Mesothelioma: "Prospective real-time validation of prognostic molecular biomarkers is critically needed to identify mesothelioma patients who will benefit from aggressive surgical resection"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23160333

J Thorac Oncol. 2012 Dec;7(16 Suppl 5):S399-400. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0b013e31826df254.

Mesothelioma.

Tsao AS.

Source

University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

It is evident from the growing body of literature and studies that mesothelioma patients can benefit from individualized therapy and identification of predictive and prognostic biomarkers. Gene mutations identify distinct populations of patients and may ultimately guide therapeutic decisions as these driver-mutation tumors may have a different natural biology. Screening serum markers for mesothelioma remain under development, but SMRP can be used postoperatively to identify recurrent disease. Prospective real-time validation of prognostic molecular biomarkers is critically needed to identify mesothelioma patients who will benefit from aggressive surgical resection. Trials in unresectable mesothelioma patients need to be designed with translation correlates that identify predictive biomarkers for novel agents and commonly used chemotherapies. Future development of immunotherapy-based regimens may further advance the field.