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Liquid Biopsies for Monitoring Medulloblastoma: Circulating Tumor DNA as a Biomarker for Disease Progression and
Barbara Buccilli1,2, Maria A Rodriguez Molina3, Daniela P Redrovan Palomeque4
1Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ITA.
Cureus
|February 5, 2024
Summary
Liquid biopsies, especially circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), show promise for monitoring pediatric brain tumors like medulloblastoma (MB). These advanced techniques aid in early diagnosis, treatment response assessment, and detecting minimal residual disease (MRD).
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Pediatric brain tumors, including medulloblastoma (MB), pose significant clinical challenges.
- Early diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and minimal residual disease (MRD) detection are critical for patient outcomes.
- Liquid biopsy techniques offer a promising avenue for noninvasive monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in liquid biopsy techniques for monitoring pediatric brain tumors, focusing on medulloblastoma (MB).
- To assess the utility of liquid biopsies in diagnosis, prognosis, and MRD detection.
- To explore the role of liquid biopsies in MB subgroup classification and risk stratification.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of recent literature on liquid biopsy applications in pediatric brain tumors.
- Focus on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- Examination of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and microRNA (miRNA) components.
Main Results:
- Liquid biopsies, particularly ctDNA in CSF, demonstrate potential for noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of pediatric brain tumors.
- These methods aid in MB subgroup classification, risk stratification, and identifying therapeutic targets.
- Challenges in sensitivity and specificity require further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Liquid biopsies, especially ctDNA analysis in CSF, are increasingly important in pediatric brain tumor management, particularly for medulloblastoma (MB).
- They offer potential for revolutionizing patient care through early diagnosis, accurate monitoring, and MRD detection.
- Further research is essential to fully validate the clinical utility of liquid biopsies.
