Insights About Cell Proteins that Fuel Mesothelioma Tumors May Lead to Advances in Cancer Treatment

Medical researchers at the University of Maryland are gaining insights into the growth of mesothelioma tumors that may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for individuals with peritoneal mesothelioma.

 Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the lining of the abdomen caused by ingestion of asbestos. There is a great variability in how patients respond to peritoneal mesothelioma with some patients dying quickly and others living for lengthy periods of time. Patients usually don’t notice symptoms of  mesothelioma until decades after exposure to asbestos, a mineral fiber widely used in building materials.

Using samples of tumors obtained from cancer patients who underwent surgery for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, Drs. H. Richard Alexander, a surgeon, and Sheelu Varghese, a research scientist, employ sophisticated assay techniques to analyze the cancer cells and understand what causes mesothelioma tumors to grow.

The researchers published findings in 2011 that there is a family of related proteins that are present in large numbers of peritoneal mesothelioma cells. Their research suggested that patients with higher quantities of certain proteins had faster growing cancerous tumors and shorter survival. Two proteins identified in abundance in peritoneal mesothelioma tumors were P13CA and RICTOR.

The researchers hypothesize that the mesothelioma tumors are addicted to these proteins for survival.  If true, blocking the proteins may starve the mesothelioma tumors and slow or stop their growth. The Maryland researchers current work is focused on determining whether their hypothesis is accurate.

Drs. Varghese and Alexander are testing a potent inhibitor of these proteins in the laboratory. They observed that the inhibitor prevents malignant peritoneal mesothelioma tumor growth in laboratory mice. Based on these promising findings, the inhibitor may be used in clinical trials soon.

Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people a year are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Most are older workers, retired workers and veterans who were exposed to asbestos decades ago in a workplace or in the service.

For more information about mesothelioma, click here.