Towards a novel generation detection biomarkers for malignant pleural mesothelioma in clinical practice.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is mostly diagnosed in an advanced incurable stage and therefore, there is a need for new sensitive early detection biomarkers. DNA methylation is a promising field for biomarker detection and we are developing a novel technology that can detect tumour specific methylation signatures in a cost-effective manner. Exhaled breath condensates (EBCs) are an interesting novel source of liquid biopsies in MPM, next to classic blood plasma. We have exciting preliminary data showing that EBCs contain DNA fragments representing full genomes which may lead to a first truly non-invasive MPM detection test. We have preliminary data that an MPM specific methylation signature exists and that our new technology for detecting it works. We will further develop and optimise this new technology and validate it in tissue as well as in liquid biopsies such as blood and EBCs.

Keywords:HEREDITARY

Disciplines:Cancer diagnosis