Data from Osteopontin Levels in an Asbestos-Exposed Population

Abstract

<div>Abstract<p><b>Purpose:</b> Serum osteopontin levels in patients with malignant mesothelioma have been reported to be higher than in healthy subjects. This study assessed serum osteopontin levels in an asbestos-exposed population to test whether nonmalignant asbestos-related disorders could influence osteopontin levels.</p><p><b>Experimental Design:</b> This cross-sectional study evaluated serum osteopontin levels in 525 male subjects. Subjects were classified into six different diagnostic groups, including asbestosis (<i>n</i> = 23), silicosis (<i>n</i> = 20), diffuse pleural thickening (<i>n</i> = 110), asbestosis and diffuse pleural thickening (<i>n</i> = 13), pleural plaques (<i>n</i> = 142), and healthy subjects with a history of asbestos exposure (<i>n</i> = 217).</p><p><b>Results:</b> Mean serum osteopontin levels differed among the six groups (<i>P</i> < 0.0001). Mean osteopontin values of the healthy individuals exposed to asbestos were significantly different from that of subjects with asbestosis (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and diffuse pleural thickening (<i>P</i> < 0.001). There was a significant difference in mean serum levels of osteopontin in healthy individuals exposed to asbestos (<i>n</i> = 217) compared with the group mean of all subjects with asbestos-related disorders (<i>n</i> = 288; <i>P</i> < 0.0001).</p><p><b>Conclusions:</b> Our results suggest that osteopontin levels are elevated in subjects with asbestos-related disorders without malignant mesothelioma. These data indicate that osteopontin, although reported to be useful for detecting malignant mesothelioma in asbestos-exposed individuals, may be influenced by nonmalignant processes.</p></div>