Malignant mesothelioma: attributable risk of asbestos exposure.

Abstract

Direct exposure to asbestos was determined from responses to three types of questions: specific queries as to any exposure to asbestos; occupational or non-vocational participation in any of nine specific activities thought to entail exposure to asbestos; and analysis of lifetime work histories. Indirect exposures were assessed through residential histories and reported contact with family members exposed to asbestos. Results-Among men with pleural mesothelioma the attributable risk (AR) for exposure to asbestos was 88% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 76-95%).For men, the AR ofperitoneal cancer was 58% (95% CI 20-89%/6). For women (both sites combined), the AR was 23% (95% CI 3-72%). The large differences in AR by sex are compatible with the explanations: a lower background incidence rate in women, lower exposure to asbestos, and greater misclassification among women.Conclusions-Most of the pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas in the men studied were attributable to exposure to asbestos. The situation in women was less definitive. (Occup Environ Med 1994;51:804-81 1)

Cumulative asbestos exposure for US automobile mechanics involved in brake repair (circa 1950s–2000)

“…Over the past 30 years, numerous epidemiology studies and industrial hygiene surveys have been conducted to characterize exposures to chrysotile and assess any respiratory health risks associated with vehicle repair. The epidemiology studies have shown that brake-repair activities are not associated with increases in the risk of developing asbestosis (Nicholson et al, 1984;Elliehausen et al, 1985;Marcus et al, 1987), lung cancer (Rushton et al, 1983;Lerchen et al, 1987;Benhamou et al, 1988;Vineis et al, 1988;Hansen, 1989;Gustavsson et al, 1990;Morabia et al, 1992;Wong, 1993Wong, , 2001Goodman et al, 2004), or mesothelioma (McDonald and McDonald, 1980;Petersen and Milham, 1980;Teta et al, 1983;Olsen and Jensen, 1987;Spirtas et al, 1985Spirtas et al, , 1994Woitowitz and Ro¨delsperger, 1994;Coggon et al, 1995;Teschke et al, 1997;Agudo et al, 2000;Milham and Ossiander, 2001; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 2002;Hansen and Meersohn, 2003;Goodman et al, 2004;Hessel et al, 2004;Laden et al, 2004;McElvenny et al, 2005;Welch et al, 2005;Rolland et al, 2005).…”

Integrated analysis of somatic mutations and immune microenvironment in malignant pleural mesothelioma

“…1,2 Although the incidence of MPM has been increasing worldwide, 3 platinum-based chemotherapy is the only treatment that was scientifically verified to improve overall survival. 4 Immune checkpoint blocking antibodies, such as anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) antibodies, have shown a durable antitumor immune effect for several types of cancer, [5][6][7] and are under clinical investigation for MPM.…”

Characteristics and modifying factors of asbestos‐induced oxidative DNA damage

“…Furthermore, people who lived near those factories also suffered from the same fatal disease. (4) The characteristics of DMM are as follows: (i) it is associated with repeated asbestos exposure; (5,6) (ii) once diagnosed, prognosis is poor; (7) and (iii) it takes 30-40 years after the start of asbestos exposure for DMM to occur. (5,6) It is expected that the incidence of DMM in Japan will peak in 2025 with 100 000 predicted deaths from this neoplasm.…”

“…(4) The characteristics of DMM are as follows: (i) it is associated with repeated asbestos exposure; (5,6) (ii) once diagnosed, prognosis is poor; (7) and (iii) it takes 30-40 years after the start of asbestos exposure for DMM to occur.…”

“…(4) The characteristics of DMM are as follows: (i) it is associated with repeated asbestos exposure; (5,6) (ii) once diagnosed, prognosis is poor; (7) and (iii) it takes 30-40 years after the start of asbestos exposure for DMM to occur. (5,6) It is expected that the incidence of DMM in Japan will peak in 2025 with 100 000 predicted deaths from this neoplasm. (8) There are several hypotheses about the pathogenesis of DMM, which may be summarized as follows: (i) the 'oxidative stress theory' (9) is based on the fact that asbestos fibers are foreign bodies and that epidemiological studies show that asbestos fibers that contain iron (a transition metal which catalyzes free radical generation) are more carcinogenic; (10) (ii) the 'chromosome tangling theory' postulates that asbestos fibers damage chromosomes when cells divide; (11) (iii) the 'theory of adsorption of many specific proteins as well as carcinogenic molecules' states that asbestos in vivo contains chemicals including cigarette smoke components; (9) and (iv) the 'SV40 oncogenic virus contamination theory' (polio vaccination) (1) does not appear to be relevant, at least in Japan.…”