The Western Australian Mesothelioma Registry: Analysis of 60 years of cases.

Background And Objective: Australia introduced a partial ban on asbestos consumption in 1984. There is continuing concern about exposure to asbestos in the built environment and non-occupational exposures. The aim of this study was to describe epidemiological trends of mesothelioma in Western Australia (WA) over the 60 years since the first case was recorded.

The Wittenoom legacy.

The Wittenoom crocidolite (blue asbestos) mine and mill ceased operating in 1966. The impact of this industry on asbestos-related disease in Western Australia has been immense. Use of the employment records of the Australian Blue Asbestos Company and records of the Wittenoom township residents has permitted two cohorts of people with virtually exclusive exposure to crocidolite to be assembled and studied.

Risk factors for malignant mesothelioma in people with no known exposure to asbestos.

Objectives: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare and generally fatal cancer, usually caused by asbestos, although about 5-10% of cases report no asbestos exposure. This study aimed to identify sources whereby people in Western Australia (WA) may be unknowingly exposed to asbestos or to other exposures which may cause MM.

Methods: Cases with no known asbestos exposure were selected from the WA Mesothelioma Register (WAMR).

Comparison of outcomes following a cytological or histological diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.

Background: Survival with the epithelioid subtype of malignant mesothelioma (MM) is longer than the biphasic or sarcomatoid subtypes. There is concern that cytology-diagnosed epithelioid MM may underdiagnose the biphasic subtype. This study examines survival differences between patients with epithelioid MM diagnosed by cytology only and other subtypes diagnosed by histology.

Incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Aboriginal people in Western Australia.

Objectives: To describe the incidence of malignant mesothelioma (MM) in Aboriginal people in Western Australia (WA) and determine the main routes of exposure to asbestos in this population.

Methods: All MM cases in Western Australia, as well as the primary source of asbestos exposure, are recorded in the WA Mesothelioma Register. Aboriginal cases up to the end of 2013 were extracted from the register and compared with non-Aboriginal cases with respect to the primary means/source of exposure.

Immune response profiling of malignant pleural mesothelioma for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

The asbestos induced cancer malignant mesothelioma (MM) is difficult to diagnose and has a poor prognosis. MM is an immunological cancer, therefore autoantibodies may be suitable biomarkers and associated with prognosis. We used Protoarray(®) microarrays to determine immune responses to 8798 antigens in 10 MM and 10 asbestos exposed controls and developed diagnostic panels using 17 antigens from this.

Effect of N-acetylcysteine supplementation on oxidative stress status and alveolar inflammation in people exposed to asbestos: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial.

Background And Objective: Many of the pathological consequences in the lung following inhalation of asbestos fibres arise as a consequence of persistent oxidative stress and inflammation. Inflammatory responses can be observed in asymptomatic asbestos-exposed individuals. There are currently no interventions to reduce inflammatory or oxidative responses to asbestos before disease develops.

Absence of germline mutations in BAP1 in sporadic cases of malignant mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a uniformly fatal tumour caused predominantly by exposure to asbestos. It is not known why some exposed individuals get mesothelioma and others do not. There is some epidemiological evidence of host susceptibility.

Pleural fluid mesothelin as an adjunct to the diagnosis of pleural malignant mesothelioma.

Rationale: The diagnosis of pleural malignant mesothelioma (MM) by effusion cytology may be difficult and is currently controversial. Effusion mesothelin levels are increased in patients with MM but the clinical role of this test is uncertain.

Objectives: To determine the clinical value of measuring mesothelin levels in pleural effusion supernatant to aid diagnosis of MM.

Effect of NSAIDS and COX-2 inhibitors on the incidence and severity of asbestos-induced malignant mesothelioma: evidence from an animal model and a human cohort.

Objectives: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and COX-2 inhibitors have been associated with lower incidence rates of some cancers. Because asbestos can cause chronic inflammation at the pleural and peritoneal surfaces we hypothesised that NSAID and COX-2 inhibitors would inhibit the development of asbestos-induced mesothelioma.

Materials And Methods: A murine model of asbestos-induced mesothelioma was used to test this hypothesis by providing the NSAID, aspirin, daily in the feed at 50mg/kg or 250 mg/kg.

Statins do not alter the incidence of mesothelioma in asbestos exposed mice or humans.

Mesothelioma is principally caused by asbestos and may be preventable because there is a long latent period between exposure and disease development. The most at-risk are a relatively well-defined population who were exposed as a consequence of their occupations. Although preventative agents investigated so far have not been promising, discovery of such an agent would have a significant benefit world-wide on healthcare costs and personal suffering.

The mental health of asbestos-exposed subjects with pleural abnormalities.

Purpose: To examine the effect of knowledge of radiographic abnormalities on the mental health of asbestos-exposed people with and without pleural abnormalities.

Methods: Subjects were former asbestos mine and mill workers and residents of the mining town who had participated in an annual health review program. Pleural abnormalities (pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening and asbestosis) were determined from plain chest X-rays.

Plasma retinol and total carotenes and fracture risk after long-term supplementation with high doses of retinol.

Objective: Observational studies suggest that moderate intakes of retinol and increased circulating retinol levels may increase fracture risk. Easy access to supplements, combined with an aging population, makes this a potentially important association. The aim of this study was to investigate plasma retinol and total carotene concentrations in relation to fracture risk after long-term supplementation with retinol and/or beta-carotene in 998 adults between 1990 and 2007.

Pleurodesis outcome in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Few data exist on the pleurodesis outcome in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). A retrospective review of the Western Australian Mesothelioma Registry over 5 years revealed 390 evaluable patients. Only a subset of patients (42.

A diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma can be made by effusion cytology: results of a 20 year audit.

Aims: Cytological diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is controversial, but has been used in our institution for over 30 years. To assess the role of effusion cytology in mesothelioma diagnosis we conducted an audit of pleural fluid cytology results over a 20 year period (1988-2007).

Methods: Pleural samples were received from 6285 patients; data linkage with Western Australian Cancer and Mesothelioma Registries demonstrated that 815 of these patients had a diagnosis of MPM.

All-cause mortality and cancer incidence among adults exposed to blue asbestos during childhood.

Background: There are few data on the long-term health outcomes of exposure to asbestos in childhood. This study investigated cancer and mortality of adults exposed to blue asbestos as children.

Methods: Data linkage to relevant health registries was used to identify cancers and mortality in a cohort of adults (n = 2,460) that had lived in an asbestos mining town during their childhood (<15 years).

Familial aggregation of malignant mesothelioma in former workers and residents of Wittenoom, Western Australia.

Clustering of cases of malignant mesothelioma within families has often been observed, but disentangling genetic and exposure effects has not been done. Former workers and residents exposed to crocidolite at Wittenoom, Western Australia, where many families shared exposure to asbestos, have had high rates of mesothelioma. Our study aimed to estimate the additional risk of mesothelioma in relatives, after allowance for common exposure to crocidolite.

Postmortem findings of malignant pleural mesothelioma: a two-center study of 318 patients.

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an incurable cancer with a rising incidence. MPM is often perceived as a locally invasive cancer, and the exact cause of death is poorly understood.This two-center study describes the anatomic features of patients with MPM at postmortem.

Increasing incidence of malignant mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos during home maintenance and renovation.

Objective: To determine trends in incidence of malignant mesothelioma (MM) caused by exposure to asbestos during home maintenance and renovation.

Design, Setting And Participants: Using the Western Australian Mesothelioma Register, we reviewed all cases of MM diagnosed in WA from 1960 to the end of 2008, and determined the primary source of exposure to asbestos. Categories of exposure were collapsed into seven groups: asbestos miners and millers from Wittenoom; all other asbestos workers; residents from Wittenoom; home maintenance/renovators; other people exposed but not through their occupation; and people with unknown asbestos exposure; or no known asbestos exposure.

Serum mesothelin for early detection of asbestos-induced cancer malignant mesothelioma.

Background: Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive, almost uniformly fatal tumor, primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. Since the recent discovery that serum mesothelin is a sensitive and highly specific biomarker for mesothelioma, one of the key issues raised is whether mesothelin levels represent a useful screening test for asbestos-exposed at-risk individuals. In this study, soluble mesothelin was determined in sequential serum samples collected from asbestos-exposed individuals before the development of mesothelioma.

Retinol supplementation and mesothelioma incidence in workers earlier exposed to blue asbestos (Crocidolite) at Wittenoom, Western Australia.

Owing to the high rates of malignant mesothelioma in workers exposed to crocidolite earlier at Wittenoom and evidence of protection against cancer by vitamin A, a population-based cancer prevention programme providing retinol supplements (25 000 IU/day) was commenced in 1990. The former workers at Wittenoom known to be alive and living in Western Australia in June 1990 constitute the study population. The participants were classified into two groups: those who received supplemental retinol (intervention group) and those who received none (comparison group).

Age and sex differences in malignant mesothelioma after residential exposure to blue asbestos (crocidolite).

Background: Blue asbestos was mined and milled at Wittenoom, Western Australia, from 1943 until 1966. Various public records were used to establish a cohort of residents of the nearby township. Mine tailings were distributed throughout the town.

Asbestos-related disease from recycled hessian superphosphate bags in rural Western Australia.

Objectives: To describe the dissemination of asbestos fibres within the Western Australian community.

Methods: A case report.

Results: A 60-year-old female was referred for investigation of calcified pleural plaques.