Skip to content
Mesothelioma.net
phone iconCall1-800-692-8608 chat icon Chat 24/7 Live Chat
Menu
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • About Mesothelioma
      • How to Survive Mesothelioma
      • 100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
      • Symptoms
      • Diagnosis
      • Prognosis
      • Life Expectancy
    • Types
      • Pleural
      • Peritoneal
      • Epithelioid
      • Sarcomatoid
      • Biphasic
    • Stages
      • Stage 1
      • Stage 2
      • Stage 3
      • Stage 4
    • Additional Information
      • Causes
      • Asbestos and Its Dangers
      • Facts
      • Support
      • Financial Compensation
      • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
  • Treatment
    • Treatment Options
      • Surgery
      • Chemotherapy
      • Radiation Therapy
      • Multimodal Therapy
      • Medications
      • Palliative Treatment
    • Find Top Doctors
      • Doctors
      • Treatment Centers
      • Treatment & Doctors Near You
      • New Treatments
      • Care Providers
      • Clinical Trials
      • Costs
  • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
  • Veteran Assistance
    • Mesothelioma and Veterans
      • VA Claims for Mesothelioma
      • Vietnam Veterans
    • Military Branches and Asbestos
      • Navy Veterans
      • Navy Ships
      • Marine Corps Veterans
      • Army Veterans
      • Air Force Veterans
      • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • About Us / Contact

Study Questions Effectiveness of Micro RNAs for Early Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Published on May 16, 2019

In the battle against malignant mesothelioma, physicians and researchers agree that one of the biggest challenges of treating the rare form of cancer is the fact that it is so difficult to diagnose: the condition’s symptoms generally do not arise until the disease has advanced too far for treatment to be effective. In an effort to counter this characteristic, scientists have collected a significant amount of data from people who have a known exposure to asbestos in hopes that they can identify biomarkers that are present in the blood long before symptoms appear. Though it had previously been hoped that specific microRNAs, which are small molecules that carry genetic information, could be used to flag incipient mesothelioma, a recent study conducted in Germany has disproven the theory.

Test relied on data from large group of asbestos-related workers

Researchers at the Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum who had been conducting a 10-year study of asbestos-exposed German workers recently examined plasma samples from 17 participants who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The samples had been drawn several months before the patients’ asbestos-related disease had been diagnosed. Had the biomarkers been present in the sample, it would have been a positive indication that physicians treating patients at risk for mesothelioma could use their presence as an early indicator and offer patients longer survival time and more effective treatments.

Study finds microRNAs insufficient for early diagnosis

Unfortunately, despite the fact that the researchers used three different types of micro RNAs for their tests, they found that the samples were not effective as an early detection tool. According to study author Daniel Weber, “The analyzed miRNAs failed to detect the cancer in prediagnostic samples, showing that they are not feasible for the early detection of malignant mesothelioma.

Though finding an early sign that mesothelioma is present in the body remains a top priority, researchers and health advocates for those diagnosed with the disease have already made tremendous headway in other areas of treatment and improved quality of life. For information on these and other resources, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer
Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • Treatment
    • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
    • Veteran Assistance
    • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
    • Mesothelioma News
    • About Us / Contact
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Editorial Guidelines and Standards
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
The information provided by Mesothelioma.net is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Mesothelioma.net

5430 LBJ Freeway Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75240

Serving mesothelioma victims nationwide

1-800-692-8608

  • facebook
  • twitter
© 2022 Mesothelioma.net