Mesothelioma Law Firm

Mesothelioma Law Firm
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is linked to exposure to asbestos. Although malignant, mesothelioma remains a relatively uncommon malignancy, it continues to represent an important cause of mortality in numerous areas worldwide; eg, England, Wales, continental Europe, and Australia. Recent estimates suggest that in coming decades, as much as 1% of deaths among men in the United Kingdom currently aged 49-54 may be due to mesothelioma.1 Age standardized incidence rates for mesothelioma in men range from around 8 per 100,000 in Scotland, England, and The Netherlands; 2-4 per 100,000 in France, Italy, and Germany; and 1 per 100,000 in Spain.2 The corresponding rate for Australia is estimated to be around 6 per 100,000.3 The disease is more likely to occur in men than in women.

There are 3 classifications of mesothelioma:

Pleural — cancer in the chest cavity.

Peritoneal — cancer that starts in the abdomen. (This classification is a form that represents between 10-20% of the mesotheliomas diagnosed.)

Pericardial — cancer in the cavity around the heart. (The most rare form of mesothelioma.)


The first in vitro diagnostic test for patients with mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which fluid accumulates in the lungs and chest cavity. Mesothelioma can also be found in the lining of the pleural cavity of the abdomen. It is primarily caused by work-related asbestos exposure, and it is estimated that 10,000 new cases are diagnosed each year among industrialized countries. Malignant mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Read more about mesothelioma here.

The MESOMARK assay is a manual enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantitative measurement of Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptides (SMRP). SMRP is a biomarker that is released into the bloodstream by mesothelioma cells. SMRP can be elevated years before an actual diagnosis of mesothelioma is made. By measuring the amount of SMRP present in the bloodstream, the MESOMARK assay will help physicians routinely monitor individuals with the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.