Blood Test (Mesomark)
Mesothelioma is so difficult to treat in part because it is usually not detected until the disease has progressed to the late stages. If the disease could be detected earlier, mesothelioma patients would see an improved prognosis. Some researchers see a breakthrough in mesothelioma detection in the form of a blood test known as Mesomark. In the Mesomark test, blood is drawn from the patient and sent to a laboratory to measure the amount of a particular biomarker, called SMRP. Certain elevated levels of SMRP indicate the presence of mesothelioma. The test’s makers suggest that early detection of the biomarker in a patient’s blood can lead to an early diagnosis, resulting in more treatment options and a better prognosis for the patient.
In addition to detecting the presence of mesothelioma in patients who have not yet been diagnosed with the disease, the Mesomark blood test may also be helpful for monitoring the success of treatments in patients who have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The blood tests might be used to help determine the future course of treatment in such patients.
The results of a study released by researchers at New York University in February 2007 suggest that the test may be effective. Dr. Harvey Pass of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at NYU’s School of Medicine stated in a press release: “Our findings not only show that SMRP is indeed a valid biomarker for mesothelioma, but also justify further research as a prospective screening test.” Dr. Pass indicated that the test might assist researchers on their “way towards improving survival rates and the quality of life for patients diagnosed with this aggressive and often fatal disease.”
Mesomark was first released in Australia in March 2005 and in Europe a few months later. The Food and Drug Administration approved the blood test for humanitarian use only in the U.S. in January 2007. The test was developed by Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc. of Malvern, Pennsylvania.