Abstract
(1) Background: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive tumour of the serosal membranes, associated with exposure to asbestos. Survival is generally poor, but prognostication for individual patients is difficult. We recently described Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) as independent prognostic factor in two separate retrospective cohorts of MM patients. Here we assess the usefulness of AQP1 prospectively, and determine the inter-observer agreement in assessing AQP1 scores; (2) Methods: A total of 104 consecutive cases of MM were included. Sufficient tissue for immunohistochemistry was available for 100 cases, and these cases were labelled for AQP1. Labelling was assessed by two pathologists. Complete clinical information and follow up was available for 91 cases; (3) Results: Labelling of ≥50% of tumour cells for AQP indicated improved prognosis in a univariate model (median survival 13 versus 8 months, p = 0.008), but the significance was decreased in a multivariate analysis. Scoring for AQP1 was robust, with an inter-observer kappa value of 0.722, indicating substantial agreement between observers; (4) Conclusion: AQP1 is a useful prognostic marker that can be easily incorporated in existing diagnostic immunohistochemical panels and which can be reliably interpreted by different pathologists.
Highlights
Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive malignancy of the serosal membranes lining the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial cavities
Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios, serum inflammatory markers, as well as serum, tissue and pleural effusion Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and and BRCA1-Associated Protein 1 (BAP1) mutation BAP1 status have been related to outcomes among
In this current prospective cohort, Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) was maintained as a significant indicator of prognosis in univariate analysis, but significance was lost in multivariate analysis, with scores being related to histological subtype
Summary
Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive malignancy of the serosal membranes lining the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial cavities. Due to limited response to standard treatment strategies [1], and prognosis for individual patients is difficult to predict. This signifies the need for reliable prognostic markers, which can be included in the clinical work-up of the patient [2]. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios, serum inflammatory markers, as well as serum, tissue and pleural effusion Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and and BRCA1-Associated Protein 1 (BAP1) mutation BAP1 status have been related to outcomes among
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