A group of researchers from some of the country’s most respected institutions recently completed an in-depth analysis of diverse mesothelioma cell types to identify the cell components responsible for driving variation within pleural mesothelioma tumors. In the course of their study, they also discovered a new mesothelioma cell type most commonly found in biphasic tumors, which they are calling “uncommitted.”
Determinants of Mesothelioma Histopathologic Type May Drive Future Treatments
The authors of the mesothelioma study are a collaborative group representing facilities including Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MIT, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Together, they conducted a comprehensive multi-site analysis of both mesothelioma cells and their microenvironments to see their impact on the progression and variation within pleural mesothelioma tumor samples.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that has multiple subtypes: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and biphasic, which is a combination of the two. While it had previously been known that the various mesothelioma types held a variety of histomolecular elements, this study demonstrated for the first time that variants exist within the malignant cells themselves. They also identified a new pleural mesothelioma cell type they are calling “uncommitted”
Uncommitted Mesothelioma Cell Subtype May Provide New Treatment Target
In studying the new uncommitted mesothelioma cell type, the researchers found they were generally rich in fibroblasts and poor in macrophages. They also found that tumor samples with higher fractions of uncommitted cells had similarly-sized epithelioid and sarcomatoid committed populations, while those cells that had a preponderance of either sarcomatoid or epithelioid committed populations had a lower fraction of uncommitted cells.
Importantly, the study’s authors identified specific drivers of proliferation expressed by both malignant mesothelioma cells and their microenvironments, and that as tumors generate new cells, they may appear in any of the three subtypes, regardless of the type from which they originated. This shows that though there may be a genetic driver behind the different mesothelioma types a patient develops, changes can occur without mutations.
The more that is understood about the inner workings of mesothelioma cells, the better the chance that researchers will find effective treatments. If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma and need more information or access to other resources, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
