January 11, 2026

E9 - Radiation-Induced Mesothelioma

9 minutes

E9 | 10 min | Latest | Publication Link

Podcast based on: Fujita, N.; Fujita, K.; Osumi, H.; Takefuji, Y. The Diagnostic Trap in Radiation-Induced Mesothelioma: Kinetic-Morphological Decoupling Masks Molecular Aggression. Cancers 2026, 18, 221. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18020221

Type: Article | Publication date: 09 January 2026

Summary: Typically, the microscopic appearance of a tumor predicts its biological aggression. However, in malignant pleural mesothelioma caused by radiation, our analysis of 20 rare cases without asbestos exposure suggests that this rule can be clinically deceptive. In this cohort, the intensity of radiotherapy doses appears to shape how the cancer evolves: moderate doses were associated with gradual, age-dependent latent periods, while high doses were associated with rapid, aggressive onset. Paradoxically, these aggressive high-dose tumors retained an indolent-appearing morphology, presenting a potential diagnostic trap that masks their true nature. We propose that reviewing a patient’s radiotherapy history could help expose this discrepancy, potentially guiding risk-stratified precision therapy.

Keywords: malignant pleural mesothelioma; radiation-induced cancer; kinetic-morphological decoupling; diagnostic trap; CDK4/6 inhibitors; ; chromothripsis; tumor suppressor genes; precision medicine; therapeutic stratification; CSU Beagle Study

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