Genetic Factors and Mesothelioma
Asbestos exposure is well established as the primary risk factor and cause of mesothelioma cancer, but other risk factors have been presented in recent decades. Such factors include a virus called Simian Virus 40, erionite exposure and genetic predispositions. The latter has recently sparked debate as researchers from Hawaii have discovered a gene that may be able to identify those with a higher risk for developing mesothelioma.
One of the biggest questions facing mesothelioma researchers is why some people exposed to asbestos and erionite develop the cancer and others do not. While exposure levels and the duration of exposure play significant roles, researchers have found that some people are just more susceptible to asbestos and erionite fibers. For example, mesothelioma cases have been reported in people with only a one-time exposure to asbestos. In these cases, researchers believe there are genetic factors that make a person more prone to developing mesothelioma cancer.
In Cappadocia, Turkey, certain families in specific villages are more likely to develop mesothelioma after exposure to erionite, a naturally occurring mineral that shares the same structure as asbestos. Doctors believe these families are genetically predisposed to developing mesothelioma. Genetic factors playing a role in mesothelioma was first acknowledged in a study among family members who had contracted the cancer and were missing a specific gene.
If you were exposed to asbestos you can investigate your risk level with a mesothelioma specialist by receiving annual checkups and X-rays. For more information on the causative factors of mesothelioma, fill out the form on this page to receive a free informational packet in the mail.
Genes Associated with Mesothelioma
Researchers were first inclined to study genetics as a risk factor for mesothelioma after the cancer was found more commonly among family members in the 1960s. Since, many studies have been conducted and researchers have identified some genes that may play a role in the development of mesothelioma.
For example, in one study of a family of three sisters with malignant mesothelioma and one brother with pleural plaques — who were all exposed to asbestos by living near an asbestos cement factory — the siblings lacked a chromosomal structure at the 9p gene region. This gene – known as a tumor suppressor – is related to cancer suppression when present, and the lack of it enables tumor growth and the development of mesothelioma. Other tumor suppressor genes that may affect the development of mesothelioma include P16INK4a, P16/CDKN2A, P14ARF and neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2).
Two other genes that have been commonly associated with mesothelioma include glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and N-acetyltransferase (NAT2). GSTM1 is important in the detoxification of carcinogens such as asbestos, and NAT2 is involved in the biotransformation of carcinogens. The absence of GSTM1 can result in a twofold increase in risk for mesothelioma and the absence of both GSTM1 and NAT2 increases a person's risk sevenfold.
BAP1 Gene
Recent research unveiled a new gene that may play a significant role in a person's likelihood of developing mesothelioma. In a 2011 study conducted by researchers at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it was discovered that people who carry a mutation in a gene called BAP1 are susceptible to developing mesothelioma. When these individuals are exposed to asbestos or a similar mineral like erionite, their risk for contracting mesothelioma is significantly increased.
The study evaluated two U.S. families with high incidences of mesothelioma and the mutation of the BAP1 gene. Researchers noticed that every family member who had contracted mesothelioma also carried the BAP1 mutation.
Further investigation into 26 individuals with mesothelioma without a family history of the cancer confirmed these results, with 25 percent of those studied carrying mutations of the BAP1 gene.
Dr. Michele CarboneTitle: Thoracic Oncology
As I say to patients, when hope is part of the equation, anything is possible," he said. "I remain optimistic that we can, in the next decade, put together the right combination of patients and treatment to effect a cure, which is our holy grail.
Genetic Predisposition to Mesothelioma in Turkey
Three villages in Turkey provide an example of how genetic factors can play a role in mesothelioma development. In the villages of Tuzkoy, Karain and "Old" Sarihidir, where approximately 50 percent of all deaths are caused by malignant mesothelioma, some families have higher incidences of the cancer even though erionite exposure levels are the same for other families in the area. The initial suggestion from researchers studying this occurrence was that a unique and more carcinogenic form of erionite was present in certain houses, but an evaluation of the structure of erionite from different homes proved the fiber structures were similar.
Additional studies showed that when high-risk mesothelioma family members married into families with no history of the disease, their children developed mesothelioma. This finding – along with subsequent studies that found more evidence of genetic predisposition – has convinced many researchers that inherited genetics is responsible for higher susceptibility to erionite exposure and mesothelioma in the region. Although the relationship between genetic susceptibility and mesothelioma is still being investigated, the situation in Turkey presents a strong argument for genetics playing a role in mesothelioma cancer.
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Last Modified Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
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