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Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: History, Controversy, and Future of a Man-Made Epidemic

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Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Part of the book series: Current Cancer Research ((CUCR))

Abstract

Asbestos (Greek, inextinguishable) is the term of a family of naturally occurring minerals that have been used in small scale since ancient times. Industrialization demanded increased mining and refining in the twentieth century, and in 1960, Wagner, Sleggs, and Marchand from South Africa linked asbestos to mesothelioma, paving the way to the current knowledge about the epidemiology, etiology, and biology of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is one of the most lethal cancers with increasing incidence worldwide. This review provides some snapshots of the history of mesothelioma discovery and the body of epidemiological and biological research including some of the controversies and unresolved questions. Molecular high-throughput profiling is currently unravelling novel biomarkers for earlier diagnosis and novel treatment targets. Current breakthrough discoveries of clinically promising non-invasive biomarkers such as mesothelin, the 13-protein signature in serum, fibulin-3, circulating microRNAs and the recently discovered BAP1 cancer syndrome are highlighted. The asbestos history is a lesson not be repeated, but here we also review recent in vivo and in vitro studies showing that man-made carbon nanofibers could pose a similar danger to human health. This should be taken seriously by regulatory bodies to ensure thorough testing of novel materials before release into society.

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Abbreviations

AGGF1:

Angiogenic factor with G patch and FHA domains 1 gene

BAP1:

Breast cancer associated protein 1

BKV:

Human polyoma virus named by the first patient’s initials

BMI:

Body mass index

BRCA2:

Breast cancer 2, early onset gene

CHEK1:

Checkpoint kinase 1 gene

Circadian rhythm genes:

Genes expressed in cycles of 24 hours

CNT:

Carbon nano-tubes, man-made fibers

EGFR:

Epidermal growth factor receptor

GO:

Gene ontology, grouping of genes in functional entities

GSTM1:

Glutathione S-transferase M1 gene

IARC:

International Agency for Research on Cancer

JCV:

Human polyoma virus named by the first patient’s initials

KEGG PATHWAYS:

Computerized system of identifying genes relation to signaling, metabolic and cancer pathways

KEGG:

Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, a large digital database

MWCNT:

Multi-wall carbon nanotube

NQO1:

NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1, gene and protein

OR:

Odds ratio (statistical term)

PCA:

Principal Component Analysis (unsupervised statistical method)

PET-CT:

Positron emission computed tomography

PLS:

Partial Least Squares regression model (statistical method)

RAD21:

RAD21 homolog (S.pombe), involved in double-strand break repair

SMRP:

Soluble mesothelin-related protein

SV40:

Simian (monkey) vacuolating virus 40

SWCNT:

Single-wall carbon nanotube

TYMS:

Thymidylate synthase gene

VP1:

Viral capsid protein of polyoma virus

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Erling Skjalgssons gt. 1, Trondheim, 7491, Norway

    Oluf Dimitri Røe

  2. Cancer Clinic, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Health Trust, Kirkegata 2, Levanger, 7600, Norway

    Oluf Dimitri Røe

  3. Clinical Cancer Research Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, Aalborg, 9000, Denmark

    Oluf Dimitri Røe

  4. Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics Pneumology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico, San Matteo, Pavia, 27100, Italy

    Giulia Maria Stella

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  1. Oluf Dimitri Røe
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  1. Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Joseph R. Testa

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Røe, O.D., Stella, G.M. (2017). Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: History, Controversy, and Future of a Man-Made Epidemic. In: Testa, J. (eds) Asbestos and Mesothelioma. Current Cancer Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53560-9_4

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