January 5, 2015 – In a recent study published in Carcinogenesis, researchers have concluded that the BAP1 gene mutation found in patients with mesothelioma may prove to prolong the survival rates of those with the terminal illness. The study included the analysis of 37 years of data from over 10,000 mesothelioma patients in the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER.)
Of those studied, 23 of the patients were known to have the BAP1 mutation. The researchers found that those patients with the BAP1 gene mutation had an average survival rate of five years. Conversely, those without the BAP1 gene mutation survived less than 12 months.
The study also helped researchers determine that gender does not play a role in the survival rates of those with mesothelioma. Prior to the study, medical professionals knew that women with mesothelioma had a longer survival rate than men. The study reveals that men with the BAP1 gene mutation survived longer after a mesothelioma diagnosis than women with the gene. The study also revealed that those with the BAP1 gene mutation were more likely to contract mesothelioma, but had longer survival rates than those without the gene, even when cases had complications such as a second malignancy.
Despite U.S. laws and regulations controlling the use of asbestos in our society, over 3,200 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year. The terminal disease has a direct link to asbestos exposure. Most mesothelioma patients have been exposed to the toxic fibers while working in industries such as automotive mechanics, miners, shipbuilders, and construction workers. Some of those living with exposed family members have also been diagnosed with mesothelioma attributed to second hand exposure from fibers coming home on hair, clothes, and shoes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers Advocate for Victims of Mesothelioma and other Asbestos-Related Diseases in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
A diagnosis of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease is a crushing blow to the victim and their loved ones. Medical expenses, lost wages, and treatment costs can quickly destroy a family’s financial health. The New Jersey and Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Shein Law have been helping victims of asbestos exposure claim justice and compensation for over 40 years.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, call the experienced and highly skilled Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Shein Law at 1-877-SHEINLAW, or complete our online contact form to schedule a consultation today. With offices in center city Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout both states.