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Santos C, Sacadura-Leite E, Ferreira J, Dixe MDA, Astoul P, Sousa-Uva A. The Pleural Mesothelioma Cases and Mortality in Portugal in 2014-2020: A Descriptive Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1103. [PMID: 38891178 PMCID: PMC11171679 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12111103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality of pleural mesothelioma (PM) reflect the production and consumption of asbestos over time. However, despite the current global concern, these data remain to be known. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to carry out a descriptive analysis of PM cases and mortality from some Portuguese databases between 2014 and 2020. METHODS A retrospective observational study was carried out between 2014 and 2020. Data on the number of PM cases were provided by the Portuguese Cancer Registry, and data on mortality were from the Portuguese Death Certificate Information System. RESULTS Between 2014 and 2020, 315 cases of PM were reported, with 222 (70.5%) men. The average age of patients was 72.1, with the highest number of cases in patients aged >70 years (n = 198; 62.9%). The highest number of cases was reported in 2018 (n = 62; 19.7%). Regarding mortality, 169 deaths were reported, with 126 (74.6%) men and mostly in individuals aged >70 years (n = 109; 64.5%). It is estimated that around 520 years of potential life were lost. The highest number of deaths occurred in 2015 (n = 33; 19.5%). CONCLUSION It is mandatory to reinforce the need for surveillance programs that allow us to gather real and reliable data and eliminate asbestos-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Santos
- National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal; (E.S.-L.); (A.S.-U.)
- Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), Polytechnic of Leiria, 2414-016 Leiria, Portugal;
| | - Ema Sacadura-Leite
- National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal; (E.S.-L.); (A.S.-U.)
- Occupational Health Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana Ferreira
- Union of Portuguese Misericordias, 1000-151 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Maria dos Anjos Dixe
- Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), Polytechnic of Leiria, 2414-016 Leiria, Portugal;
| | - Philippe Astoul
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Pleural Diseases, and Interventional Pulmonology, North Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, 13015 Marseille, France;
| | - António Sousa-Uva
- National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal; (E.S.-L.); (A.S.-U.)
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Bernardi FDC, Algranti E, Dolhnikoff M, Pinto CAL, Oliveira IMD, Coletta ENAM, Silva ECAD, Nunes AJF, Veneziano DB, Luizaga CTDM, Lorenzi RL, Silva DRME, Mauad T. Identifying malignant mesothelioma by a pathological survey using the São Paulo state hospital cancer registry, Brazil. J Bras Pneumol 2024; 50:e20230343. [PMID: 38747814 PMCID: PMC11185138 DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20230343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review the pathological diagnosis of possible cases and/or hidden cases of malignant mesothelioma (MM) between 2000 and 2012 using the Hospital-Based Cancer Registry database in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS Possible cases were retrieved by assessing the database. Inclusion criteria were being older than 30 years of age and having ICD-O-3 topography and morphology codes related to MM. A board of expert pathologists reviewed the pathology reports and requested paraffin blocks in cases that demanded revision. After staining with calretinin, D2-40, WT-1 (as positive MM markers) and Ber-EP4 and MOC31 (as negative MM markers), cases were divided and studied independently by a pair of pathologists to confirm or discard the diagnosis of MM. RESULTS Our sample comprised 482 cases from 25 hospitals, and 130 needed further histological revision. We received 73 paraffin blocks with adequate material. After board analysis, there were 9 cases with a definitive diagnosis of MM, improving the diagnostic rate in 12%. Two cases of previously diagnosed MM were discarded by review. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm that part of MM underdiagnosis and underreporting in Brazil is due to incomplete or mistaken pathological diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Del Carlo Bernardi
- . Departamento de Ciências Patológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo (SP) Brasil
| | - Eduardo Algranti
- . Diretoria de Pesquisa Aplicada, Fundação Jorge Duprat Figueiredo de Segurança e Medicina do Trabalho - FUNDACENTRO - São Paulo (SP) Brasil
| | - Marisa Dolhnikoff
- . Departamento de Patologia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP - São Paulo (SP) Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ricardo Luiz Lorenzi
- . Escritório Avançado no Estado de Santa Catarina, Fundação Jorge Duprat Figueiredo de Segurança e Medicina do Trabalho - FUNDACENTRO - Florianópolis (SC) Brasil
| | | | - Thais Mauad
- . Departamento de Patologia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP - São Paulo (SP) Brasil
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3
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Ramos-Bonilla JP, Giraldo M, Marsili D, Pasetto R, Terracini B, Mazzeo A, Magnani C, Comba P, Lysaniuk B, Cely-García MF, Ascoli V. An Approach to Overcome the Limitations of Surveillance of Asbestos Related Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: What We Learned from the Sibaté Study in Colombia. Ann Glob Health 2023; 89:64. [PMID: 37810608 PMCID: PMC10558025 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The asbestos industry began its operations in Colombia in 1942 with the establishment of an asbestos-cement facility in Sibaté, located in the Department of Cundinamarca. Despite extensive asbestos use and production in Colombia, the country lacks a reliable epidemiological surveillance system to monitor the health effects of asbestos exposure. The Colombian health information system, known as SISPRO, did not report mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the municipality, posing a significant challenge in understanding the health impacts of asbestos exposure on the population of Sibaté. Methods To address this issue, an active surveillance strategy was implemented in Sibaté. This strategy involved conducting door-to-door health and socioeconomic structured interviews to identify Asbestos-Related Diseases (ARDs). Validation strategies included a thorough review of medical records by a panel of physicians, and the findings were communicated to local, regional, and national authorities, as well as the general population. Results The active surveillance strategy successfully identified a mesothelioma cluster in Sibaté, revealing the inadequacy of the existing health information system in monitoring asbestos-related diseases. The discovery of this cluster underscores the critical importance of implementing active surveillance strategies in Colombia, where governmental institutions and resources are often limited. Conclusion The findings of this study emphasize the urgent need for Colombia to establish a reliable epidemiological surveillance system for asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). Active surveillance strategies can play a crucial role in identifying mesothelioma clusters and enhancing our understanding of the health effects of asbestos exposure in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Margarita Giraldo
- Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Daniela Marsili
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS, Rome, IT
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, IT
| | - Roberto Pasetto
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS, Rome, IT
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, IT
| | - Benedetto Terracini
- Collegium Ramazzini, Bologna, IT
- Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, University of Torino and CPO-Piemonte, Torino, IT
| | - Agata Mazzeo
- Department of History and Cultures, University of Bologna, Bologna, IT
| | - Corrado Magnani
- Collegium Ramazzini, Bologna, IT
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, IT
| | | | | | | | - Valeria Ascoli
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Anatomo-Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, IT
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4
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Lewis RC, Smith SJ, Krevanko CF, Hall ED, Miller EW, Beckett EM, Pierce JS. Occupational exposure to cosmetic talc and mesothelioma in barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists: A systematic review of the epidemiology. Toxicol Ind Health 2023; 39:564-582. [PMID: 37527434 DOI: 10.1177/07482337231191162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Inhalation exposure to cosmetic talc has generated much scientific debate regarding its potential as a risk factor for mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal cancer. Barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists have regularly used cosmetic talc-containing products, but the collective epidemiological evidence for mesothelioma in these occupations has yet to be described. As such, we conducted a systematic review of PubMed and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Numbered Publications list to identify original epidemiological literature reporting measures of association between these occupations and incidence of or death from mesothelioma. Literature screening was performed independently twice, the results of which were summarized and tabulated and underwent a review for their accuracy. A total of 12 studies met our inclusion criteria, including three cohort, six case-control, and three proportionate mortality/registration studies. The data from these studies were collected in 13 European and North American countries, spanning more than 50 years. We supplemented this review with queries of occupational mortality databases that are managed by the Washington State Department of Health and NIOSH for 26 U.S. states. Most findings were null and if statistically significant, nearly all showed an inverse relationship, indicative of a protective effect of these occupations on mesothelioma risk. Overall, the epidemiological evidence does not support an increased risk of mesothelioma for these occupations. This research fills an important data gap on the etiology of mesothelioma in barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists, and provides a benchmark for those with comparatively less exposure, such as non-occupational users of similar cosmetic talc-containing products.
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Gao Y, Mazurek JM, Li Y, Blackley D, Weissman DN, Burton SV, Amin W, Landsittel D, Becich MJ, Ye Y. Industry, occupation, and exposure history of mesothelioma patients in the U.S. National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank, 2006-2022. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 230:115085. [PMID: 36965810 PMCID: PMC10994633 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant mesothelioma is associated with environmental and occupational exposure to certain mineral fibers, especially asbestos. This study aims to examine work histories of mesothelioma patients and their survival time. METHOD Using the NIOSH Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System, we mapped occupations and industries recorded for 748 of 1444 patients in the U.S. National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB) during the period 2006-2022. Descriptive and survival analyses were conducted. RESULTS Among the 1023 industries recorded for those having mesothelioma, the most frequent cases were found for those in manufacturing (n = 225, 22.0%), construction (138, 13.5%), and education services (66, 6.5%); among the 924 occupation records, the most frequent cases were found for those in construction and extraction (174, 18.8%), production (145, 15.7%), and management (84, 9.1%). Males (583) or persons aged >40 years (658) at the time of diagnosis tended to have worked in industries traditionally associated with mesothelioma (e.g., construction), while females (163) or persons aged 20-40 years (27) tended to have worked in industries not traditionally associated with mesothelioma (e.g., health care). Asbestos, unknown substances, and chemical solvents were the most frequently reported exposure, with females most often reporting an unknown substance. A multi-variable Cox Hazard Regression analysis showed that significant prognostic factors associated with decreased survival in mesothelioma cases are sex (male) and work experience in utility-related industry, while factor associated with increased survival are epithelial or epithelioid histological type, prior history of surgery and immunotherapy, and industry experience in accommodation and food services. CONCLUSION The NMVB has the potential of serving as a sentinel surveillance mechanism for identifying industries and occupations not traditionally associated with mesothelioma. Results indicate the importance of considering all potential sources of asbestos exposures including occupational, environmental, and extra-occupational exposures when evaluating mesothelioma patients and advising family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhe Gao
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Jacek M Mazurek
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
| | - Yaming Li
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, USA
| | - David Blackley
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
| | - David N Weissman
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
| | - Shirley V Burton
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
| | - Waqas Amin
- Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, School of Medicine, Indiana University, USA
| | - Douglas Landsittel
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, USA
| | - Michael J Becich
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Ye Ye
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, USA.
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6
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Lieberman-Cribbin W, Taioli E. Epidemiologic roadblocks in studying elongated mineral particles and mesothelioma risk. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 230:115086. [PMID: 36965809 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Elongated mineral particles (EMPs) are a type of both occupational and environmental exposures that have generated interest in the scientific community due to their potential health effects. Their possible association with mesothelioma represents an area of concern. We provide an overview of the current challenges around epidemiological assessments of EMP exposure and mesothelioma risk, including methodological aspects that need to be addressed when designing and analyzing a study on EMP exposure and mesothelioma. Future work is needed to investigate the relationship between EMPs and mesothelioma, focused on an improved definition of EMP exposure and accounting for other concomitant sources of carcinogen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wil Lieberman-Cribbin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th St. New York, NY, 10032, USA; Institute for Translational Epidemiology and Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Emanuela Taioli
- Institute for Translational Epidemiology and Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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7
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Goodman JE, Becich MJ, Bernstein DM, Case BW, Mandel JH, Nel AE, Nolan R, Odo NU, Smith SR, Taioli E, Gibbs G. Non-asbestiform elongate mineral particles and mesothelioma risk: Human and experimental evidence. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 230:114578. [PMID: 36965797 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The presentations in this session of the Monticello II conference were aimed at summarizing what is known about asbestiform and non-asbestiform elongate mineral particles (EMPs) and mesothelioma risks based on evidence from experimental and epidemiology studies. Dr. Case discussed case reports of mesothelioma over the last several decades. Dr. Taioli indicated that the epidemiology evidence concerning non-asbestiform EMPs is weak or lacking, and that progress would be limited unless mesothelioma registries are established. One exception discussed is that of taconite miners, who are exposed to grunerite. Drs. Mandel and Odo noted that studies of taconite miners in Minnesota have revealed an excess rate of mesothelioma, but the role of non-asbestiform EMPs in this excess incidence of mesothelioma is unclear. Dr. Becich discussed the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank (NMVB), a virtual mesothelioma patient registry that includes mesothelioma patients' lifetime work histories, exposure histories, biospecimens, proteogenomic information, and imaging data that can be used in epidemiology research on mesothelioma. Dr. Bernstein indicated that there is a strong consensus that long, highly durable respirable asbestiform EMPs have the potential to cause mesothelioma, but there is continued debate concerning the biodurability required, and the dimensions (both length and diameter), the shape, and the dose associated with mesothelioma risk. Finally, Dr. Nel discussed how experimental studies of High Aspect Ratio Engineered Nanomaterials have clarified dimensional and durability features that impact disease risk, the impact of inflammation and oxidative stress on the epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressor genes, and the generation of immune suppressive effects in the mesothelioma tumor microenvironment. The session ended with a discussion of future research needs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael J Becich
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States
| | | | - Bruce W Case
- Departments of Pathology and Epidemiology, McGill University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jeffrey H Mandel
- University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Science, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Andre E Nel
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine and the California Nano Systems Institute, UCLA, United States
| | - Robert Nolan
- International Environmental Research Foundation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nnaemeka U Odo
- Exponent, Inc., Center for Health Sciences, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Steven R Smith
- Consultant in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Carmel, IN, USA
| | | | - Graham Gibbs
- Consultant in Epidemiology, Niagara on the Lake, Canada
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8
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Gaitens JM, Culligan M, Friedberg JS, Glass E, Reback M, Scilla KA, Sachdeva A, Atalla A, McDiarmid MA. Laying the Foundation for a Mesothelioma Patient Registry: Development of Data Collection Tools. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4950. [PMID: 36981857 PMCID: PMC10049120 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mesothelioma, a cancer of mesothelial cells that line the chest, lungs, heart, and abdomen, is a relatively rare disease. In the United States, approximately 3000 individuals are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually. The primary risk factor for mesothelioma is occupational asbestos exposure which can occur decades prior to disease development, though in approximately 20% of cases, known asbestos exposure is lacking. While several other countries have developed mesothelioma registries to collect key clinical and exposure data elements to allow better estimation of incidence, prevalence, and risk factors associated with disease development, no national mesothelioma registry exists in the U.S. Therefore, as part of a larger feasibility study, a patient exposure questionnaire and a clinical data collection tool were created using a series of key informant interviews. Findings suggest that risk factor and clinical data collection via an on-line questionnaire is feasible, but specific concerns related to confidentiality, in the context of employer responsibility for exposure in the unique U.S. legal environment, and timing of enrollment must be addressed. Lessons learned from piloting these tools will inform the design and implementation of a mesothelioma registry of national scope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna M. Gaitens
- School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Ancheta LR, Shramm PA, Bouajram R, Higgins D, Lappi DA. Streptavidin-Saporin: Converting Biotinylated Materials into Targeted Toxins. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15030181. [PMID: 36977072 PMCID: PMC10059012 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptavidin-Saporin can be considered a type of ‘secondary’ targeted toxin. The scientific community has taken advantage of this conjugate in clever and fruitful ways using many kinds of biotinylated targeting agents to send saporin into a cell selected for elimination. Saporin is a ribosome-inactivating protein that causes inhibition of protein synthesis and cell death when delivered inside a cell. Streptavidin-Saporin, mixed with biotinylated molecules to cell surface markers, results in powerful conjugates that are used both in vitro and in vivo for behavior and disease research. Streptavidin-Saporin harnesses the ‘Molecular Surgery’ capability of saporin, creating a modular arsenal of targeted toxins used in applications ranging from the screening of potential therapeutics to behavioral studies and animal models. The reagent has become a well-published and validated resource in academia and industry. The ease of use and diverse functionality of Streptavidin-Saporin continues to have a significant impact on the life science industry.
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Magnani C, Mensi C, Binazzi A, Marsili D, Grosso F, Ramos-Bonilla JP, Ferrante D, Migliore E, Mirabelli D, Terracini B, Consonni D, Degiovanni D, Lia M, Cely-García MF, Giraldo M, Lysaniuk B, Comba P, Marinaccio A. The Italian Experience in the Development of Mesothelioma Registries: A Pathway for Other Countries to Address the Negative Legacy of Asbestos. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20020936. [PMID: 36673690 PMCID: PMC9858856 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20020936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Asbestos (all forms, including chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite) is carcinogenic to humans and causally associated with mesothelioma and cancer of the lung, larynx, and ovary. It is one of the carcinogens most diffuse in the world, in workplaces, but also in the environment and is responsible for a very high global cancer burden. A large number of countries, mostly with high-income economies, has banned the use of asbestos which, however, is still widespread in low- and middle-income countries. It remains, thus, one of the most common occupational and environmental carcinogens worldwide. Italy issued an asbestos ban in 1992, following the dramatic observation of a large increase in mortality from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases in exposed workers and also in subjects with non-occupational exposure. A mesothelioma registry was also organized and still monitors the occurrence of mesothelioma cases, conducting a case-by-case evaluation of asbestos exposure. In this report, we describe two Italian communities, Casale Monferrato and Broni, that faced an epidemic of mesothelioma resulting from the production of asbestos cement and the diffuse environmental exposure; we present the activity and results of the Italian mesothelioma registry (ReNaM), describe the risk-communication activities at the local and national level with a focus on international cooperation and also describe the interaction between mesothelioma registration and medical services specialized in mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment in an area at high risk of mesothelioma. Finally, we assess the potential application of the solutions and methods already developed in Italy in a city in Colombia with high mesothelioma incidence associated with the production of asbestos-cement materials and the presence of diffuse environmental asbestos pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrado Magnani
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Collegium Ramazzini, Bentivoglio, 40010 Modena, Italy
| | - Carolina Mensi
- Occupational Health Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Binazzi
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Marsili
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS (Italian National Institute of Health), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Grosso
- Mesothelioma Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Juan Pablo Ramos-Bonilla
- Collegium Ramazzini, Bentivoglio, 40010 Modena, Italy
- Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Daniela Ferrante
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Enrica Migliore
- Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Regional Operating Center of Piemonte (COR Piemonte), University of Torino and CPO-Piemonte, 10126 Torin, Italy
| | - Dario Mirabelli
- Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Regional Operating Center of Piemonte (COR Piemonte), University of Torino and CPO-Piemonte, 10126 Torin, Italy
| | - Benedetto Terracini
- Collegium Ramazzini, Bentivoglio, 40010 Modena, Italy
- Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Regional Operating Center of Piemonte (COR Piemonte), University of Torino and CPO-Piemonte, 10126 Torin, Italy
| | - Dario Consonni
- Occupational Health Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Michela Lia
- Mesothelioma Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | | | - Margarita Giraldo
- Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | | | - Pietro Comba
- Collegium Ramazzini, Bentivoglio, 40010 Modena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marinaccio
- Collegium Ramazzini, Bentivoglio, 40010 Modena, Italy
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority, 00143 Rome, Italy
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11
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Slavik CE, Demers PA, Tamburic L, Warden H, McLeod C. Do patterns of past asbestos use and production reflect current geographic variations of cancer risk?: mesothelioma in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada. Cancer Causes Control 2023; 34:349-360. [PMID: 36729166 PMCID: PMC9971118 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-023-01672-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Canada was a major global asbestos producer and consumer. Geographic patterns of Canadian asbestos use and mesothelioma, a highly fatal cancer linked to asbestos exposure, have not been previously reported. This study summarized key trends in mesothelioma incidence by geography and time in two Canadian provinces, Ontario and British Columbia (BC), and explored how past workforce characteristics and geographic trends in asbestos production and use may shape variations in regional rates of mesothelioma. METHODS We report trends in mesothelioma incidence (1993-2016) for Ontario and British Columbia using population-based incidence data that were age-standardized to the 2011 Canadian population. Historical records of asbestos production and use were analyzed to geo-locate industrial point sources of asbestos in Ontario and BC. The prevalence of occupations in regions with the highest and lowest rates of mesothelioma in Ontario and BC were calculated using labor force statistics from the 1981 Canadian Census. RESULTS Regional mesothelioma rates varied in both provinces over time; more census divisions in both Ontario and BC registered mesothelioma rates in the highest quintile of incidences during the period 2009 to 2016 than in any prior period examined. Certain occupations such as construction trades workers were more likely to be overrepresented in regions with high mesothelioma rates. CONCLUSION This work explored how studying asbestos exposure and mesothelioma incidence at small-scale geographies could direct cancer surveillance and research to more targeted areas. Findings indicated that regional variations in mesothelioma could signal important differences in past occupational and potentially environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E. Slavik
- grid.419887.b0000 0001 0747 0732Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), Toronto, ON M5G 1X3 Canada
| | - Paul A. Demers
- grid.419887.b0000 0001 0747 0732Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), Toronto, ON M5G 1X3 Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7 Canada
| | - Lillian Tamburic
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Partnership for Work, Health and Safety, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Hunter Warden
- grid.419887.b0000 0001 0747 0732Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), Toronto, ON M5G 1X3 Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
| | - Christopher McLeod
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Partnership for Work, Health and Safety, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
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12
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Urban M, Pelclová D, Urban P, Vít M, Urban P, Fenclová Z. Asbestos danger in central Europe is not yet over - the situation in the Czech Republic. Cent Eur J Public Health 2022; 30:67-73. [PMID: 35876593 DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In the Czech Republic, asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen since 1984. The use of asbestos-containing products was limited to scenarios where the use of other materials was not possible. Since 1997, the manufacture of asbestos materials has been forbidden, and in 1999, the import, manufacture and distribution of all types of asbestos fibres was legally banned by Act No. 157/1998 Coll. Although the use of asbestos is forbidden, the risk of exposure still exists given the ongoing demolition and reconstruction of buildings in which asbestos has been used. In addition, a novel risk has arisen through the quarrying of asbestos-containing aggregates and their subsequent use. The aim of this paper was to describe and evaluate asbestos in terms of history, legislation, current risk of occupational exposure and its health consequences in the Czech Republic over the last three decades. METHODS This retrospective descriptive study used the collected data on occupational exposure and occupational diseases. The counts of workers occupationally exposed to asbestos were obtained from the Registry of Work Categorization; the numbers and structure of occupational diseases caused by asbestos were taken from the Czech National Registry of Occupational Diseases. Data on the total number of mesothelioma cases recorded in the Czech National Cancer Registry was provided by the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic. RESULTS A total of 13,112 subjects were registered as occupationally exposed to asbestos during the period 2001-2020. A total of 687 cases of asbestos-related occupational diseases were reported in the period 1991-2020 in the Czech Republic, comprising 178 cases of asbestosis, 250 cases of pleural hyalinosis, 168 cases of pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, 90 cases of lung cancer, and one case of laryngeal cancer. The data from the Czech National Cancer Registry, available for a shorter period (1991-2018), reveal 1,389 cases of mesothelioma, of which only ~11% were recognised as occupational, despite the fact that the occupational causality of mesotheliomas is estimated to be up to 90% of mesotheliomas. Moreover, the latency of mesotheliomas since the last occupational exposure reached up to 50 years and this trend is still slightly increasing, unlike asbestosis, where a high cumulative dose of inhaled asbestos is needed. The real proportion of occupational lung cancers may obviously be even higher, especially in smokers, where occupational causes including asbestos are not suspected by most physicians. CONCLUSION Czech data on asbestos-related occupational diseases, especially cancers, are grossly underestimated, which is most apparent through the low proportion of mesotheliomas diagnosed as occupational. Asbestos materials in older buildings remained in situ and may represent a danger during reconstruction works. The current source of exposure appears to be quarrying of asbestos-containing aggregate and its subsequent use. Awareness of the professional community is therefore crucial, not only for the possibility of compensating those affected, but also for the early detection of the diseases through the dispensary of exposed persons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Urban
- Centre of Occupational Health, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Pelclová
- Department of Occupational Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Urban
- Centre of Occupational Health, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Vít
- Centre of Occupational Health, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Urban
- Centre of Occupational Health, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenka Fenclová
- Centre of Occupational Health, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Occupational Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
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Huang T, Lee JS, Klibanov AL, He J. Molecular Radiotherapy with 177Lu-Immunoliposomes Induces Cytotoxicity in Mesothelioma Cancer Stem Cells In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:3914. [PMID: 35409274 PMCID: PMC8999793 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a lethal tumor originating in the mesothelium with high chemotherapeutic resistance. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) persist in tumors and are critical targets responsible for tumor resistance and recurrence. The identification and characterization of CSCs may help develop effective treatment for MM. The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of molecular targeted radiotherapy by 177Lu-labeled immunoliposomes (177Lu-ILs) on CSCs of mesothelioma. MM CSCs were sorted based on CD26/CD24 expression level and their functional significances were established by small interference RNA. CSC potential of MM was evaluated for drug resistance, cell invasion, and cell growth rate in vitro. CSC metabolism was evaluated with the uptake of 18F-FDG. Therapeutic effects of 177Lu-labeled immunoliposomes targeting CD26 and CD24 were evaluated in vitro through proliferation and apoptotic assays. CSCs sorted from H28 cells exhibited significant drug resistance and enhanced proliferative activity as well as increased metabolism indicated by higher 18F-FDG uptake. Treatment with 177Lu-ILs, compared with 177Lu-CL and ILs, showed enhanced therapeutic effects on inhibition of proliferation, up-regulation of apoptosis, and suppression of CD26 and CD24 expression. Thus, our results suggest that molecular radiotherapy targeting both CD26 and CD24 could be a promising approach for CSC-targeting therapy for MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Huang
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA; (T.H.); (J.S.L.)
| | - Jae Sam Lee
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA; (T.H.); (J.S.L.)
| | - Alexander L. Klibanov
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cadiovascular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA;
| | - Jiang He
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA; (T.H.); (J.S.L.)
- UVa Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
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Tai S, Wu J, Lee LJ, Lu T. Which ICD-9 codes were assigned for malignant mesothelioma in the mortality data in the United States before the ICD-10 was introduced? Am J Ind Med 2022; 65:143-148. [PMID: 34779537 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is rare and fatal; survival in most cases is only about one year. Mortality rate is, therefore, a good proxy measure of incidence rate. However, the specific International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code for MM was not available until the Tenth Revision ICD (ICD-10). Little is known on which Ninth Revision ICD (ICD-9) codes were assigned for MM in the ICD-9 era. METHODS We used a 1996 double-coded mortality file compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics to calculate the detection rate (DR) and confirmation rate (CR) of selected ICD-9 codes. RESULTS Of 2386 decedents whose underlying cause of death was MM (ICD-10 code C45), the DR (deaths) of corresponding ICD-9 code was 57% (1365) for code 199 "malignant neoplasm without specification of site;" 19% (448) for code 162.9 "malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus, and lung, unspecified;" 13% (310) for code 163 "malignant neoplasm of pleura;" and 11% (271) for other codes. The CR (deaths) for the aforementioned three ICD-9 codes were 4.0% (1365/33,942), 0.3% (448/150,342), and 70.8% (310/438), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The three ICD-9 codes (199, 162.9, and 163) were the most commonly used codes for MM and composed nine-tenths of all MM deaths in the years before the ICD-10 was introduced. Using only ICD-9 code 163, the code most often used as the surrogate measure of MM in mortality studies in the ICD-9 era, capture may have been only 13% of all MM deaths in the US, and the estimated number of MM deaths missed in 1996 would be 2086.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu‐Yu Tai
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine Kaohsiung Medical University Kaohsiung City Taiwan
- Department of Family Medicine Kaohsiung Municipal Ta‐Tung Hospital Kaohsiung City Taiwan
- Department of Family Medicine Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital Kaohsiung City Taiwan
| | - Jingyi Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan
| | - Lukas Jyuhn‐Hsiarn Lee
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Health Research Institutes Zhuna Taiwan
| | - Tsung‐Hsueh Lu
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan
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15
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Tai SY, Wu J, Lee LJH, Lu TH. How Malignant Mesothelioma Was Coded in Mortality Data in Taiwan During Years When the Specific ICD Code Was Not Available? Clin Epidemiol 2022; 13:1135-1140. [PMID: 34992464 PMCID: PMC8713711 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s339956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is associated with past exposure to asbestos and the latency period ranged from 20 to 40 years. Asbestos consumption reached a peak in the 1980s in Taiwan, and the MM mortality is expected to increase since 2000s. However, no specific code for MM was available before the International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), which was launched in 2008 in Taiwan. We examined how MM was coded in mortality data in Taiwan during the years when the ICD, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) was used. Patients and Methods Double-coded mortality data (each death coded according to both ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes) for the period 2002–2008 were obtained for analysis. Detection rates (similar to sensitivity) and confirmation rates (similar to positive predictive value) for various potential proxy ICD-9 codes for MM were calculated. Results For 113 deaths, for which the underlying cause of death was ICD-10 code C45 (MM), 14 corresponding ICD-9 codes were used. Four ICD-9 codes constituted 77% (87/113) of all MM deaths. The detection rate for code 199 (malignant neoplasm [MN] without specification of site) was 37% (42/113), that for code 163 (MN of pleura) was 18% (20/113), that for code 162 (MN of trachea, bronchus, and lung) was 12% (14/113), and that for code 173 (other MN of skin) was 10% (11/113). The confirmation rates for codes 199, 163, 162, and 173 were 0.9% (42/4759), 14.3% (20/140), 0.03% (14/51,778), and 1.5% (11/717), respectively. Conclusion ICD-9 codes 199, 163, 162, and 173 were most commonly used for MM deaths in Taiwan during the years before the ICD-10 introduction. However, when we used only ICD-9 code 163, which was most commonly used as a surrogate measure of MM in mortality studies during the ICD-9 era, we could detect only one-fifth of MM deaths in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Yu Tai
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.,Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.,Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Jingyi Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Lukas Jyuhn-Hsiarn Lee
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhuna, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsueh Lu
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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16
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Yuan L, Sun B, Xu L, Chen L, Ou W. The Updating of Biological Functions of Methyltransferase SETDB1 and Its Relevance in Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147416. [PMID: 34299035 PMCID: PMC8306223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
SET domain bifurcated 1 (SETDB1) is a histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase that exerts important effects on epigenetic gene regulation. SETDB1 complexes (SETDB1-KRAB-KAP1, SETDB1-DNMT3A, SETDB1-PML, SETDB1-ATF7IP-MBD1) play crucial roles in the processes of histone methylation, transcriptional suppression and chromatin remodelling. Therefore, aberrant trimethylation at H3K9 due to amplification, mutation or deletion of SETDB1 may lead to transcriptional repression of various tumour-suppressing genes and other related genes in cancer cells. Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide in which SETDB1 amplification and H3K9 hypermethylation have been indicated as potential tumourigenesis markers. In contrast, frequent inactivation mutations of SETDB1 have been revealed in mesothelioma, an asbestos-associated, locally aggressive, highly lethal, and notoriously chemotherapy-resistant cancer. Above all, the different statuses of SETDB1 indicate that it may have different biological functions and be a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target in lung cancer and mesothelioma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wenbin Ou
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +86-571-86843303
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17
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Emmett EA. Asbestos in High-Risk Communities: Public Health Implications. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:1579. [PMID: 33562413 PMCID: PMC7915393 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Asbestos-related diseases (ARDs)-mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis-are well known as occupational diseases. As industrial asbestos use is eliminated, ARDs within the general community from para-occupational, environmental, and natural exposures are more prominent. ARD clusters have been studied in communities including Broni, Italy; Libby, Montana; Wittenoom, Western Australia; Karain, Turkey; Ambler, Pennsylvania; and elsewhere. Community ARDs pose specific public health issues and challenges. Community exposure results in higher proportions of mesothelioma in women and a younger age distribution than occupational exposures. Exposure amount, age at exposure, fiber type, and genetic predisposition influence ARD expression; vulnerable groups include those with social and behavioral risk, exposure to extreme events, and genetic predispositions. To address community exposure, regulations should address all carcinogenic elongated mineral fibers. Banning asbestos mining, use, and importation will not reduce risks from asbestos already in place. Residents of high-risk communities are characteristically exposed through several pathways differing among communities. Administrative responsibility for controlling environmental exposures is more diffuse than for workplaces, complicated by diverse community attitudes to risk and prevention and legal complexity. The National Mesothelioma Registries help track the identification of communities at risk. High-risk communities need enhanced services for screening, diagnosis, treatment, and social and psychological support, including for retired asbestos workers. Legal settlements could help fund community programs. A focus on prevention, public health programs, particularization to specific community needs, and participation is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A Emmett
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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18
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De Rienzo A, Coleman MH, Yeap BY, Severson DT, Wadowski B, Gustafson CE, Jensen RV, Chirieac LR, Richards WG, Bueno R. Association of RERG Expression with Female Survival Advantage in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030565. [PMID: 33540554 PMCID: PMC7867122 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in incidence, prognosis, and treatment response have been described for many cancers. In malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), a lethal disease associated with asbestos exposure, men outnumber women 4 to 1, but women consistently live longer than men following surgery-based therapy. This study investigated whether tumor expression of genes associated with estrogen signaling could potentially explain observed survival differences. Two microarray datasets of MPM tumors were analyzed to discover estrogen-related genes associated with survival. A validation cohort of MPM tumors was selected to balance the numbers of men and women and control for competing prognostic influences. The RAS like estrogen regulated growth inhibitor (RERG) gene was identified as the most differentially-expressed estrogen-related gene in these tumors and predicted prognosis in discovery datasets. In the sex-matched validation cohort, low RERG expression was significantly associated with increased risk of death among women. No association between RERG expression and survival was found among men, and no relationship between estrogen receptor protein or gene expression and survival was found for either sex. Additional investigations are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this association and its sex specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assunta De Rienzo
- Thoracic Surgery Oncology Laboratory and The International Mesothelioma Program, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.H.C.); (D.T.S.); (B.W.); (C.E.G.); (W.G.R.); (R.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(617)-732-6526
| | - Melissa H. Coleman
- Thoracic Surgery Oncology Laboratory and The International Mesothelioma Program, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.H.C.); (D.T.S.); (B.W.); (C.E.G.); (W.G.R.); (R.B.)
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, 500 Parnassus Ave, MUW 405, Box 0118, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Beow Y. Yeap
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA;
| | - David T. Severson
- Thoracic Surgery Oncology Laboratory and The International Mesothelioma Program, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.H.C.); (D.T.S.); (B.W.); (C.E.G.); (W.G.R.); (R.B.)
| | - Benjamin Wadowski
- Thoracic Surgery Oncology Laboratory and The International Mesothelioma Program, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.H.C.); (D.T.S.); (B.W.); (C.E.G.); (W.G.R.); (R.B.)
| | - Corinne E. Gustafson
- Thoracic Surgery Oncology Laboratory and The International Mesothelioma Program, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.H.C.); (D.T.S.); (B.W.); (C.E.G.); (W.G.R.); (R.B.)
| | - Roderick V. Jensen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 970 Washington Street SW, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
| | - Lucian R. Chirieac
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - William G. Richards
- Thoracic Surgery Oncology Laboratory and The International Mesothelioma Program, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.H.C.); (D.T.S.); (B.W.); (C.E.G.); (W.G.R.); (R.B.)
| | - Raphael Bueno
- Thoracic Surgery Oncology Laboratory and The International Mesothelioma Program, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.H.C.); (D.T.S.); (B.W.); (C.E.G.); (W.G.R.); (R.B.)
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer, linked to asbestos exposure. Although the United Kingdom has banned asbestos, the incidence rate remains high. Previous research has indicated that female individuals have better survival than male individuals, but this has never been examined in the United Kingdom. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pleural mesothelioma cases from 2005 to 2014 were extracted from the United Kingdom Lung Cancer Dataset. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the clinical and demographic factors associated with gender. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model and propensity matching methods were used to assess gender differences in overall survival while accounting for potential confounders. RESULTS There were 8479 (87.8%) male and 1765 (17.2%) female individuals included in the analysis. Female individuals were significantly younger, with more epithelial histology than male individuals. Female individuals had significantly better overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.85, 95% confidence interval, 0.81-0.90). Results remained similar when stratifying by age and performance status, and when limiting to patients with epithelial histology. CONCLUSIONS The study increases knowledge about gender differences in mesothelioma survival and is the first to directly examine this in the United Kingdom. It further disentangles the effects of age, histology, and health status. Increased estrogen may improve survival and could provide a potential target for future therapies.
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Carbon Nanotubes under Scrutiny: Their Toxicity and Utility in Mesothelioma Research. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10134513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Research on the toxicity of engineered carbon nanotubes (CNT) was initiated by Belgian academic chemists and toxicologists more than 15 years ago. It is now undisputed that some of these attractive nanomaterials induce serious illness such as fibrosis and cancer. The physico-chemical determinants of CNT-induced adverse effects are now elucidated and include shape, nanoscale diameter, and structural defects. Generated in vitro and in vivo data on their inflammogenic and fibrogenic activities were combined and translated in AOP (adverse outcome pathways) available for risk assessment and regulatory policies. The asbestos-like carcinogenic effect of CNT, notably their capacity to induce malignant mesothelioma (MM), remain, however, a cause of concern for public health and strongly curb the craze for CNT in industries. MM still represents a real challenge for clinicians and a highly refractory cancer to existing therapeutic strategies. By comparing mesotheliomagenic CNT (needle-like CNT-N) to non mesotheliomagenic CNT (tangled-like CNT-T), our group generated a relevant animal model that highlights immune pathways specifically associated to the carcinogenic process. Evidence indicates that only CNT-N possess the intrinsic capacity to induce a preferential, rapid, and sustained accumulation of host immunosuppressive cells that subvert immune surveillance and suppress anti-mesothelioma immunity. This new concept offers novel horizons for the clinical management of mesothelioma and represents an additional tool for predicting the mesotheliomagenic activity of newly elaborated CNT or nanoparticles.
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Vimercati L, Cavone D, Delfino MC, Caputi A, De Maria L, Sponselli S, Corrado V, Ferri GM, Serio G. Asbestos Air Pollution: Description of a Mesothelioma Cluster Due to Residential Exposure from an Asbestos Cement Factory. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E2636. [PMID: 32290540 PMCID: PMC7215593 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The study describes a cluster of 71 malignant mesothelioma cases among Bari residents without asbestos exposure other than residential exposure. This small cohort, as expected, was composed of a majority of females (56.34%) with a M/F ratio of 0.8, ages ≤ 65 years old (52.11%) and the epithelioid morphological type (78.87%). Sixty-four subjects (90.14%) lived between 10 m and 1000 m from the asbestos cement factory (Fibronit), and the latency length was longer than 55 years for 25 subjects (35.21%). The adjusted risk (adjusted OR) of observing the epithelial form of mesothelioma among subjects living at small distances from Fibronit was high (OR = 1.870 (0.353-9.905)) for people living 550-1000 m from the site and for those living less than 550 m from the site (OR = 1.470 (0.262-8.248)). Additionally, the subjects with a high length of exposure showed a relevant risk of epithelioid mesothelioma both for 21-40 years of exposure (OR = 2.027 (0.521-7.890)) and more than 40 years of exposure (OR = 2.879 (0.651-12.736)). All of the estimates were high but not significant because this transitional study has a typically low power. The adjustment for latency showed the same trend. Using detailed information collected by the regional mesothelioma registry, this study provided evidence of a continuing health impact of the Fibronit asbestos cement factory in Bari on the resident population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Vimercati
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Occupational Medicine “B. Ramazzini”, University of Bari Medical School, 11 G, Cesare Square, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.C.); (M.C.D.); (A.C.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.); (V.C.); (G.M.F.)
| | - Domenica Cavone
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Occupational Medicine “B. Ramazzini”, University of Bari Medical School, 11 G, Cesare Square, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.C.); (M.C.D.); (A.C.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.); (V.C.); (G.M.F.)
| | - Maria Celeste Delfino
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Occupational Medicine “B. Ramazzini”, University of Bari Medical School, 11 G, Cesare Square, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.C.); (M.C.D.); (A.C.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.); (V.C.); (G.M.F.)
| | - Antonio Caputi
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Occupational Medicine “B. Ramazzini”, University of Bari Medical School, 11 G, Cesare Square, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.C.); (M.C.D.); (A.C.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.); (V.C.); (G.M.F.)
| | - Luigi De Maria
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Occupational Medicine “B. Ramazzini”, University of Bari Medical School, 11 G, Cesare Square, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.C.); (M.C.D.); (A.C.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.); (V.C.); (G.M.F.)
| | - Stefania Sponselli
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Occupational Medicine “B. Ramazzini”, University of Bari Medical School, 11 G, Cesare Square, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.C.); (M.C.D.); (A.C.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.); (V.C.); (G.M.F.)
| | - Vincenzo Corrado
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Occupational Medicine “B. Ramazzini”, University of Bari Medical School, 11 G, Cesare Square, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.C.); (M.C.D.); (A.C.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.); (V.C.); (G.M.F.)
| | - Giovanni Maria Ferri
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Occupational Medicine “B. Ramazzini”, University of Bari Medical School, 11 G, Cesare Square, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.C.); (M.C.D.); (A.C.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.); (V.C.); (G.M.F.)
| | - Gabriella Serio
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), Pathology Division, University of Bari Medical School, 11 G, Cesare Square, 70124 Bari, Italy;
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