TY - JOUR
T1 - Implementation of a molecular epidemiology approach to human pleural malignant mesothelioma
AU - Puntoni, Riccardo
AU - Filiberti, Rosangela
AU - Cerrano, Paolo G.
AU - Neri, Monica
AU - Andreatta, Rossana
AU - Bonassi, Stefano
PY - 2003/11
Y1 - 2003/11
N2 - The carcinogenic effect of asbestos has been reported in the literature since 40 years, and early studies describing the epidemic occurrence of malignant mesothelioma (MM) in asbestos workers, have become a paradigm of occupational cancer research. Research on MM was abandoned for many years since MM was considered as an asbestos-related disease, interesting only from a perspective of disease control and preventive policies. The introduction of new biological endpoints in the epidemiological studies has boosted research in the field, providing new tools for the study of emerging priority in cancer research and in public health. This approach, known as molecular epidemiology has a great potential in the study of MM, contributing to the understanding of susceptibility factors, to the evaluation of cancer risk in people occupationally or environmentally exposed to carcinogens, and to the enhancement of diagnosis and therapy. A comprehensive approach based on the use of banks of biological samples is presented and its advantages discussed here. The application of innovative endpoints, such as oncoproteins in biologic fluids, genetic polimorphisms, or gene function is discussed, and relevant literature reviewed.
AB - The carcinogenic effect of asbestos has been reported in the literature since 40 years, and early studies describing the epidemic occurrence of malignant mesothelioma (MM) in asbestos workers, have become a paradigm of occupational cancer research. Research on MM was abandoned for many years since MM was considered as an asbestos-related disease, interesting only from a perspective of disease control and preventive policies. The introduction of new biological endpoints in the epidemiological studies has boosted research in the field, providing new tools for the study of emerging priority in cancer research and in public health. This approach, known as molecular epidemiology has a great potential in the study of MM, contributing to the understanding of susceptibility factors, to the evaluation of cancer risk in people occupationally or environmentally exposed to carcinogens, and to the enhancement of diagnosis and therapy. A comprehensive approach based on the use of banks of biological samples is presented and its advantages discussed here. The application of innovative endpoints, such as oncoproteins in biologic fluids, genetic polimorphisms, or gene function is discussed, and relevant literature reviewed.
KW - DNA repair
KW - Individual susceptibility
KW - Malignant mesothelioma
KW - Metabolic polymorphisms
KW - Molecular epidemiology
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U2 - 10.1016/j.mrrev.2003.06.012
DO - 10.1016/j.mrrev.2003.06.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 14644341
AN - SCOPUS:0344823673
VL - 544
SP - 385
EP - 396
JO - Mutation Research - Reviews in Mutation Research
JF - Mutation Research - Reviews in Mutation Research
SN - 1383-5742
IS - 2-3
ER -