Malignant mesothelioma: Clinical characteristics, asbestos mineralogy and chromosomal abnormalities of 41 patients

Abstract

The clinical characteristics and the results of mineral fibre and cytogenetic analyses were coordinated prospectively for 41 patients with confirmed malignant pleural mesothelioma. A correlation was found between high total fibre concentration, and partial or total loss of chromosomes 1, 4 and 9 and chromosomal rearrangements involving a breakpoint at 1p11-p22. There was also a correlation between crocidolite/amosite as the main fibre type and partial or total loss of chromosomes 1, 3 and 4 and chromosomal rearrangements involving del (3p). Positive prognostic factors were female gender, low total fibre concentration (< 10 6 fibres per g dried lung tissue), anthophyllite as the main fibre type and normal chromosome 7. In addition, we found 4 patients with malignant mesothelioma who had been exposed mainly to anthophyllite fibres (total lung fibre concentrations of 1.2, 0.4, 0.2 and 0.1 × 10 6 fibres per g dried lung tissue). This would seem to indicate that there may be a carcinogenic role for anthophyllite.