Pleural mesothelioma from fluoro-edenite exposure: PACAP and PAC1 receptor. A preliminary report

Eur J Histochem. 2024 May 2;68(2):3994. doi: 10.4081/ejh.2024.3994.

Abstract

Pleural mesothelioma is a devastating malignancy primarily associated with asbestos exposure. However, emerging evidence suggests that exposure to fluoro-edenite fibers, a naturally occurring mineral fiber, can also lead to the development of pleural mesothelioma. In this study, based on the hypothesis that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and PACAP-preferring receptor (PAC1R) expressions could be dysregulated in pleural mesothelioma samples and that they could potentially act as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers, we aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of PACAP and PAC1R in pleural biopsies from patients with pleural mesothelioma exposed to fluoro-edenite fibers. A total of 12 patients were included in this study, and their biopsies were processed for immunohistochemical analysis to evaluate the expression of PACAP and its receptor. The study revealed a correlation between the overexpression of PACAP and PAC1R and shorter overall survival in patients with malignant mesothelioma. These findings suggest that PACAP and PAC1R expression levels could serve as potential prognostic biomarkers for malignant mesothelioma. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical analysis of PACAP and PAC1R may provide valuable information for clinicians to guide therapeutic decisions and identify patients with poorer prognosis.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Asbestos, Amphibole / toxicity
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Mesothelioma* / chemically induced
  • Mesothelioma* / metabolism
  • Mesothelioma* / pathology
  • Mesothelioma, Malignant / metabolism
  • Mesothelioma, Malignant / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide* / metabolism
  • Pleural Neoplasms* / chemically induced
  • Pleural Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Pleural Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I* / metabolism

Substances

  • Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
  • Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I
  • fluor-edenite
  • Asbestos, Amphibole
  • Biomarkers, Tumor

Grants and funding

Funding: the project received financial support from “Piano di Incentivi per la ricerca di Ateneo 2020/2022 Linea di intervento 2” (Prof. Rosario Caltabiano); UPB: 5C725012043.