<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_raon-2020-0011_s_005_w2aab3b8c47b1b7b1aab1c16b1Aa"><h3>Background</h3><p>Asbestos exposure is associated with increased risk of several diseases, including malignant mesothelioma (MM). Cell surface glycoprotein mesothelin is overexpressed in MM and serum soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP) were already proposed as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in MM. However, interindividual variability in serum SMRP levels limits the clinical usefulness. Our primary objective was to investigate the influence of <italic>MSLN</italic> rs1057147 on serum SMRP levels in asbestos-exposed subjects and patients with asbestos-related diseases as well as on survival in MM.</p></sec><sec id="j_raon-2020-0011_s_006_w2aab3b8c47b1b7b1aab1c16b2Aa"><h3>Subjects and methods</h3><p>Among 782 asbestos-exposed subjects and patients with asbestos-related diseases, 154 had MM. Serum SMRP levels were determined using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All subjects were genotyped for <italic>MSLN</italic> rs1057147 polymorphism using competitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Nonparametric tests, logistic and Cox regression were used in statistical analysis to compare different subject groups.</p></sec><sec id="j_raon-2020-0011_s_007_w2aab3b8c47b1b7b1aab1c16b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>MM patients had significantly higher SMRP levels than all other subjects (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Compared to wild-type <italic>MSLN</italic> rs1057147 genotype, both heterozygotes and carriers of two polymorphic alleles had significantly higher SMRP levels among subjects without MM (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), but not in MM patients (<italic>p</italic> = 0.424). If genotype information was included, specificity of SMRP increased from 88.5% to 92.7% for the optimal cutoff value. Overall survival was significantly shorter in MM patients carrying at least one polymorphic rs1057147 allele (HR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.15-2.55, <italic>p</italic> = 0.008).</p></sec><sec id="j_raon-2020-0011_s_008_w2aab3b8c47b1b7b1aab1c16b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p><italic>MSLN</italic> genetic variability affects serum SMRP levels and was associated with shorter survival of MM patients. Combination of genetic and serum factors could therefore serve as a better diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in MM patients.</p></sec></abstract>

BackgroundAsbestos exposure is associated with increased risk of several diseases, including malignant mesothelioma (MM). Cell surface glycoprotein mesothelin is overexpressed in MM and serum soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP) were already proposed as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in MM. However, interindividual variability in serum SMRP levels limits the clinical usefulness. Our primary objective was to investigate the influence of MSLN rs1057147 on serum SMRP levels in asbestos-exposed subjects and patients with asbestos-related diseases as well as on survival in MM.Subjects and methodsAmong 782 asbestos-exposed subjects and patients with asbestos-related diseases, 154 had MM. Serum SMRP levels were determined using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All subjects were genotyped for MSLN rs1057147 polymorphism using competitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Nonparametric tests, logistic and Cox regression were used in statistical analysis to compare different subject groups.ResultsMM patients had significantly higher SMRP levels than all other subjects (p < 0.001). Compared to wild-type MSLN rs1057147 genotype, both heterozygotes and carriers of two polymorphic alleles had significantly higher SMRP levels among subjects without MM (p < 0.001), but not in MM patients (p = 0.424). If genotype information was included, specificity of SMRP increased from 88.5% to 92.7% for the optimal cutoff value. Overall survival was significantly shorter in MM patients carrying at least one polymorphic rs1057147 allele (HR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.15-2.55, p = 0.008).ConclusionsMSLN genetic variability affects serum SMRP levels and was associated with shorter survival of MM patients. Combination of genetic and serum factors could therefore serve as a better diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in MM patients.

Evaluation of soluble mesothelin-related peptides and MSLN genetic variability in asbestos-related diseases

Radiology and Oncology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

BackgroundAsbestos exposure is associated with increased risk of several diseases, including malignant mesothelioma (MM). Cell surface glycoprotein mesothelin...

Evaluation of soluble mesothelin-related peptides and MSLN genetic variability in asbestos-related diseases

Article Category: research article

Published Online: Mar 07, 2020

Page range: 86 - 95

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2020-0011

© 2020 Katja Goricar, Viljem Kovac, Metoda Dodic-Fikfak, Vita Dolzan, Alenka Franko, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.