ExRNA in Biofluids as Biomarkers for Brain Tumors

Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2016 Apr;36(3):353-60. doi: 10.1007/s10571-015-0284-5. Epub 2016 Mar 18.

Abstract

Patients with high-grade gliomas and glioblastomas (GBMs) have poor survival despite optimal surgical and drug therapy. Minimally invasive diagnostic biomarkers would enable early diagnosis and tumor-specific treatments for 'personalized targeted' therapy, and would create the basis for response tracking in patients with GBM. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from cerebrospinal fluid and blood contain glioma-specific molecules, including tumor-derived EV RNAs that are detectable in small copy numbers in these biofluids. EV RNA mutations or expression changes are also detectable, the analysis of which gives rise to 'liquid biopsy' tumor profiling.

Keywords: Extracellular vesicle; Glioblastoma; Glioma; RNA.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Body Fluids / metabolism*
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Humans

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor