Researchers at NYU Validate Mesothelioma Test

March 1, 2007 - An article in New York University’s Washington Square News outlines the success of NYU School of Medicine researcher Harvey Pass and his team in validating a recently- produced test that monitors mesothelioma.

A press release issued by NYU states that “doctors have suspected for some time that mesothelioma can be detected by the presence of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRP).” 

“The research confirms that these proteins are released into the blood stream by diseased cells, justifying the screening test for the proteins,” says the press release.

"This is an illness that can kill patients in 12 months if detected too late," Pass said. "This test could detect mesothelioma earlier and patients could live longer."

The test was developed by Fujirebio Diagnostics and is known as the MesoMark™ Assay.  It is the only in-vitro test that monitors mesothelioma.  According to scientists at Fujirebio, the test “measures proteins within the blood that reflect changes in the patient's tumor volume, which is a key factor for monitoring patient status and response to therapy.”

According to Dr. Pass, the patients included in the study “had significantly higher amounts of SMRP than those in the control group with asbestos exposure and other cancers. As the disease progressed to more advanced stages in the diagnosed mesothelioma patients, the SMRP levels were found to be increasing.”

Currently, mesothelioma carries only a 10 percent survival rate, so Pass hopes that this study will be able to improve that number as well as enhance the quality of life for mesothelioma patients.