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New Jersey Asbestos Lawyers Report on New Study With Potential to Aid Diagnosis

September 10, 2014

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Diagnosing mesothelioma has always been a unique challenge for doctors because the disease is usually not apparent until it has progressed to its advanced stages; however, Italian researchers have recently discovered a protein signal that could help doctors determine an individual’s risk for mesothelioma and make earlier detection possible.

The study consisted of three subject groups; patients suffering from malignant mesothelioma, workers who had been exposed to asbestos, and healthy individuals.  Blood samples from all the subjects participating in the study were collected and the levels of various chemicals including signaling proteins called cytokines were tested.  The researchers reported three significant findings in the online medical journal PLoS One. 

1. Higher levels of 25 cytokines known to be associated with lung disease and tumors were found in asbestos exposed subjects and those with mesothelioma.
2. Patterns of cytokines were discovered in the asbestos exposed group and those with mesothelioma that were not present in the healthy group.
3. A direct correlation was observed between the concentration of a cytokine called RANTES and the relative health of the subjects.  Those diagnosed with mesothelioma had the highest concentration of RANTES in their blood.  Those who had been exposed to asbestos had somewhat less, and the subjects in the healthy group had the least.

 

More studies will need to be done, but there is a potential for RANTES to help doctors determine the patient’s risk for developing asbestos cancer based on the amount of RANKES in a patient’s blood.  This protein could also hold the key to early detection of mesothelioma resulting in earlier treatment options and better prognosis for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure, the Philadelphia asbestos lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler can help you obtain the compensation you deserve from those responsible for your exposure.  Our experienced mesothelioma lawyers have been successfully representing clients with asbestos-related diseases for over 30 years.  Our offices are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and we represent clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Contact us online or call us at 215-569-4000 to review the details of your case.