Get in Touch
Have questions? Call or chat with our Patient Advocates for answers.
Mesothelioma Blood Tests and Biomarkers
Table Of Contents
Mesothelioma blood tests detect proteins, called biomarkers, linked to mesothelioma. These tests may detect n-ERC mesothelin and fibulin-3. Doctors use these tests with imaging scans and biopsies to confirm mesothelioma. The MESOMARK assay is the only FDA-approved mesothelioma blood test.
Written by Dr. Kristopher Bunting | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: July 23, 2024
What Are Mesothelioma Blood Tests?
Blood tests for mesothelioma aim to detect substances cancer cells produce, called biomarkers. Currently, blood tests alone are not accurate enough to diagnose mesothelioma.
While a direct blood test for mesothelioma does not yet exist, blood tests can show possible indicators of cancer. Instead of relying solely on mesothelioma blood tests, doctors also use detailed imaging scans and tissue biopsies. By combining these results, doctors can better confirm a diagnosis of asbestos-related illnesses.
Mesothelioma survivor Chris Shelton discovered he had cancer while hospitalized for more than a month after a severe motorcycle accident. He had many blood tests during this time to monitor his recovery and overall health. Eventually, after much more testing, Shelton received a mesothelioma diagnosis.
The doctor came into my hospital room and said he had good news and bad news. He said, ‘You’ll walk again, but your blood work makes us think you have some sort of cancer.’
Chris Shelton, peritoneal mesothelioma survivor
No blood test can detect asbestos exposure. Biopsy tests of tissues, however, can reveal the presence of asbestos fibers that can get stuck in tissues. Doctors often use biopsies to determine a diagnosis of mesothelioma.
How Do Mesothelioma Blood Tests Work?
Mesothelioma blood tests screen for biomarkers, proteins and other substances found in blood and tissue that can indicate health statuses. For example, blood sugar and hemoglobin A1C are useful indicators to diagnose diabetes and monitor treatment. Cancer cells produce certain proteins that circulate in the blood.
For some tumors, biomarker proteins are unique to that specific cancer. Identifying them in a blood test indicates a person may have that cancer. The biomarkers for mesothelioma are also present in healthy people but are higher when mesothelioma exists. However, these tests are not always accurate and are not definitive proof of a diagnosis.
Diagram shows how blood tests can determine presence of mesothelioma cancer cells.
Blood tests can help confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis and rule out other cancers. Many cancers originate in the lungs or spread to the lungs from other parts of the body. Different cancers express different immunohistochemical markers, proteins that labwork can identify using antibodies.
There are no biomarkers specific to mesothelioma, but levels of the proteins calretinin, cytokeratin 5 and 5/6, WT-1, podoplanin (D2-40) and mesothelin help identify possible mesothelioma.
Dr. Snehal Smart of The Mesothelioma Center explained that blood tests can “help find mesothelioma in a patient before symptoms even begin.” Blood tests such as MESOMARK look for a particular protein – the SMRP protein.
Smart said this protein is “usually high in patients with mesothelioma.” Therefore, while a blood test such as a MESOMARK assay cannot diagnose a patient independently, “high levels of the SMRP protein can indicate a probable diagnosis of mesothelioma.”
Find a Top Mesothelioma Doctor
Gain access to top mesothelioma doctors and get help scheduling appointments.
Connect NowCommon Mesothelioma Blood Tests
The MESOMARK assay, N-ERC/mesothelin test and fibulin-3 test are three blood tests that can help doctors accurately diagnose mesothelioma. Each test has strengths and weaknesses, but they can help doctors accurately diagnose mesothelioma when used with biopsies and imaging studies.
A blood test must be sensitive and/or specific for it to be useful for diagnosis. A test with high sensitivity is better at detecting mesothelioma, and a test with high specificity can help rule out mesothelioma. Some tests are more sensitive than specific, and vice versa.
For example, the N-ERC/mesothelin test is very sensitive but not specific. When N-ERC/mesothelin levels are high, there’s a high likelihood that mesothelioma is present. However, a person may still have mesothelioma even if their N-ERC/mesothelin levels are low.
The fibulin-3 test, on the other hand, is very specific for mesothelioma. If fibulin-3 levels are low, there is little chance of mesothelioma. In other words, the N-ERC/mesothelin test can usually detect mesothelioma, while the fibulin-3 test can generally tell if you don’t.
The performance of all of these blood tests requires a technique called ELISA. Medical professionals collect a blood sample and send it to the laboratory, mixed with antibodies that target a specific biomarker. Using sophisticated equipment, the lab can determine the levels of biomarkers in the blood.
MESOMARK Assay
The MESOMARK assay detects most types of mesothelioma and measures the effectiveness of treatment.
The MESOMARK assay measures serum-measured soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP), proteins made by mesothelial cells. Healthy cells produce low levels of SMRP, but high SMRP levels may indicate the presence of mesothelioma. As treatment progresses, SMRP levels decrease.
A MESOMARK blood test is performed by the physician or nurse practitioner drawing a sample of blood. That blood is sent to a lab where the levels of SMRP protein are measured.
Dr. Snehal Smart, medical doctor and Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
Some types of mesothelioma, such as sarcomatoid tumors, do not release high levels of SMRP. Because of this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that doctors combine the MESOMARK assay with other tests to ensure an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis.
Some insurance companies do not cover this blood test. If you have a history of asbestos exposure, ask your doctor if the MESOMARK blood test would be helpful.
N-ERC/Mesothelin Test
The N-ERC/mesothelin test detects a specific form called N-ERC/mesothelin. Similar to MESOMARK, it looks for a specific version of the mesothelin molecule, which increases its accuracy.
The test is 95% effective at detecting mesothelioma. However, because several other types of cancer also increase mesothelin levels, it is only 76% effective at ruling out mesothelioma. This test is more accurate than MESOMARK but, like other blood tests, cannot be used to diagnose mesothelioma independently.
Fibulin-3 Test
Mesothelioma cells produce a protein called fibulin-3. Specific tests can detect this protein in pleural fluid and blood. Mesothelioma specialist Dr. Harvey Pass helped develop it for diagnosis.
He co-authored a study showing that the test is 96.7% effective at detecting mesothelioma and 95.5% effective at ruling it out in people without the disease.
Several researchers have found that the sensitivity of the fibulin-3 test can vary. This variation potentially makes the test less effective for detecting mesothelioma. However, it is still highly effective in ruling out mesothelioma.
Research also shows that fibulin-3 levels are higher in people with known asbestos exposure. This result means the fibulin-3 test is very good at determining whether an individual has had significant asbestos exposure.
Additionally, fibulin-3 levels can help predict mesothelioma prognosis. Very high levels indicate a worse prognosis. Fibulin-3 testing is beneficial when combined with other mesothelioma blood tests.
Emerging Biomarker-Based Blood Tests
As researchers discover more about mesothelioma, they find new biomarkers that may improve its diagnosis and treatment. New biomarker tests can help medical professionals diagnose mesothelioma, distinguish it from other cancers, predict disease prognosis, select the most effective treatment and monitor treatment progression.
Discovering new biomarkers is essential in understanding how mesothelioma develops. Some biomarkers are proteins involved in cells becoming cancerous, such as YAP, a protein that interacts with DNA. These biomarkers can reveal new targets for therapies, such as immunotherapy.
These newer tests include:
- 8-Hydroxy-2′-Deoxyguanosine: 8OHdG, like fibulin-3, is higher in people who have been exposed to asbestos. It may be useful in identifying people at higher risk of mesothelioma and other cancers.
- Calretinin: Mesothelioma raises calretinin levels — the epithelioid type more than the sarcomatoid type. When combined with mesothelin tests, calretinin tests can help improve mesothelioma diagnosis accuracy and distinguish it from other asbestos-related diseases.
- Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor: EGFR levels are increased in mesothelioma (especially the epithelioid type) and some other lung cancers. EGFR may play a role in the development of mesothelioma. Clinical trials of mesothelioma treatments that target EGFR are ongoing.
- Estrogen Receptor-β: ER-β levels are elevated in some cases of mesothelioma. Research shows that people with mesothelioma who had high to moderate levels of ER-β responded better to chemotherapy and had better survival rates. Drugs that target ER-β can improve how well chemotherapy works.
- Megakaryocyte Potentiation Factor: Mesothelioma raises MPF levels. Like mesothelin, levels can decrease after surgery. This makes it useful to track treatment progress. When combined with tests for mesothelin and calretinin, MPF may be useful to help diagnose mesothelioma.
- Osteopontin: Research shows that osteopontin levels are higher in cases of both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma as well as other cancers and tuberculosis. While it may not be useful for diagnosis, higher osteopontin levels can indicate a worse prognosis.
Some of these tests are available, but others are still in development. Health care professionals may eventually use some of these tests to screen for mesothelioma in people who have not yet developed any symptoms. Screening tests can help improve outcomes by detecting cancer early, allowing for early treatment.
When you talk to your doctor about mesothelioma, ask about available tests. Whether seeking a diagnosis, considering treatment options or undergoing treatment, using newer biomarker tests can help you and your doctor make better decisions.
Recommended Reading
The Nation's Top Mesothelioma Guide
Get Compensation You Deserve
Immunotherapy & Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
Did this article help you?
How did this article help you?
What about this article isn’t helpful for you?
Did this article help you?
Thank you for your feedback. Would you like to speak with a Patient Advocate?
