Review
Oncology
Agnes Y. Choi, Anand Singh, Danyi Wang, Karthik Pittala, Chuong D. Hoang
Summary: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a thoracic surface cancer without cure. Multimodality therapy, including surgical resection, is the current paradigm in treating MPM. However, the main limitation of surgical approaches is the lack of long-term durability due to frequent locoregional relapse. Various intrapleural strategies, such as intracavitary chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy, have been studied to extend the effect of surgical resection. Novel therapeutics delivered by specialized drug vehicles show great potential for improved efficacy in the management of MPM.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Albero Murrone, Luca Cantini, Federica Pecci, Valeria Cognigni, Cecilia Copparoni, Silvia Rinaldi, Ilaria Fiordoliva, Federica Monaco, Corrado Rubini, Francesca Barbisan, Alessia Cimadamore, Riccardo Giampieri, Francesca Bianchi, Marco Tomasetti, Monica Amati, Lory Santarelli, Rossana Berardi
Summary: This study found that simultaneous assessment of BAP1 status and miR-31 levels may improve prognostic stratification in e-MPM patients, with BAP1 loss and lower miR-31 levels being associated with better clinical outcomes. The combination of BAP1 and miR-31 was identified as an independent prognostic factor for e-MPM patients, providing valuable information for personalized treatment strategies.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Valeria Panzetta, Ida Musella, Sabato Fusco, Paolo A. Netti
Summary: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare but devastating tumor that is difficult to diagnose and treat effectively. Effusion cytology, although used for diagnosis, is time-consuming and has limited sensitivity. Therefore, alternative research methods are needed to support early diagnosis. Mechanobiology offers new perspectives and diagnostic tools for the mechanical and biophysical characterization of malignant pleural mesothelioma cells.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Antonia Marazioti, Anthi C. Krontira, Sabine J. Behrend, Georgia A. Giotopoulou, Giannoula Ntaliarda, Christophe Blanquart, Hasan Bayram, Marianthi Iliopoulou, Malamati Vreka, Lilith Trassl, Mario A. A. Pepe, Caroline M. Hackl, Laura Klotz, Stefanie A. Weiss, Ina Koch, Michael Lindner, Rudolph A. Hatz, Juergen Behr, Darcy E. Wagner, Helen Papadaki, Sophia G. Antimisiaris, Didier Jean, Sophie Deshayes, Marc Gregoire, Ozgecan Kayalar, Deniz Mortazavi, Sukru Dilege, Serhan Tanju, Suat Erus, Omer Yavuz, Pinar Bulutay, Pinar Firat, Ioannis Psallidas, Magda Spella, Ioanna Giopanou, Ioannis Lilis, Anne-Sophie Lamort, Georgios T. Stathopoulos
Summary: A portion of human MPM cases have mutations in KRAS, and mouse models suggest that KRAS mutations can lead to MPM, especially when combined with TP53 deletion. These findings indicate that KRAS alterations may play an important and underestimated role in certain MPM patients.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Ben Johnson, Ling Zhuang, Emma M. Rath, Man Lee Yuen, Ngan Ching Cheng, Huaikai Shi, Steven Kao, Glen Reid, Yuen Yee Cheng
Summary: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a deadly thoracic malignancy with limited treatment options. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment, but drug resistance is a challenge. MicroRNA transfection can enhance MPM cell sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs, and influence the response to survivin (YM155) small molecule inhibitor treatment.
Review
Oncology
Rita Terenziani, Silvia Zoppi, Claudia Fumarola, Roberta Alfieri, Mara Bonelli
Summary: ICIs have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for difficult-to-treat cancers, especially showing superior efficacy in first-line treatment. Immunotherapeutic approaches for malignant pleural mesothelioma have also shown encouraging results. These novel treatments are crucial for the management of this disease.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
DeVon Hunter-Schlichting, Karl T. Kelsey, Ryan Demmer, Manish Patel, Raphael Bueno, Brock Christensen, Naomi Fujioka, Deepa Kolarseri, Heather H. Nelson
Summary: A study found that nearly half of malignant pleural mesothelioma patients have high level current HCMV infection, with a higher detection rate of HCMV DNA in tumor tissue compared to normal pleural tissue, suggesting the pleura may serve as a reservoir for latent HCMV infection.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Sam M. Janes, Doraid Alrifai, Dean A. Fennell
Summary: Mesothelioma, mostly caused by asbestos exposure, has a decreasing incidence but high mortality due to late diagnosis and treatment resistance. Pemetrexed-cisplatin and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown modest survival extension.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Alex Dipper, Nick Maskell, Anna Bibby
Summary: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) presents diagnostic challenges, with ancillary diagnostic tests such as immunocytochemical markers, molecular techniques, diagnostic biomarkers, and imaging discussed in cases where histological samples are unavailable or inconclusive. While no single adjunctive test has the sensitivity and specificity to diagnose MPM in isolation, correlation of pleural fluid cytology with radiology and biomarkers can help make an MDT-consensus diagnosis when invasive tests are not feasible.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Federica Morani, Luisa Bisceglia, Giulia Rosini, Luciano Mutti, Ombretta Melaiu, Stefano Landi, Federica Gemignani
Summary: The study identified multiple molecular signatures associated with the progression of malignant pleural mesothelioma, including genes involved in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization, mitotic cell division, and apoptosis inhibition. Some proteins were found to potentially drive tumorigenesis, suggesting they could be targets for novel therapies. Further research with small-molecule inhibitors or silencing RNAs is warranted to evaluate the cancer-driving role of the identified targets.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Man Lee Yuen, Ling Zhuang, Emma M. Rath, Takun Yu, Ben Johnson, Kadir Harun Sarun, Yiwei Wang, Steven Kao, Anthony Linton, Candice Julie Clarke, Brian C. McCaughan, Ken Takahashi, Kenneth Lee, Yuen Yee Cheng
Summary: Research on the role of E-cadherin and microRNA in the efficacy of FAK inhibitors in MPM revealed that MPM cells with high CDH1 mRNA levels exhibited resistance to the FAK inhibitor PND-1186. Additionally, PND-1186 induced cell cycle disruption by inducing the G2/M arrest of MPM cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Dean A. Fennell, Sean Dulloo, James Harber
Summary: ICIs have greatly improved the treatment of mesothelioma, but the predictive biological features of response to ICIs are still poorly understood. Rational combinations involving ICIs are being studied and there is emerging evidence of synergistic antitumour activity. Non-ICI-based immunotherapies also show promising efficacy. Results from trials of dendritic cell vaccines and viral cytokine delivery, among others, are eagerly awaited.
NATURE REVIEWS CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Critical Care Medicine
Chuan T. Foo, Anna Paterson, Adam Duckworth, Jurgen Herre
Summary: Malignant pleural effusion is common in mesothelioma, with the presence of hyaluronic acid contributing to its viscosity. Intrapleural hyaluronidase can effectively reduce fluid viscosity and drainage duration, demonstrating feasibility and safety in managing hyaluronic acid-rich viscous malignant pleural effusion.
Review
Oncology
Benjamin Wadowski, Raphael Bueno, Assunta De Rienzo
Summary: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options, although immune checkpoint inhibition has shown some efficacy in a small subset of patients. Advances in next-generation sequencing technology have provided a better understanding of the molecular characteristics of MPM and its impact on the immune microenvironment.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Yan-Qiu Han, Shang-Cheng Xu, Wen-Qi Zheng, Zhi-De Hu
Summary: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a highly aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis. Laboratory biomarkers offer advantages of reduced invasiveness and cost, making them a promising diagnostic tool. MicroRNA has potential diagnostic value in tissue, circulating, and body fluids.