Markers for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma News

Print

Distinguishing Mesothelioma From Lung Adenocarcinoma Through MUC4 Analysis

December 12, 2003 — To distinguish mesothelioma from lung adenocarcinoma, French researchers recently studied whether there was a difference in the amount of mucin 4 (MUC4) present in the cells of patients with each disease (Mod Pathol. 2003 Dec 5). Mesothelioma cells may look similar to lung adenocarcinoma cells under the microscope. Doctors need to separate lung adenocarcinoma from mesothelioma because the treatment for each disease is often different (see Mesothelioma Treatment Options).

The researchers used staining and immunology techniques to study MUC4, a mucin associated with membranes. Mucins are glycoproteins (proteins joined with carbohydrates) that may promote the spread of tumor cells. They are produced by epithelial cells. For their MUC4 study, the investigators obtained samples from the pleural fluid or tissue of mesothelioma patients. They embedded the pleural fluid cells in paraffin, and preserved the tissues using formulin. They obtained lung adenocarcinoma samples from surgical resections or from pleural fluid.

Thirty–two of 35 lung adenocarcinoma samples reacted with an anti–MUC4 antibody. Out of 41 mesothelioma samples, none reacted with anti–MUC4 antibody. Normal mesothelial cells from 32 samples also did not show any reaction. The researchers concluded that MUC4 may be a sensitive marker for lung adenocarcinomas and suggested that more research be done to determine its usefulness in separating lung adenocarcinoma from mesothelioma.

Positive Markers for Mesothelioma

Researchers have also looked at positive markers for mesothelioma. One of these, calretinin, is a calcium binding protein. In a study at the Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, 38 mesothelioma samples reacted to calretinin, whereas only 3 of 38 pulmonary adenocarcinomas reacted (Mod Pathol. 1998 Oct; 11(10): 929–33). Another study carried out at the Center looked at the antibody cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6). It reacted strongly in 40 mesothelioma samples, but not with 30 pulmonary adenocarcinomas (Am J Surg Pathol. 1998 Oct; 22(10): 1215–21).

Perhaps both positive and negative markers can be useful in separating mesothelioma from lung adenocarcinoma. For a discussion of other ways to diagnose mesothelioma, see Mesothelioma Diagnosis.

Print