The degree of tumour differentiation was also assessed using standard criteria.

Mesothelin is a tumour differentiation antigen that is normally present on the mesothelial cells lining the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium.

When analysed according to tumour differentiation, no significant differences were found between cholesterol concentrations for any combination of well, moderately, and poorly differentiated tumours (Table III).

Tumour DNA content was not significantly related to gender of the patients, tumour site, or tumour differentiation (Table II).

The Trojani system scores the sample, depending on tumour differentiation, mitotic index, and tumour necrosis, between 0 and 6 and then converts this into a grade of between 1 and 3, with 1 representing a less aggressive tumour.