# EXPERIMENTAL ASBESTOS-INDUCED MESOTHELIOMA

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE · 1990 · $128,974

## Abstract

Malignant mesotheliomas in man are associated with asbestos
exposure.  Although customarily rare, these tumors are dramatically
increasing in prevalence in our population.  Rats inoculated by the
intrapleural and intraperitoneal routes with asbestos of several
different types develop lesions which strikingly resemble the human
cancers after latency periods of 6 to 24 months.  In work supported
by this grant, we characterized these lesions and initiated studies
to elucidate the pathogenesis of the neoplasm.  The proposed
research will attempt to develop a model of carcinogenesis
originating in the granuloma which forms in and around the
accumulations of asbestos that develop after thoracic inoculation
of asbestos.  Attempts will be made to determine whether or not
asbestos-laden macrophages generate oxygen metabolites and damage
the chromosomes or the mitotic spindle as a result.  Efforts will
be made to demonstrate the release of growth factors elicited by
the macrophages of the granuloma and their effect on presumptive
progenitor cells of the mesothelioma.  The outcome of these studies
will support or refute the hypothesis that pro-growth substances
stimulate their replication in the course of multistage
carcinogenesis.  Additional work will attempt to demonstrate the
presence of premalignant and malignant cells in the reactive tissue
mass which forms in and around granulomas in the cavities of
animals.  Finally, efforts will be made to determine the possible
role of proto-oncogenes in the genesis of the tumors and the
utility of these genes as markers for identifying transformation
of the mesothelial cell or its precursor.  These studies are
designed to elucidate mechanisms of carcinogenesis for this unique
and poorly understood tumor, based on the notion that its
pathogenesis may be an example of foreign body carcinogenesis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3174669
- **Project number:** 5R01CA036993-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** Z94KLERAG5V9
- **Principal Investigator:** JOHN E CRAIGHEAD
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $128,974
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-03-01 → 1992-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3174669

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3174669, EXPERIMENTAL ASBESTOS-INDUCED MESOTHELIOMA (5R01CA036993-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3174669. Licensed CC0.

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