bims-mesote 2025-07-20 papers

bims-mesote

Biomed News

on Mesothelioma

Issue of 2025–07–20
seven papers selected by
Laura Mannarino, Humanitas Research

Pleural mesothelioma incidence and use of systemic treatment decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Netherlands.
Facilitators and barriers to early diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma: A qualitative study of patients' experiences towards getting a diagnosis.
microRNA-497-5p-based screening identifies a novel synthetic lethal-type interaction via PKMYT1 and WEE1 in pleural mesothelioma.
The Evolving Role of Chemotherapy in the Management of Pleural Malignancies: Current Evidence and Future Directions.
Sarcomatoid diffuse pleural mesothelioma in an 80-year-Old woman with long-term response to nivolumab plus ipilimumab: A case report.
Young-onset epithelioid type malignant peritoneal mesothelioma with loss of BAP1 gene expression.
Assessment of asbestos exposure in Kyrgyzstan through analysis of raw and processed materials, air samples and human lung tissue.

Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 16. 15(1): 25677

Pleural mesothelioma incidence and use of systemic treatment decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Netherlands.

Illaa Smesseim, Li-Anne H Douma, Jacobus A Burgers, Ronald A M Damhuis.

  Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a lethal cancer often linked to asbestos exposure. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global health crisis, raising concerns about its impact on cancer diagnoses and treatments. In response to the immense pressures on the healthcare system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries advised prioritizing essential healthcare services while postponing or suspending care considered non-emergent to prevent overburdening healthcare systems. This study assesses the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence, treatment, and overall survival of PM patients in the Netherlands between 2018 and 2022. Data were collected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry for 2,629 PM patients. Incidence, treatment patterns, and survival rates were analyzed using statistical methods, including Kruskal-Wallis and log-rank tests. PM incidence dropped 13.2% in 2020 during the pandemic, with a 58.8% increase in patients receiving best supportive care and a decline in chemotherapy use (from 39.4% to 32.0%). In 2021, diagnoses rebounded (+ 15.2%), and immunotherapy use rose following its approval. However, no significant difference in overall survival was found between 2018 and 2022. COVID-19 led to a temporary decline in PM diagnoses and systemic treatments in 2020, followed by recovery in 2021. Despite these changes, overall survival rates remained stable.

Keywords:   Asbestos; Covid-19; Pandemic; Pleural mesothelioma; Mesothelioma

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10054-6
Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2025 Jul 09. pii: S1462-3889(25)00151-6. [Epub ahead of print]77 102927

Facilitators and barriers to early diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma: A qualitative study of patients' experiences towards getting a diagnosis.

Osaretin Oviasu, Dawn Coleby, Wendy Padley, Rakesh K Panchal, Kathryn Hinsliff-Smith.

   PURPOSE: Prognosis with pleural mesothelioma (PM) is poor, yet evidence indicates a better chance of survival and quality of life if diagnosed earlier. There has been little attention to PM patients' experiences prior to diagnosis as available studies have focused on their lived experiences after diagnosis. This study aims to qualitatively explore and identify the barriers and facilitators to PM diagnosis and looks to understand the reasons for any variability in patients' experiences along their diagnosis journey and proposed treatment plans.
METHODS: Seventeen participants with confirmed PM diagnosis took part in in-depth, semi-structured interviews about their journey to diagnosis. Participants were purposively recruited from two specialist PM outpatient clinics in England. The interview data were analysed using framework analysis underpinned by the Model of Pathway to treatment.
RESULTS: Our findings identified 15 different barriers and facilitators across the four intervals within the model. Within the appraisal and diagnostic intervals, the presentation of vague symptoms that were mistaken for a less serious illness were a considerable barrier. Health literacy regarding PM had an impact on how soon a patient sought help regarding their symptoms and how quickly they were placed on a PM diagnostic pathway by the healthcare professionals (HCP), and this was impacted the HCP's knowledge of PM.
CONCLUSION: Earlier symptom recognition by both patient and those in initial contact such as General practitioners (GPs) and other HCPs, can be used to target significant and avoidable delays along the pathway, thereby promoting earlier diagnosis and treatment options.

Keywords:  Barriers; Delay; Early diagnosis; Facilitators; General practice; Healthcare professionals; Mesothelioma; Pleural mesothelioma; Qualitative; United Kingdom

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2025.102927
Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2025 Sep 09. 36(3): 102610

microRNA-497-5p-based screening identifies a novel synthetic lethal-type interaction via PKMYT1 and WEE1 in pleural mesothelioma.

Nathanael Pruett, Sierra Wilferd, Anand Singh, Agnes Y Choi, Shivani Dixit, Vivek Singh, Charlize Nguyen, Olivia Lin, David S Schrump, Christopher L Plaisier, Chuong D Hoang.

  Diffuse pleural mesothelioma (DPM) is an incurable surface neoplasm governed by tumor suppressor losses with limited therapeutic options. Despite the advantages of leveraging the tumor suppressive activity of microRNA (miRNA/miR), clinical translation remains limited due to incomplete understanding of their context-specific gene targets. Here, we employed a biotinylated-miRNA pull-down approach to systematically identify direct targets of miR-497-5p, an miRNA markedly downregulated in DPM. Surprisingly, multiple identified targets were not predicted by in silico algorithms. Using patient samples, cell lines, murine xenograft models, and our localized nanoparticle miRNA delivery platform, we validated miR-497-5p anti-tumor mechanisms, which consisted of pro-apoptotic and anti-cell-cycle effects. Of multiple additional gene associations to DPM biology, we identified a synthetic lethal-type interaction whereby miR-497-5p co-inhibits PKMYT1 and WEE1 cell-cycle kinases (G2/M regulators). They were significantly overexpressed (poorly prognostic) in DPM, suggesting an efficacious treatment regimen to be explored. We demonstrate the utility of experimentally deriving the miR-497-5p targetome, explaining its pathophysiological role in DPM and why it is a rational therapeutic for further development.

Keywords:  MT: Non-coding RNAs; apoptosis; cell cycle; mesothelioma; microRNA; nanocomposite hydrogel; synthetic lethality; tumor suppressor

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omtn.2025.102610
Cancers (Basel). 2025 Jun 25. pii: 2143. [Epub ahead of print]17(13):

The Evolving Role of Chemotherapy in the Management of Pleural Malignancies: Current Evidence and Future Directions.

Yuliya Semenova, Zhandos Burkitbayev, Nurtas Kalibekov, Alexandr Digay, Bakhyt Zhaxybayev, Oxana Shatkovskaya, Saule Khamzina, Dinara Zharlyganova, Zhuldyz Kuanysh, Almira Manatova.

  Pleural malignancies represent a clinically devastating group of oncological disorders, most commonly arising from metastatic disease, with lung and breast cancers being the most frequent primary sites. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a primary malignancy of the pleura and occurs less often than metastatic pleural disease. Pleural malignancies often present with malignant pleural effusion, which typically indicates advanced-stage disease and is associated with poor overall prognosis. Treatment of pleural malignancies includes both palliative and definitive approaches. Palliative interventions primarily aim to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Definitive treatments include systemic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, depending on the type and molecular profile of the underlying tumor. In mesothelioma, platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with pemetrexed remains the cornerstone of treatment, while the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab is recommended as first-line therapy for unresectable disease. For metastatic disease, systemic therapy is typically tailored to the primary tumor's characteristics. Intrapleural administration of chemotherapeutic agents is one of the therapeutic strategies and hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy and pressurized intrathoracic aerosol chemotherapy are the most recent innovations that are under active investigation. This review provides an up-to-date synthesis of systemic chemotherapy strategies for pleural malignancies, their integration with targeted and immune-based therapies, and recent advances in intrapleural chemotherapy modalities. It also explores existing knowledge gaps and outlines directions for future research and potential changes in clinical practice.

Keywords:  chemotherapy; hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy; immunotherapy; malignant pleural effusion; malignant pleural mesothelioma; pleural metastases; pressurized intrathoracic aerosol chemotherapy; targeted therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17132143
Respir Med Case Rep. 2025 ;56 102242

Sarcomatoid diffuse pleural mesothelioma in an 80-year-Old woman with long-term response to nivolumab plus ipilimumab: A case report.

Yukiko Yoshida, Hidenori Mizugaki, Yuma Sato, Ken Kuwahara, Noriyuki Yamada, Hajime Asahina, Hiroshi Yokouchi, Yoshihiro Matsuno, Satoshi Oizumi.

  An 80-year-old woman presented to our hospital with the chief complaint of left lateral thoracic pain. Chest computed tomography showed multiple nodular lesions in the left pleura and massive left pleural effusion. Based on clinical findings, imaging, and thoracoscopic pleural biopsy, a diagnosis of sarcomatoid diffuse pleural mesothelioma clinical T2N0M0 Stage IB was made. We administered nivolumab plus ipilimumab as first-line treatment, which resulted in significant reduction of pleural lesions and complete resolution of pleural effusion after two courses. No immune-mediated adverse events except fever were observed. Treatment was discontinued after 16 courses, with no disease recurrence for more than 2 years following the initial treatment. This case suggests that nivolumab plus ipilimumab can be an effective treatment option for older adults with pleural mesothelioma who maintain a good performance status.

Keywords:  Immunotherapy; Long-term response; Nivolumab plus ipilimumab; Older adult patient; Pleural mesothelioma

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmcr.2025.102242
BMJ Case Rep. 2025 Jul 16. pii: e264825. [Epub ahead of print]18(7):

Young-onset epithelioid type malignant peritoneal mesothelioma with loss of BAP1 gene expression.

Tobias Maharaj, Chris Steele, Hajnalka Gyorffy, Siobhan Nicholson, Lukasz Milewski, John J Aird, Jürgen Mulsow, Darren Cowzer.

  Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPeM) is a rare malignancy involving the abdominal peritoneum typically presenting after middle age with little known of survival in the young. We present a patient in his 20's with no known asbestos exposure diagnosed with epithelioid-type MPeM and loss of BAP1 gene expression. Our patient demonstrated diffuse unresectable disease at presentation. He had a poor response to first-line treatment carboplatin-pemetrexed chemotherapy followed by ipilimumab plus nivolumab immunotherapy in the second line and carboplatin plus gemcitabine in the third line. Our patient subsequently died 10 months after diagnosis. Despite our patient having favourable prognostic markers such as BAP1 loss in epithelioid subtype mesothelioma, our patient had poor treatment response and survival, highlighting the heterogeneity within this subgroup and likely alternative underlying factors impacting outcomes.

Keywords:  Chemotherapy; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Immunohistochemistry; Oncology; Surgical oncology

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2025-264825
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 11. 15(1): 25114

Assessment of asbestos exposure in Kyrgyzstan through analysis of raw and processed materials, air samples and human lung tissue.

Zhyldyz Kurzhunbaeva, Ruggero Vigliaturo, Giulia Pia Servetto, Barbara Bertoglio, Giovanni Cecchetto, Nurzhan Tulepbergenov, Ekaterina Mindiyarova, Rano Kasymova, Kenesh Dzhusupov, Silvana Capella, Elena Belluso, Claudio Colosio, Andrea Spinazzè, Domenico Maria Cavallo, Silvia Damiana Visonà.

  Asbestos still represents a major public health problem on a global scale. In Central Asia chrysotile is still mined and used, claiming that it is safer with respect to amphibole asbestos within certain concentrations. However, the problem of asbestos exposure in Central Asia and its consequences on human health have been poorly investigated. We analysed, for the first time, samples of raw and wrought material coming from one of the two asbestos-cement industries, currently active, located near the city of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as well as air samples collected on different sites of Bishkek and Kant and lung tissues taken from the general population during clinical autopsies. Air samples have been analyzed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Heavy air asbestos pollution was detected in Kant (30.2 ff/L), while Bishkek had lower levels. Lung tissue analysis in the general population, carried out using both SEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with EDS, revealed the presence of both chrysotile and amphibole asbestos. Such findings underline that, even in countries where the use of asbestos is allowed based on the presumed pureness of chrysotile used and the lower carcinogenic potential of chrysotile compared to amphibole asbestos, the general population could be exposed also to amphibole asbestos.

Keywords:  Amphibole asbestos; Asbestos; Asbestos air pollution; Asbestos lung burden; Central Asia; Chrysotile

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10736-1