Advances on Liquid Biopsy Analysis for Glioma Diagnosis

Abstract

Gliomas comprise the most frequent primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, characterized by remarkable genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity, difficulty in monitoring, and increased relapse and mortality rates. Tissue biopsy is an established method of tumor cell collection and analysis that enables diagnosis, classification of different tumor types, and prediction of prognosis upon confirmation of tumor’s location for surgical removal. However, it is an invasive and often challenging procedure that cannot be used for frequent patient screening, detection of mutations, disease monitoring, or resistance to therapy. To this end, the minimally invasive procedure of liquid biopsy has emerged, allowing effortless tumor sampling and enabling continuous monitoring. It is considered a novel preferable way to obtain faster data on potential tumor risk, personalized diagnosis, prognosis, and recurrence evaluation. The purpose of this review is to describe the advances on liquid biopsy for glioma diagnosis and management, indicating several biomarkers that can be utilized to analyze tumor characteristics, such as cell-free DNA (cfDNA), cell-free RNA (cfRNA), circulating proteins, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and exosomes. It further addresses the benefit of combining liquid biopsy with radiogenomics to facilitate early and accurate diagnoses, enable precise prognostic assessments, and facilitate real-time disease monitoring, aiming towards more optimal treatment decisions.

Assessment of the Efficacy of Circulating Tumor Cells by Liquid Biopsy in the Diagnosis and Prediction of Tumor Behavior of Gliomas: A Systematic Review

“…Gliomas exhibit notable genetic and epigenetic diversity, pose difficulties in surveillance, and are associated with higher rates of recurrence and mortality [ 14 ]. However, because of the high infiltrating capacity of glioma cells, and despite great advancements in both radio-/chemotherapeutic and surgical protocols, therapy of HGG still remains almost ineffective [ 24 ].…”

“…In cfDNA resulting from glioma cases, numerous genes as well as epigenetic modifications can be identified as well as utilized as diagnostic and monitoring biomarkers for the disease. Notably, the H3K27M mutation, a hallmark of DMG, serves as a prominent example [ 14 ].…”

“…Hence, LB offers a heightened level of sensitivity in the diagnostic process, coupled with the advantage of non-invasiveness and the ability for repeated sampling during treatment, offering a much more convenient approach [ 13 ]. LB, a minimally invasive procedure, has emerged, advancing diagnostics and providing insights into risk, prognosis, as well as recurrence [ 14 ]. Therefore, in the present study, we assess the efficacy of circulating tumor (CT) cells through LB for diagnosing and predicting the behavior of gliomas.…”

Clinical Applications of Adipose-Derived Stem Cell (ADSC) Exosomes in Tissue Regeneration

“…The undiscovered value of adipose stem cell exosomes originally in oncology and more recently in regenerative medicine continues to be revealed through the decisive collaboration between the researchers and clinicians of different specialties [ 135 ]. They key areas of ADSC-exo applications include the enhancement of wound healing and skin regeneration by promoting collagen synthesis, fibroblast proliferation, and angiogenesis, suitable for chronic wound management and burn injuries, as well as cartilage and bone regeneration by promoting chondrogenic differentiation and cartilage repair suitable for osteoarthritis and the healing of bone fractures.…”