Abstract
Objective: To determine osteopontin and soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) levels in malignant mesothelioma (MM) patients, in subjects with pleural plaques (PP) due to environmental asbestos exposure and in healthy subjects with environmental asbestos exposure.
Methods: Blood samples were taken from 279 residents from villages close to ophiolitic units (OU) (serpentin asbest containing) with PP on chest X-ray, 123 healthy subjects from villages close to OU, 120 healthy subjects from villages >26 km distant to OU and 24 MM patients.
Results: Mean serum osteopontin levels for MM, PP, asbestos-exposed healthy subjects and healthy subjects not exposed to asbestos were 21.207, 8.956, 9.453 and 9.725 ng/L respectively. Mean serum SMRP levels for MM, PP, asbestos-exposed healthy subjects and healthy subjects not exposed to asbestos were 4.59, 1.10, 1.11 and 1.12 ng/L respectively. Mean levels of both biomarkers were significantly higher in MM patients. The comparisons of biomarkers levels between the other three groups revealed no significant difference. Area under ROC curve was 0.86, sensitivity 75%, specificity 86% for osteopontin (cutoff value:17.273 ng/L) detecting MM. Area under ROC curve was 0.75, sensitivity 58%, specificity 83% for SMRP (cutoff value:1.63 ng/L) detecting MM. No difference was found between the areas under ROC curves of the two biomarkers in the diagnosis of MM.
Conclusion: Osteopontin and SMRP levels are higher in MM patients than in subjects with PP and healthy subjects with environmental asbestos exposure. The two biomarkers have no superiority to each other.
- © 2011 ERS
