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The inventors have discovered HMGB1 as a highly sensitive biomarker for detection of mesothelioma and asbestos.
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Description Malignant mesothelioma, which is associated with asbestos or erionite exposure, is an aggressive and lethal cancer of the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many internal organs and is most commonly found in the lungs. The inventors have discovered that misregulation of a protein called High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) is linked to mesothelioma in individuals exposed to asbestos. HMGB1 is a member of the high-mobility group protein super-family that plays important roles in biological processes like transcription, DNA repair, proliferation, and inflammation. After asbestos and erionite exposure, HMGB1 is released by mesothelial cells undergoing programmed cell necrosis, initiating inflammatory processes, and promoting tumor growth. The inventors have discovered HMGB1 as a highly sensitive biomarker for detection of mesothelioma and asbestos.