Figure 3.

Box plots of pleural effusion DNA fragments, integrity index and mesothelin concentrations in subjects with effusions due to benign aetiology, other cancers and mesothelioma. DNA fragment values were determined by quantitative PCR for ALU (a) 115bp fragment and (b) a 247bp fragment. The DNA integrity index (c) was defined as the ratio of ALU 247/ALU 115 fragment levels. Mesothelin values (d) were determined by ELISA. Mann-Whitney U test to was used to assess for any differences in comparison to benign effusions and p values <0.05 were deemed significant.