For some time now, the production and application of asbestos has been banned in more than 55 countries in the world. However, the number of asbestos-associated cancers – mainly malignant lung cancer and mesothelioma – is still high. Due to long latency of the disease and ongoing production and application of asbestos in several countries, no substantial improvement is expected. Detecting tumors early – preferably at stages without clinical symptoms - might improve the chances for a curative therapy. In collaboration with scientists of the Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance – Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA) the DLD Diagnostika GmbH developed a promising method based on calretinin as a biomarker for early detection – especially of mesothelioma – in plasma and serum samples. Currently, calretinin is one of the best available markers for the detection of mesothelioma.
- References to Calretinin (29 kDa calbindin)