Is it Successful?

For potential mesothelioma sufferers, Mesomark sounds like a boon. But does it really work? It does, say researchers at New York University, who released a study in February 2007 on the competency of the test.

The study was led by Dr. Harvey Pass of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and NYU's School of Medicine and included a team of additional cardiothoracic experts. The study used the Mesomark assay to test serum and pleural effusions in patients who have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Results revealed that those individuals showed "significantly higher" amounts of SMRP in their blood than those in the control group, which including individuals with previous asbestos exposure as well as patients with other forms of cancer.

In a press release issued by NYU, Dr. Pass stated, "As a relatively rare and often misdiagnosed disease, mesothelioma has been somewhat of a mystery to the medical world. For years, we've believed SMRP played a role in the classification of the disease, but there was no accurate way to confirm it.

"Our findings not only show that SMRP is indeed a valid biomarker for mesothelioma, but also justify further research as a prospective screening test," he noted. "As we continue to learn more about this complex disease through tests such as Fujirebio Diagnostics' Mesomark Assay, we might finally be on our way towards improving survival rates and the quality of life for patients diagnosed with this aggressive and often fatal disease."

For more information on the Mesomark test, consult your oncologist, who can also help you find out where the assay is available and if you are a candidate for the test.