Researchers across the United Kingdom are recruiting participants for a mesothelioma study being funded by Cancer Research UK. The project, called Meso-ORIGINS, hopes to discover why mesothelioma’s tumors take decades to develop in people who have been exposed to asbestos.
Researchers’ Long-Term Goal is Earlier Detection of Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare and fatal form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Though many asbestos-related diseases begin to manifest symptoms shortly after exposure, one of the most distinctive characteristics of mesothelioma is its long latency period: It often takes forty, fifty, or even sixty years to appear. Usually, the disease is discovered when it is too advanced to treat effectively, and most patients die within a year of diagnosis.
Describing the study, project manager Dr. Alexandrea MacPherson of Meso-ORIGINS at the University of Glasgow explains, “Mesothelioma is a disease of time and space – after initial exposure to asbestos it can evolve over decades at different times and different places within the pleural space. We want to understand why mesothelioma takes so long to develop and to discover new ways of predicting the disease so it can be caught early.”
Participation in the Study Will Help Identify Who is Most at Risk for Mesothelioma
Using both data and tissue samples from the research participants, the group hopes to determine who is most at risk of developing mesothelioma and whether there are any genetic differences or biomarkers that should raise concerns. The research team is looking for people who have already been diagnosed with benign inflammation in the lungs and who may have a history of asbestos exposure.
Researchers around the world are working to find better treatments for malignant mesothelioma. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with this challenging disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more about the resources and assistance we can provide.
