Abstract

CSF microRNA Profile as a Liquid Biopsy Platform to Assess Glioblastoma Tumor Burden

Clark Chen, Co-Director, University of California-San Diego

Glioblastoma is the most common form of primary brain neoplasm and remains one of the deadliest of human cancers.  Clinical care for glioblastoma patients is largely limited by the absence of biomarker for assessment of tumor burden or therapeutic response. The discovery that glioblastoma cells secrete extra-cellular vesicles (EVs) containing tumor specific genetic material has opened a new platform for biomarker development.  These EVs transgress anatomic compartments and can be detected in clinical bio-fluids. The EVs shelter the tumor-specific genetic material from the extracellular environment that is replete with RNAses and preserve the integrity of these materials. Importantly, the genetic materials within EVs appear highly enriched for RNAs in the size range of microRNAs (miRNAs). The talk will focus on using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) derived exosomal miRNA signature as a liquid biopsy platform for assessing glioblastoma tumor burden. Issues pertaining to vesicle quantitation, normalization, optimal specimen storage condition, and influence of microenvironment will be discussed.