Saf Health Work.  2020 Dec;11(4):425-430. 10.1016/j.shaw.2020.07.009.

Follow-up of Soluble Mesothelin-Related Protein Levels in Participants With Asbestos-Related Disorders

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Medical Humanities and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Busan, Republic of Korea
  • 2Department of Respiratory Medicine, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • 3Department of Public Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Fiji
  • 4School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • 5Department of Thoracic Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Background
Asbestos exposure is associated with the development of the cancer malignant mesothelioma (MM). Measurement of soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) has been suggested as a method for detection of MM in its early stages. We prospectively examined SMRP levels in participants with asbestos exposure who are a group at a high risk of development of MM.
Methods
This study was a follow-up of our cohort of 322 asbestos-exposed participants. No further participants developed MM or malignancy over the study period. Mean follow-up time was 22.9 months.
Results
Mean (standard deviation) SMRP levels at baseline and follow-up were 0.94 (0.79) and 0.91 (0.86) nmol/L (p = 0.1033), respectively. Mean SMRP levels of the healthy individuals exposed to asbestos at baseline was significantly lower than those of participants with asbestosis and pleural plaques alone; similar patterns were found on follow-up measurements. There was a statistically significant effect of age on serial SMRP measurements. Our study confirms higher levels in participants with nonmalignant asbestos-related disorders. Levels decreased in asbestos-related disorders other than asbestosis, where a small increase was observed. We did not detect any further cases of malignancy.
Conclusion
Monitoring programs for early detection of MM need to take into account increased SMRP levels found in benign asbestos-related diseases.

Keyword

Asbestos-related disorders; Biomarker; Follow-up; SMRP
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