A panel of biomarkers discovered and validated using SomaLogic's SOMAscan proteomic technology could help with early detection of malignant plural mesothelioma. This aggressive lung cancer can develop decades after prolonged contact with asbestos.
The researchers from SomaLogic, NYU Langone Medical Center and other institutions used the SOMAscan technology to compare serum samples from people who had been exposed to asbestos or who had malignant pleural mesothelioma and spot changes that could be linked to the disease. This "snapshot" of the proteins in the blood resulted in a panel of 13 inflammation and cell proliferation proteins linked with early stages of the disease.
Malignant plural mesothelioma is rare and symptoms often don't appear until the disease is established, meaning that patients are often not spotted until the disease is advanced and hard to treat. A blood biomarker-based test would make it a lot easier to screen patients who might be at risk, allowing them to be treated much earlier.
"By measuring changes in blood concentration of a series of proteins we can potentially catch mesothelioma at an earlier stage," said Rachel Ostroff, clinical research director at SomaLogic. "Our efforts are now focused on further development of this approach, and how best to get it rapidly into clinical use for the sake of individuals who can benefit from earlier detection of this devastating disease."
- read the press release from SomaLogic
- see the paper
- check out the press release from PLoS ONE