Mesothelial Cell Antibody

Mesothelioma, a form of cancer caused by previous exposure to asbestos, causes malignant cells to flourish within the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the internal organs of the body. Mesothelioma is most commonly found in the pleura, but it may also occur in the pericardium or peritoneum. When asbestos fibers deposit in the parenchyma of the lung, they penetrate the visceral pleura, from where the fiber can then be carried to the pleural surface, leading to the development of malignant mesothelial plaques. Shortness of breath, cough and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of Mesothelioma, but may not appear until 20 to 50 years after an initial exposure to asbestos. Because Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive tumor that is generally deadly, treatments using conventional therapies are not successful, limiting patients to a median survival time of 6-12 months after presentation. Markers for Mesothelioma are useful in the study of function and behavior of this tissue.