Open AccessChemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 3 detection in the serum of persons exposed to asbestos: A patient‐based study
Author(s) -
Xu Jiegou,
Alexander David B.,
Iigo Masaaki,
Hamano Hirokazu,
Takahashi Satoru,
Yokoyama Takako,
Kato Munehiro,
Usami Ikuji,
Tokuyama Takeshi,
Tsutsumi Masahiro,
Tamura Mouka,
Oguri Tetsuya,
Niimi Akio,
Hayashi Yoshimitsu,
Yokoyama Yoshifumi,
Tonegawa Ken,
Fukamachi Katsumi,
Futakuchi Mitsuru,
Sakai Yuto,
Suzui Masumi,
Kamijima Michihiro,
Hisanaga Naomi,
Omori Toyonori,
Nakae Dai,
Hirose Akihiko,
Kanno Jun,
Tsuda Hiroyuki
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.12687
Subject(s) - asbestos , asbestosis , mesothelioma , medicine , lung cancer , pneumoconiosis , gastroenterology , pathology , lung , materials science , metallurgy
Exposure to asbestos results in serious risk of developing lung and mesothelial diseases. Currently, there are no biomarkers that can be used to diagnose asbestos exposure. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the levels or detection rate of chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 3 ( CCL 3) in the serum are elevated in persons exposed to asbestos. The primary study group consisted of 76 healthy subjects not exposed to asbestos and 172 healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos. The secondary study group consisted of 535 subjects possibly exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with pleural plaque (412), benign hydrothorax (10), asbestosis (86), lung cancer (17), and malignant mesothelioma (10). All study subjects who were possibly exposed to asbestos had a certificate of asbestos exposure issued by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. For the primary study group, levels of serum CCL 3 did not differ between the two groups. However, the detection rate of CCL 3 in the serum of healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos (30.2%) was significantly higher ( P < 0.001) than for the control group (6.6%). The pleural plaque, benign hydrothorax, asbestosis, and lung cancer groups had serum CCL 3 levels and detection rates similar to that of healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos. The CCL 3 chemokine was detected in the serum of 9 of the 10 patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. Three of the patients with malignant mesothelioma had exceptionally high CCL 3 levels. Malignant mesothelioma cells from four biopsy cases and an autopsy case were positive for CCL 3, possibly identifying the source of the CCL 3 in the three malignant mesothelioma patients with exceptionally high serum CCL 3 levels. In conclusion, a significantly higher percentage of healthy persons possibly exposed to asbestos had detectable levels of serum CCL 3 compared to healthy unexposed control subjects.