Mesothelin, Calretinin, and Megakaryocyte Potentiating Factor as Biomarkers of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Lung 2019 July 2 [Link]

Jiménez-Ramírez C, Casjens S, Juárez-Pérez CA, Raiko I, Del Razo LM, Taeger D, Calderón-Aranda ES, Rihs HP, Acosta-Saavedra LC, Weber DG, Cabello-López A, Pesch B, Ochoa-Vázquez MD, Burek K, Torre-Bouscoulet L, Pérez-Padilla JR, García-Bazan EM, Brüning T, Johnen G, Aguilar-Madrid G

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly lethal cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Currently, the diagnosis is a challenge, carried out by means of invasive methods of limited sensitivity. This is a case-control study to evaluate the individual and combined performance of minimally invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of MPM.

METHOD:

A study of 166 incident cases of MPM and 378 population controls of Mestizo-Mexican ethnicity was conducted. Mesothelin, calretinin, and megakaryocyte potentiating factor (MPF) were quantified in plasma by ELISA. The samples were collected from 2011 to 2016.

RESULTS:

Based on ROC analysis and a preset specificity of 95%, the combination of the three biomarkers reached an AUC of 0.944 and a sensitivity of 82% in men. In women, an AUC of 0.937 and a sensitivity of 87% were reached. In nonconditional logistic regression models, the adjusted ORs in men were 7.92 (95% CI 3.02-20.78) for mesothelin, 20.44 (95% CI 8.90-46.94) for calretinin, and 4.37 (95% CI 1.60-11.94) for MPF. The ORs for women were 28.89 (95% CI 7.32-113.99), 17.89 (95% CI 3.93-81.49), and 2.77 (95% CI 0.47-16.21), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating a combination of mesothelin, calretinin, and MPF, and demonstrating a sex effect for calretinin. The biomarker panel showed a good performance in a Mestizo-Mexican population, with high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of MPM.