The Mesomark Assay is an in vitro

In vitro

In vitro refers to studies in experimental biology that are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological context in order to permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms. Colloquially, these experiments...

test to monitor and possibly diagnose Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen. This type of cancer affects the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen and which also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly.The peritoneum is made of two...

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Developed by Fujirebio

Fujirebio

is a Japanese company that deals with manufacturing and selling reagents and equipment for clinical diagnostics and assay systems. It was founded in 1950 under the name Fujizoki Pharmaceutical, Co., Inc. and originally developed and manufactured pharmaceutical products. In 1983 its name was changed...

 Diagnostics and approved in late January 2007 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it works by measuring levels of soluble mesothelin

Mesothelin

Mesothelin also known as MSLN is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MSLN gene.- Function :Mesothelin is a 40kDa protein present on normal mesothelial cells and overexpressed in several human tumors, including mesothelioma and ovarian and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The protein was first...

-related proteins (SMRPs) released by diseased mesothelioma cells. The SMRP levels correlate directly with tumor volume thus permitting less invasive monitoring and improved assessment of treatment response.

In the future, the test may be used as an early detection measure as evidenced by recently sponsored tests by the Early Detection Research Network of the National Cancer Institute http://edrn.nci.nih.gov/.