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Selected Publication:
Wolkerstorfer, A.
Is the comparison between different BAP1 antibodies possible in pleural mesothelioma?
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medizinische Universität Graz; 2023. pp. 79
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- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Advisor:
- Brcic Iva
- Brcic Luka
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- Abstract:
- Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive malignant neoplasm of mesothelial cells, that make up the parietal and visceral pleura. Its pathophysiological development, histomorphological features and molecular patterns as a potential approach for new treatment modalities have been subject of intensive research over the last decades. Unfortunately, current therapeutical options remain limited in their effectiveness. The prognosis of pleural mesothelioma is and has always been among the worst of all malignancies, with a median overall survival (in untreated patients) of only few months in most cases. This can mainly be attributed to the late onset and general nature of associated symptoms, combined with the long latency of the disease itself and its aggressive invasive growth. Most cases of pleural mesothelioma are associated to the exposure to asbestos, which was heavily used in construction sites and for isolation purposes around the second half of the 20th century. However, the exact pathological mechanisms leading to this malignancy are not fully understood and remain subject to further research, as many molecular aberrations play a role in its development. One of the most prominent associated mutations in pleural mesothelioma is the dysfunction of BAP1. BAP1 is a deubiquitinating protein. It is a tumor suppressor gene and accordingly plays an important role in tumor growth if loss of function is caused by genetic mutations. Its expression therefore has major consequences on the outcome and long-term prognosis of a patient. Loss of BAP1 has been proven to be a definitive sign of malignancy and hence is very useful in diagnosing mesothelioma. Our goal was to perform a comparison of different BAP1 clones in a single cohort of mesothelioma. We examined a patient collective of 58 cases of pleural mesothelioma (43 male, 15 female), including all major histological subtypes. Only one of three tested antibodies (clone C-4) showed usable results in our cohort, so comparison of different clones was not possible. However, this BAP1 clone showed a reliable staining, with distribution of BAP1 expression/loss in our cohort which is in concordance to available data in literature.