Causes of Mesothelioma Disease
Cancer, including mesotheliomas, occurs when cells in the body are damaged in their DNA. DNA is the chemistry in each of our cells that make up our genes - a clue to how our cell functions. We usually look like our parents because they are the source of our DNA. But DNA affects more than we see. Some genes control when cells in the body grow, divide into new cells, and die at the right time. Changes in these genes can cause cells to grow out of control, which can cause cancer.
Exposure to asbestos is a major cause of pleural mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they travel to the ends of the small airways and reach the pleura, where they can cause inflammation and scarring. It can damage cell DNA and cause changes that lead to uncontrolled cell growth. If swallowed, these fibers can reach the lining of the abdomen, where they can play a role in causing peritoneal mesothelioma.
but most people exposed to asbestos, though in large numbers, do not get mesothelioma. Other factors, such as one's genes, can make them more likely to develop mesothelioma when exposed to asbestos. For example, researchers have found that some people who appear to be at high risk have a change in BAP1, a gene that usually helps keep cell growth under control. Other genes may also be important.
Radiation treatment for other cancers has been associated with mesothelioma in several studies. Radiation can damage cell DNA, which causes uncontrolled cell growth.
It remains unknown whether the SV40 viral infection increases the risk of mesothelioma, or how to do it. In laboratory studies, researchers have found that the virus may affect certain genes that have been linked to cancer, but further research in this area is indispensable.
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