Developing Mesothelioma - Part 3:
Mesothelioma is a devastating disease. While many people may know that they’ve faced asbestos exposure through work or the environment, it can still often take thirty to forty years to see the long-term consequences fully. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, a deadly cancer of the tissue that lines the body’s internal organs, including the abdomen and lungs. The most common type of mesothelioma is malignant pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. In this blog post, we’ll continue our discussion about the development of mesothelioma from Parts I and II.
The Development of Mesothelioma
Scientists know that asbestos fibers, once inhaled or ingested, are surprisingly resistant in the human body. The fibers become lodged in the lungs, abdomen, or other organs and remain there for decades, triggering slow but deadly inflammation and damage. Despite knowing this, medical researchers don’t fully understand exactly how these fibers hijacked the body’s normal functioning, leading to mesothelioma and other cancers.In a recent study in Nature Communications, scientists from the University of Cambridge and the University of Glasgow looked at the pathogenesis or development of mesothelioma in more detail. They concluded that somehow asbestos “dysregulates” the mRNA translation during cellular reproduction, leading to genetic mutations and abnormalities. Mesothelioma tumors contain genetic mutations and abnormalities that seem to result in a “decrease in tumour suppressor gene function.” When these “tumour suppressor” genes don’t function as well, cancer cells can aggressively reproduce unchecked, leading to mesothelioma.
Results of the Study
The study found that mesothelioma tumors show increased “protein synthesis rates,” and “elevated levels of mRNA translation,” leading researchers to believe that “aberrant mRNA translation leads to upregulation in the synthesis of mitochondrial proteins and components of the translation apparatus.”While current standard treatments for mesothelioma include radical surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, the study’s results offer some promising new avenues for targeted therapeutic research. The study’s authors conclude that targeting mRNA translation could provide a viable alternative treatment for mesothelioma.
You Need Trusted Legal Guidance
If you or a loved one have a mesothelioma diagnosis, this isn’t something you have to handle alone. You may be entitled to compensation, and you need legal guidance you can trust. Give the experienced lawyers at the Madeksho Law Firm a call at 1-888-910-MESO (6376) or contact us online. You never pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf, and your consultation is free.
