New Link Between Women with Mesothelioma and Survival Genes

Men with mesothelioma outnumber women four to one. However, numerous studies have shown that women with mesothelioma often have a survival advantage over men. Now, scientists might have a better understanding of why. Researchers have identified a gene that predicts the prognosis and treatment outcome for women with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The research took place as part of the International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Dr. Assunta De Rienzo led the new study after years of research highlighting the sex-based disparity among mesothelioma patients. “The goal is finding specific therapies according to the molecular characteristics of the tumor,” De Rienzo said. “This will help apply personalized medicine for mesothelioma patients.” The RERG gene, which stands for RAS-like estrogen-regulated growth inhibitor, may be the key to understanding why women consistently live longer than men following mesothelioma surgery. Researchers pointed to low RERG expression in women as a significant predictor for an increased risk of death. In other words, high levels of the RERG gene correlate directly with improved prognosis and survival advantage in women. Estrogen-Signaling Genes Could Explain Survival Differences This recent study aimed to determine whether estrogen-signaling genes such as RERG could predict survival in mesothelioma patients. At Brigham and Women’s Hospital, scientists validated the research by ba...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news