Gene expression ratio test predicts treatment-related outcome in mesothelioma

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A test that measures the level of expression of four genes in pleural mesothelioma tissue samples accurately predicts treatment-related outcome, researchers report in the April 16th issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Currently, there are no predictive factors, other than histologic subtype, to predict response to surgery or aggressive chemoradiation in cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma, Dr. Raphael Bueno of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and associates note in the paper.They analyzed gene expression profiling data collected prior to treatment from 17 mesothelioma patients who had “considerably different survival times.””A four-gene expression ratio test statistically significantly (P=0.0035) predicted treatment-related patient outcome in mesothelioma independent of the histologic subtype of the tumor,” they report. The four genes are those encoding KIAA0997 protein, GDIA1, the L6-related EST, and CTHBP.The test remained highly accurate in independent cross-validation studies involving 29 mesothelioma patients.”We have developed a new method to translate complex genetic information into simple binary tests that can be used to predict patient diagnosis, as well as their outcome after specific treatments for cancers,” Dr. Bueno told Reuters Health. Previously, Dr. Bueno and colleagues found that a ratio of the expression levels of selected genes could distinguish among types of thoracic tumors.”Using this simple, relatively inexpensive test, we can identify prior to therapy those patients who are most likely to benefit from aggressive surgical therapy for mesothelioma,” Dr. Bueno added.(Source: J Natl Cancer Inst 2003;95:598-605: Reuters Health: Megan Rauscher: April 23, 2003: Oncolink)