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Mesothelioma Cell Classifications and your Survival Chances

Catherine A. Murphy

Mesothelioma is a cancer that attacks the mesothelium membrane that covers the internal organs of the body. This mesothelium is made of two parts. One contains cells while the other portion contains fluids that allow the organs to move freely within their cavities. This is vital for the operation for organs such as the lungs that expand and contract continuously during their operations.

Mesothelioma is a disease that is a direct result of exposure to asbestos where the asbestos particles become lodged in the deep annals of the lungs. Over an extended period, they react with enzymes released by the lungs to counteract the presence of foreign bodies within the body. This results in abnormal and uncontrolled division of cells within the mesothelium resulting in some of these cells becoming cancerous. This results in an increase in the viscosity of the fluid surrounding the lungs, thus restricting its movement resulting in severe chest pain and shortness of breath.

Cell Classification of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma cells can be classified into three main types. This categorization is based on the stage of development and can be used to give a mesothelioma prognosis of survival of each patient. These categories are:

• Epithelial Mesothelioma: This describes the most common type of mesothelioma cell and accounts for 50 to 75% of the total amount of mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year. As a part of their main characteristics, these cells have a uniform shape thus making them easily distinguishable when view under a microscope. These cancer cells are known in the medical profession as adenocarcinomas and malignances that are commonly associated with lung cancer as opposed to cancer of mesothelium.
• Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma cell appears in 7 to 20% of diagnosed cases annually. These cells grow out of the supportive structures of the body such as bones and muscles.
• Biphasic Mesothelioma: These cells are a mixture of both epithelial and sacromatoid cells.

Chances of surviving Mesothelioma

Because most mesothelioma cases are diagnosed when it is already in an advanced stage, it significantly complicates the chances of surviving the disease. As a result, most mesothelioma treatments for all three cell types are just about the same. Traditionally, most doctors will require cell samples to analyze under a microscope to determine the survival outlook for patients. It also gives them information that can be used to determine appropriate treatment. Treatment ranges from medication, chemotherapy, surgery or a combination of all three. Fortunately, there is continuous research on methods of predicting the success rate of these treatments. This allows doctors to make prudent decisions about their patient’s future.

Gene Prediction of Survival Odds

Scientist have developed new test that they can use to determine the prognosis of after mesothelioma surgery. This invasive method eliminates the need for tissue extraction to determine the outlook for patients. This method examines the genes of mesothelioma patients and compares their characteristics to those they have as reference. These reference genes were taken patients with both good and bad results after their surgery. This is then used to advise patients if it worth the risk of operation and the chances of success due to the process.

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