any therapy that has not been scientifically tested and approved. Use of an unproven therapy instead of standard (proven) therapy is called alternative therapy. Some alternative therapies have dangerous or even life-threatening side effects. For others, the main danger is that a patient may lose the opportunity to benefit from standard therapy. Complementary therapy, on the other hand, refers to therapies used in addition to standard therapy. Some complementary therapies may help relieve certain symptoms of cancer, relieve side effects of standard cancer therapy, or improve a patient's sense of well-being. The ACS recommends that patients considering use of any alternative or complementary therapy discuss this with their health care team.
- oncology
- (on-call-o-jee) the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
- growth factors
- a naturally occurring protein that causes cells to grow and divide. Too much growth factor production by some cancer cells helps them grow quickly, and new treatments to block these growth factors are being tested in clinical trials. Other growth factors help normal cells recover from side effects of chemotherapy.
- etiology
- (ee-tee-ahl-eh-jee) the cause of a disease. In cancer, there are probably many causes, although research is showing that both genetics and lifestyle are major factors in many cancers.
- diagnosis
- identifying a disease by its signs or symptoms, and by using imaging procedures and laboratory findings. The earlier a diagnosis of cancer is made, the better the chance for long-term survival.
- cancer
- malignancy; a group of diseases typified by abnormal, generally out-of-control, cell growth.
- tumor
- an abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
- virus
- very small organisms that cause infections. Viruses are too small to be seen with a regular microscope. They reproduce only in living cells.
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
