Mesothelioma Susceptibility Could Be Increased by Your Genes

People who develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases do so as a result of asbestos exposure. In recent years, however, the question of whether or not genetic factors contribute to the development of mesothelioma has been under investigation.

A recent review paper from a team of researchers at the Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, National Cancer Research Institute in Genoa, Italy has examined this issue, concluding that there are some genetic mutations that can increase a person’s risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma if they have previously been exposed to asbestos.

The paper, entitled “Genetic susceptibility to malignant pleural mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases,” was published in a recent issue of the science journal called Mutation Research.

According to the researchers, “In the last decade many studies have shown that polymorphism in the genes involved in xenobiotic and oxidative metabolism or in DNA repair processes may play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases.”

They believe mutations in genes that are involved in cellular repair may contribute to the development of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Within cells, there is a process that repairs and rejuvenates cells that have begun to function incorrectly. When the cell is operating normally, these repair processes prevent abnormal growth. However, if those repair processes themselves begin to malfunction, they cannot check abnormal growth, and this malfunction can potentially result in the development of cancer.

If the abnormality in cellular repair processes occurs in the presence of carcinogens, such as asbestos, the risk of cancer is significantly heightened.

The researchers found that there were certain mutations in particular genes involved in cellular repair processes that were commonly found in people who had developed the cancer.

Discoveries such as these may potentially help in preventing, diagnosing, and treating mesothelioma, but the researchers point out that much more research is needed before any conclusive link can be drawn between malignant mesothelioma and the mutations they examined.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 at 2:50 pm and is filed under Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.