Serum Thioredoxin-1 as a Diagnostic Marker for Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Background: Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) is an aggressive malignant tumor of mesothelial origin that shows a limited response to cytoreductive surgery along with intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Therefore, diagnosing DMPM early is very important. Reactive oxygen species play an important role in asbestos toxicity, which is associated with the pathogenesis of DMPM growth. Thioredoxin-1 (TRX) is a small redox-active protein that demonstrates antioxidative activity associated with tumor growth. Here, we investigated the serum levels of TRX in patients with DMPM and compared them with those of a population that had been exposed to asbestos but did not have DMPM. Study: The serum concentrations of TRX were measured in 15 DMPM patients and 34 individuals with benign asbestos-related diseases. Results: We demonstrated that the patients with DMPM had significantly higher serum levels of TRX than the population that had been exposed to asbestos but did not have DMPM. Conclusions: Our data suggest that serum TRX concentration is a useful serum marker for DMPM.