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Cureus 2022 May 24;14(5):e25285. Epub 2022 May 24.

Diabetes and Endocrinology, Royal United Hospital, Bath, GBR.

Hypophosphatemia can be commonly encountered as an electrolyte imbalance and is defined as a value less than 0.8 mmol/l (2.5 mg/dl). Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2022 Jun 23:166473. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Middle East Technical University, Department of Biological Sciences, Ankara, Turkey; Altinbas University, Faculty of Medicine, Biophysics Department, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address:

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), an aggressive cancer associated with exposure to fibrous minerals, can only be diagnosed in the advanced stage because its early symptoms are also connected with other respiratory diseases. Hence, understanding the molecular mechanism and the discrimination of MPM from other lung diseases at an early stage is important to apply effective treatment strategies and for the increase in survival rate. This study aims to develop a new approach for characterization and diagnosis of MPM among lung diseases from serum by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) coupled with multivariate analysis. Read More

J Transl Med 2022 Jun 25;20(1):286. Epub 2022 Jun 25.

Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare orphan aggressive neoplasia with low survival rates. Among the other signaling pathways, ErbB receptors and Hh signaling are deregulated in MM. Thus, molecules involved in these signaling pathways could be used for targeted therapy approaches. Read More

J Thorac Oncol 2022 Jul;17(7):862-864

Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Electronic address:

Swiss Med Wkly 2022 Apr 1;152:w30164. Epub 2022 May 1.

Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Objective: We investigated the possibility of linking the data of the Swiss Laboratory for Particle Analysis (Silag), a valuable but incomplete data source in the field of asbestos-related diseases, to the Swiss National Cohort (SNC). With the resulting comprehensive dataset, we intended to provide a source for further research in the field. We also conducted preliminary analyses of data focusing on occupations and regional distribution of malignant pleural mesothelioma cases. Read More

J Clin Med 2022 Jun 13;11(12). Epub 2022 Jun 13.

Department of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.

Objectives: we investigated the prevalence and associated factors of depression and complicated grief (CG) among bereaved family members of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients in Japan.

Methods: Bereaved family members of MPM patients ( = 72) were surveyed. The Japanese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Japanese version of the Brief Grief Questionnaire (BGQ) were used to assess depression and complicated grief (CG), respectively. Read More

J Clin Med 2022 Jun 10;11(12). Epub 2022 Jun 10.

Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery, G.B. Morgagni-L. Pierantoni Hospital, Via Carlo Forlanini n.34, 47121 Forlì, Italy.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive asbestos-related tumour with poor prognosis. To date, a multimodality treatment, including chemotherapy and surgery, with or without radiotherapy, is the gold standard therapy for selected patients with epithelioid and early-stage MPM. In this setting, the goal of surgery is to achieve the macroscopic complete resection, obtained by either extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy/decortication. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jun 12;23(12). Epub 2022 Jun 12.

Biochemistry Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy.

The majority of transcribed RNAs do not codify for proteins, nevertheless they display crucial regulatory functions by affecting the cellular protein expression profile. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are effectors of interfering mechanisms, so that their biogenesis is a tightly regulated process. Onconase (ONC) is an amphibian ribonuclease known for cytotoxicity against tumors and antiviral activity. Read More

Cells 2022 Jun 10;11(12). Epub 2022 Jun 10.

Human Physiology Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer of the pleural surface and is associated with previous asbestos exposure. The chemotherapy drug is one of the main treatments, but the median survival ranges from 8 to 14 months from diagnosis. The redox homeostasis of tumor cells should be carefully considered since elevated levels of ROS favor cancer cell progression (proliferation and migration), while a further elevation leads to ferroptosis. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2022 Jun 8;14(12). Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Third Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Sotiria Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.

Mesothelioma, a malignant neoplasm of mesothelial cells, has overall poor prognosis. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are proteins that contribute to the immune response. In this study the clinical utility and prognostic significance of serum and pleural fluid soluble CAM (sCAM) levels were assessed in patients with mesothelioma. Read More

BMC Cancer 2022 Jun 23;22(1):693. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Bristol Myers Squibb, Braine-L'Alleud, Belgium.

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive and rare tumour with poor prognosis. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease and there is a paucity of data on the humanistic burden of MPM in terms of impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and activity. This study examined real-world treatment patterns and humanistic disease burden of MPM in Europe. Read More

Semin Nucl Med 2022 Jun 20. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC; Department of Medicine, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address:

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Accurate staging at initial diagnosis determines appropriate treatment and is the most important predictor of survival. Since 2018, the 8th edition of the TNM staging system has been used to stage lung cancer based on local tumor extent (T), nodal involvement (N), and metastases (M). Read More

Langenbecks Arch Surg 2022 Jun 23. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Hospital Barmherzige Brüder, Regensburg, Germany.

Purpose: This single-center study evaluated cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM).

Methods: Prospectively collected data from a single institution data registry was retrospectively investigated. Eighty-four patients with primary malignant peritoneal mesothelioma underwent CRS and HIPEC with cisplatin and doxorubicin either for 60 min or 90 min of duration from 2011 to 2021. Read More

BMJ Open 2022 Jun 22;12(6):e062907. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC Kanker Instituut, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Introduction: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare, aggressive tumour arising primarily from the peritoneum. The only potentially curative treatment is cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). However, the majority of patients are not eligible to undergo this treatment. Read More

Environ Health 2022 Jun 18;21(1):60. Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Cancer Epidemiology Unit, CPO Piemonte and University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

Background: The Italian mesothelioma registry (ReNaM) estimates mesothelioma incidence and addresses its etiology by assessing cases' exposures but cannot provide relative risk estimates.

Objectives: i) To estimate pleural mesothelioma relative risk by industry and occupation and by ReNaM categories of asbestos exposure; and ii) to provide quantitative estimates of the exposure-response relationship.

Methods: A population-based mesothelioma case-control study was conducted in 2012-2014 in five Italian regions. Read More

Am J Surg Pathol 2022 Jun 20. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Departments of Pathology.

Localized malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare tumor with limited information in the literature. In this study, we present our experience with 18 cases seen in our hospital over a period of 43 years (1978 to 2021). Patients' median age was 55 years (y) (range: 33 to 79 y) and most of them were Caucasians. Read More

Life Sci 2022 Jun 13;304:120716. Epub 2022 Jun 13.

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA. Electronic address:

Introduction: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare malignancy affecting the mesothelial cells in the pleural lining surrounding the lungs. First approved chemotherapy against MPM was a platinum/antifolate (cisplatin/pemetrexed) (2003). Since then, no USFDA approvals have gone through for small molecules as these molecules have not been proven to be therapeutically able in later stages of clinical studies. Read More

Thorac Cancer 2022 Jun 15. Epub 2022 Jun 15.

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.

Large cell lung cancer metastases to the testis are scarce, although it is the most common malignancy and the most common site of metastases for breast, colorectal and kidney cancers. We hereby report a 28-year-old male patient admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of scrotal enlargement, accompanied by chest pain and progressive dyspnea. The definite diagnosis was malignant pleural mesothelioma with the synchronous occurrence of large cell lung cancer with testicular metastasis. Read More

Transl Cancer Res 2022 May;11(5):1451-1456

Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Division, Guiqian International General Hospital, Guiyang, China.

Background: Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma (PMPM) is a highly malignant tumor originating in the pericardium serosum with clinical manifestations presenting as constrictive pericarditis, with pericardial tamponade and heart failure. Malignant pericardial mesothelioma is rare and has a poor prognosis, with an average survival time of 6-10 months.

Case Description: Herein, we report the case of a 57-year-old female who developed chest tightness and panic for no obvious reason. Read More

EClinicalMedicine 2022 Jun 19;48:101432. Epub 2022 May 19.

Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.

Background: Currently, there is no US Food and Drug Administration approved therapy for patients with pleural mesothelioma who have relapsed following platinum-doublet based chemotherapy. Vinorelbine has demonstrated useful clinical activity in mesothelioma, however its efficacy has not been formally evaluated in a randomised setting. BRCA1 expression is required for vinorelbine induced apoptosis in preclinical models. Read More

JCO Precis Oncol 2022 Jun;6:e2100422

Foundation Medicine Inc, Cambridge, MA.

Purpose: Mesothelioma is an aggressive malignancy with heterogeneous outcomes that are partly driven by the differential efficacy of existing therapies across histologic types and sites of origin. Large-scale molecular analysis of mesothelioma and its subtypes has the potential to inform future therapeutic strategies.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed 1,294 mesotheliomas {980 pleural (malignant pleural mesothelioma [MPM]) and 314 peritoneal (malignant peritoneal mesothelioma [MPeM])} using next-generation sequencing, determined programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression and histology in a subset of cases, and assessed copy-number status by fluorescence in situ hybridization and T-cell infiltration in an independent cohort. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2022 May 25;102(24):1786-1789. Epub 2022 May 25.

Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine/Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.

Based on the clinical evidence obtained during the past decade, we reviewed herein the evidences in the treatment of 5 types of common pleural diseases. (1) Therapeutic pleural interventions are not recommended for patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) who are asymptomatic. In patients with symptomatic MPE, large-volume thoracentesis should be performed in MPE patients to figure out if the patient's symptoms are related to the effusion and/or if the lung is expandable; if so, indwelling pleural catheters and/or talc pleurodesis can be used as first-line definitive intervention. Read More

Arch Bronconeumol 2021 Aug;57(8):543

Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address:

Balkan Med J 2022 Jun 13. Epub 2022 Jun 13.

Lung and Pleural Cancers Research and Clinical Center, Eskişehir Osmangazi University Eskişehir, Turkey.

Background: miRNAs are involved in tumor pathogenesis and can therefore be determined in the primary tumor, plasma and serum, and body fluids. As in various cancers, their role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) may be important.

Aims: To analyze the predictive value of miR-16-5p, miR-29c-3p, miR-31-5p, miR-125a-5p, miR-320a, miR-484 and miR-532-5p expressions for diagnosis, prognosis and response to treatment in patients with MPM. Read More

BMC Cancer 2022 Jun 10;22(1):639. Epub 2022 Jun 10.

Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma, a tumor arising from the membrane covering the lungs and the inner side of the ribs, is a cancer in which genetic alterations of genes encoding proteins that act on or are part of the Hippo-YAP1 signaling pathway are frequent. Dysfunctional Hippo signaling may result in aberrant activation of the transcriptional coactivator protein YAP1, which binds to and activates transcription factors of the TEAD family. Recent studies have associated elevated YAP1 protein activity with a poor prognosis of malignant mesothelioma and its resistance to current therapies, but its role in tumor maintenance is unclear. Read More

J Clin Med 2022 Jun 6;11(11). Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Department of Thoracic Surgery, ASST Monza, San Gerardo Hospital, 20900 Monza, Italy.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive disease whose diagnosis could be challenging and confusing. It could occur with atypical presentations on every examined level. Here, we present three unconventional cases of the complex diagnostic process of MPM that we have experienced during routine practice: a patient with reactive mesothelial hyperplasia mimicking MPM, an unexpected presentation of MPM with persistent unilateral hydropneumothorax, a rare case of MPM in situ. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2022 May 29;14(11). Epub 2022 May 29.

Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.

Positron emission tomography combined with x-ray computed tomography (PET-CT) is an advanced imaging modality with oncologic applications that include staging, therapy assessment, restaging, and surveillance. This six-part series of review articles provides practical information to providers and imaging professionals regarding the best use of PET-CT for the more common adult malignancies. The second article of this series addresses primary thoracic malignancy and breast cancer. Read More

BMC Gastroenterol 2022 Jun 9;22(1):292. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

Background: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare disease characterized by atypical symptoms, difficult diagnosis, variable course and poor prognosis, and it develops mainly in elderly individuals. The authors aimed to identify the clinical-pathological characteristics, prognosis, and prognostic factors in elderly MPM patients.

Methods: From the National Cancer Institute Surveillance Epidemiology End Results (SEER) database, 1492 patients with MPM from 1975 to 2016 were selected and divided into the elderly group (≥ 65) and the adult group (< 65). Read More

Cancer Immunol Res 2022 Jun 9. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States.

Activation of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway promotes antitumor immunity but STING agonists have yet to achieve clinical success. Increased understanding of the mechanism of action of STING agonists in human tumors is key to developing therapeutic combinations that activate effective innate antitumor immunity. Here, we report that malignant pleural mesothelioma cells robustly express STING and are responsive to STING agonist treatment ex vivo. Read More