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Evaluation of Biomarkers in Glioma by Immunohistochemistry on Paraffin-Embedded 3D Glioma Neurosphere Cultures
Published on: January 9, 2019
Blood-based biomarkers for malignant gliomas
Matthias Holdhoff1, Susannah G Yovino1,2, Osei Boadu1
1Brain Cancer Program, Department of Oncology Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Journal of Neuro-Oncology
|May 15, 2013
Summary
Developing reliable blood-based biomarkers is crucial for assessing malignant glioma progression. Current imaging methods are limited, highlighting the need for sensitive and specific blood tests for better patient management and research.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Biomarker Discovery
- Translational Research
Background:
- Malignant gliomas are challenging to treat due to difficulties in assessing tumor response and progression.
- Current neuro-imaging techniques (MRI, CT) indirectly assess tumor burden via blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, which can be confounded by treatments.
- Advanced imaging like PET and spectroscopy have not significantly improved patient assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential utility of tumor-specific, blood-based biomarkers for malignant gliomas.
- To summarize current data on circulating tumor cells, nucleic acids, and proteins as potential biomarkers.
- To discuss strategies for discovering and validating novel blood-based markers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on blood-based biomarkers in malignant gliomas.
- Analysis of circulating tumor cells, circulating nucleic acids, and circulating proteins.
- Discussion of methodologies for biomarker discovery and validation.
Main Results:
- No single blood-based marker class is clearly superior for malignant gliomas currently.
- Existing imaging methods have limitations in accurately assessing tumor response or progression.
- Circulating biomarkers offer a promising avenue for improved diagnostic and prognostic assessment.
Conclusions:
- Sensitive and specific blood-based biomarkers are urgently needed for clinical and research applications in malignant glioma.
- Further research into novel circulating biomarkers, including their discovery and validation, should be a high priority in neuro-oncology.
- Blood-based biomarkers could revolutionize the management of malignant gliomas by providing reliable assessments of tumor burden and treatment response.
