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Richard Lake

Publications and source records attributed to Richard Lake.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Soluble mesothelin-related protein--a blood test for mesothelioma.

Identification of tumor marker for mesothelioma (MM) might prove useful in diagnosis as well as for monitoring tumor in response to therapy and for screening at-risk individuals. We tested the hypothesis that soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP), a mesothelin family member, in the serum would be such a marker. Our data show that determination of SMRP in serum is a marker of MM with a sensitivity of sensitivity 83% and specificity 95% in the first 48 MM patients tested. Changes in serum SMRP levels parallel clinical course/tumor size and SMRP is elevated in 75% of patients at diagnosis. SMRP should also be useful for monitoring disease progression, and importantly, may prove useful for screening asbestos-exposed individuals for early MM.

Adult↗

Mesothelin-family proteins and diagnosis of mesothelioma.

BACKGROUND: Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive tumour for which there are no reliable serum tumour markers. Identification of such a marker would be useful in diagnosis of mesothelioma and for monitoring responses to treatment and screening at-risk individuals. METHODS: We assayed serum concentrations of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMR) using a double determinant (sandwich) ELISA in a blinded study of serum samples from 44 patients with histologically proven mesothelioma; 68 matched healthy controls, 40 of whom had been exposed to asbestos; and 160 patients with other inflammatory or malignant lung and pleural diseases. FINDINGS: 37 (84%) of 44 patients with mesothelioma had raised concentrations of SMR at a serum dilution of 1/80, compared with three (2%) of 160 patients with other cancers or other inflammatory lung or pleural diseases, and with none of 28 controls who had not been exposed to asbestos. SMR concentrations correlated with tumour size and increased during tumour progression. Seven of the 40 asbestos-exposed individuals had increased serum concentrations of SMR; three of those seven developed mesothelioma and one developed lung carcinoma within 1-5 years. None of the 33 asbestos-exposed participants whose serum samples had normal concentrations of SMR and who were followed up over 8 years developed mesothelioma. INTERPRETATION: Determination of SMR in serum could be a useful marker for diagnosis of mesothelioma and to monitor disease progression. It might also prove helpful for screening asbestos-exposed individuals for early evidence of mesothelioma.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Culturing mouse peritoneal mesothelial cells.

Obtaining normal cells has become increasingly important for use in comparative genetic analytical techniques to examine alterations in gene expression during transformation and progression into malignancy. Normal mesothelial cells are not currently available in cell banks and are essential for comparison of genetic expression analysis in current mouse mesothelioma models. The purpose of this investigation was to extract normal mouse peritoneal mesothelial cells using minimal culture techniques to obtain sufficient cells for gene expression analysis. Mesothelial cells were collected from the mouse peritoneal cavity in vivo with minimal contamination of lymphocytes and macrophages. The cells were cultured for approximately eight days until they were just confluent and retained normal mesothelial phenotype and cytokeratin immunoperoxidase staining.

Animals↗

Insulin.

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Diabetes Mellitus↗