Causes Of Pleural Mesothelioma

Additional Theories

As mentioned, some people do have a genetic predisposition to developing the disease. People who have a germline mutation found in their BAP1 gene have a higher development risk for both mesothelioma and melanoma. Most of the time, mesothelioma is caused by exposure to some external factor. However, some scientists have reported spontaneous cases in children with a genetic predisposition, seemingly unprompted by any known external forces.

There are also studies indicating simian virus 40, also called SV40, might be a co-factor in mesothelioma development, as it combines with other factors to increase the malignancy. Such a connection has been definitively proven through animal studies. However, the human studies done thus far are inconclusive. More research is necessary to explain when and why SV40 affects mesothelioma.