A study just published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported on scientists measuring levels of fibulin-3 in plasma and effusions in an effort to determine the prognosis and diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma. Researchers are looking for a biomarker to detect early-stage pleural mesothelioma. They felt that fibulin-3 "may" aid intheprognosis and diagnosis. Still, this may not lead directly to a screening protocol as pleural mesothelioma is rarely if ever cured even with aggressive surgical resection. Even if the only result is better diagnosis and prognosis, that alone may, at least, help the patient and the family to recover legal compensation. Also, it may provide insight into the effectiveness of various treatments, and it may lead to targets for drug development and other therapies which are desperately needed forthisdisease.