Mesothelioma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Mesothelioma, including details on asbestos, symptoms, treatment, causes.

Molecular imaging of mesothelioma by detection of manganese-superoxide dismutase activity using manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Hasegawa S, Koshikawa-Yano M, Saito S, Morokoshi Y, Furukawa T, Aoki I, Saga T

Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Inage-ku, Chiba, Japan. shase@nirs.go.jp

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a fatal malignancy with a rapidly increasing incidence in industrialized countries because of the widespread use of asbestos in the past centuries. Early diagnosis of MM is critical for a better prognosis, but this is often difficult because of the lack of disease-specific diagnostic imaging. Here, we report that manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) represents a promising approach for a more selective mesothelioma imaging by monitoring a high-level expression of manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), which is observed in many MM. We found that most human MM cells overexpressed Mn-SOD protein compared with human mesothelial cells and that NCI-H226 human MM cells highly expressed Mn-SOD and augmented Mn accumulation when loaded with manganese chloride (MnCl(2)). The cells showed marked T(1)-signal enhancement on in vitro MRI after incubation with MnCl(2) because of the T(1) shortening effect of Mn(2+). H226 subcutaneous tumor was preferentially enhanced compared with a lung adenocarcinoma cell tumor and another human MM cell tumor in MnCl(2)-enhanced T(1)-weighted MR image (T(1)WI), correlating with their respective Mn-SOD expression levels. Moreover, in a more clinically relevant setting, H226 xenografted pleural tumor was markedly enhanced and readily detected by MEMRI using manganese dipyridoxyl diphosphate (MnDPDP), a clinically used contrast agent, as well as MnCl(2). Therefore, we propose that MEMRI can be a potentially powerful method for noninvasive detection of MM, with high spatial resolution and marked signal enhancement, by targeting Mn-SOD.

Published 9 March 2011 in Int J Cancer, 128(9): 2138-46.
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Articles on Mesothelioma published 21 February 2011:

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell polarity and stemness-associated features in malignant pleural mesothelioma.   Cancer Lett, 302(2): 136-43.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the fundamental process by which an epithelial cell loses its epithelial characteristics including cell polarity and acquires mesenchymal and stemness-related features. Therefore, we investigated whether malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPMs) histologies were associated with specific patterns of expression of a selected set of genes related to EMT, cell polarity and stemness features. The association between MPM histologies and genes expression were ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Establishment of a cell line from a Japanese patient useful for generating an in vivo model of malignant pleural mesothelioma.   Cancer Sci, 102(3): 648-55.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a refractory tumor with increasing incidence. In the present study, we established six mesothelioma cell lines possessing two allele deletions of the p16(INK4A) gene and one allele deletion of the neurofibromatosis type 2 gene, MM16, MM21, MM26, MM35, MM46 and MM56, from pleural effusion fluids or surgically resected tumors of Japanese patients. MM21, MM26 and MM46 cells failed to develop tumors in BALB/c-nude mice following subcutaneous inoculation. MM16 and ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell polarity and stemness-associated features in malignant pleural mesothelioma.   Cancer Lett, 302(2): 136-43.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the fundamental process by which an epithelial cell loses its epithelial characteristics including cell polarity and acquires mesenchymal and stemness-related features. Therefore, we investigated whether malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPMs) histologies were associated with specific patterns of expression of a selected set of genes related to EMT, cell polarity and stemness features. The association between MPM histologies and genes expression were ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Mesothelioma published 4 February 2011:

The expression of CXCR4, CXCL12 and CXCR7 in malignant pleural mesothelioma.   J Pathol, 223(4): 519-30.

The chemokine CXCL12 and its receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7, are involved in tumour progression, metastasis, and survival. We investigated the expression of CXCR4, CXCL12, and CXCR7 in malignant pleural mesothelioma to determine if they are possible biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Forty-one mesothelioma tumour tissues, ten normal human pleural tissues, and two mesothelioma cell lines were stained with anti-CXCR4, anti-CXCL12, anti-CXCR7, and anti-p-Akt antibodies. RT-PCR was performed ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

The expression of CXCR4, CXCL12 and CXCR7 in malignant pleural mesothelioma.   J Pathol, 223(4): 519-30.

The chemokine CXCL12 and its receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7, are involved in tumour progression, metastasis, and survival. We investigated the expression of CXCR4, CXCL12, and CXCR7 in malignant pleural mesothelioma to determine if they are possible biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Forty-one mesothelioma tumour tissues, ten normal human pleural tissues, and two mesothelioma cell lines were stained with anti-CXCR4, anti-CXCL12, anti-CXCR7, and anti-p-Akt antibodies. RT-PCR was performed ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Mesothelioma published 1 February 2011:

A systematic review of lung-sparing extirpative surgery for pleural mesothelioma.   J R Soc Med, 104(2): 69-80.

[Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Mesothelioma published 28 January 2011:

Expert opinions of the first italian consensus conference on the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma.   Am J Clin Oncol, 34(1): 99-109.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a very important public health issue. A large amount of data indicates a relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. The incidence has both considerably and constantly increased over the past 2 decades in the industrialized countries and is expected to peak in 2010-2020. In Italy, a standardized-rate incidence in 2002 among men was 2.98 per 100,000 and 0.98 per 100,000 among women, with wide differences from one region to another. Stage ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Phase II study of gemcitabine plus docetaxel as second-line treatment in malignant pleural mesothelioma: a single institution study.   Am J Clin Oncol, 34(1): 38-42.

[Abstract] [Full-text]

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