Protein Identified As Sensitive Indicator of Lung Cancer Type

A protein in pleural effusions has been linked with malignant mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer.

The protein, CD146, is a reliable and sensitive indicator of malignant pleural mesothelioma and can be visualized by immunocytochemistry. CD146 can be used as a marker for distinguishing between malignant pleural mesothelioma and reactive mesothelium in diagnostic cytology.

The pathological diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma in effusion cytology is based on the demonstration of mesothelial nature and malignancy of cells. Cytopathological features of mesothelioma are characterized by mesothelial cells with nuclear atypia, multinucleation, cell-in-cell engulfment, and mirror ball-like cell cluster formation, which are useful in discrimination from other diseases.

In a study carried out at the Hyogo College of Medicine, (Hyogo, Japan), 51 subjects including 23 who had malignant pleural mesothelioma and 28 patients with excess fluid in the lungs were examined using the chemical processes of immune reactions to mesothelioma. A total of 47 cytological smears for immunocytochemistry were prepared from pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial effusions and pleural washing fluids. The scientists found out that CD146 levels were higher in patients with malignant mesothelioma compared to patients with benign conditions in their lungs. They used CD146 as an indicator to identify and confirm 90% of those with malignant mesothelioma. The results of the study were published in July 2010, in Modern Pathology.

Conventional cancer treatment is largely ineffective against malignant mesothelioma, and the survival period lasts just 9 to 17 months after diagnosis. Most cases are also diagnosed late in the disease process when patients already have advanced symptoms. The cases of international mesothelioma have been increasing in recent years and may peak in the year 2020 and reports indicate that at least 100,000 lives are lost every year because of the disease. The Japanese scientists are proposing the use of CD146 as a diagnostic indicator for suspected malignancy to curb rising international mesothelioma cases.

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Hyogo College of Medicine