Giuseppe Banna: Potential novel prognostic biomarker in mesotheliomas by Dariusz C. Gorecki et al.
“Exciting new research from the Molecular Medicine Group at the University of Portsmouth led by Dariusz C. Gorecki sheds light on a potential novel prognostic biomarker in mesotheliomas. In this study, with Nancy Alnassar and Jonathan M. J. Derry, we investigated the differential expression of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) transcripts in mesothelioma patients and its impact on survival.
Their analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas data revealed that high expression of the DMD gene and its Dp71 transcript were significantly associated with shorter survival in mesothelioma patients. The specific Dp71 transcript emerged as a unique prognostic biomarker across mesothelioma subtypes, with correlations to tumor microenvironment cells such as macrophages.
These findings have important implications for guiding treatment strategies for mesothelioma patients. Identifying individuals at risk of poor survival based on DMD transcript expression could inform decisions regarding treatment intensity, follow-up schedules, eligibility for clinical trials, and end-of-life care planning.
Further studies are needed to fully understand the role of specific dystrophin transcripts in cancer and the tumor microenvironment, but this research represents a promising step towards personalized medicine in mesothelioma.
Congratulations to the team for this important contribution to the field!”