Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer largely associated with asbestos exposure. In this review, we will discuss the significant advancements in our understanding of its genetics and molecular biology and their translational relevance. Remarkable findings included the discovery of germline and somatic mutations of BRCA1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) in patients, and the genome-wide characterization of pathways altered in mesothelioma that could be potentially exploited to design novel therapeutic approaches. Nevertheless, the clinical translation of these molecular findings has been slow and insufficient. In order to rapidly move translation from the bench to the bedside, we believe that cooperative research efforts have to be further endorsed and promoted at all levels.
Keywords: BAP1; malignant mesothelioma; therapy; translation.