Summary of Biomarker Discovery May Lead to Blood Test for Brain Cancer:
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have identified a biomarker that can be used in blood tests to diagnose glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest type of brain cancer, and track its progression and guide treatment. The biomarker, interleukin-13 receptor α2 (IL13Rα2), is known to be elevated in the tumor tissue of more than 75% of GBM patients. The researchers found that patients with GBM had significantly elevated levels of IL13Rα2 in their blood plasma compared to control patients. The researchers said such a non-invasive liquid biopsy for GBM could help patients get the care they need more quickly.
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Penn State Researchers Identify Potential Liquid Biopsy Biomarker for Deadly Brain Cancer
Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the deadliest types of brain cancer, with a five-year survival rate of only 5%. However, Penn State College of Medicine researchers have identified a biomarker that may help diagnose GBM, track its progression, and guide treatment via a non-invasive liquid biopsy.
The Need for Non-Invasive Diagnosis and Monitoring
The current method for diagnosing and tracking brain tumors is through imaging, such as MRI or CT scans. However, these scans may not provide enough detail at the cellular or molecular level to determine if the tumors are getting better or worse. A supplemental diagnostic test may help physicians determine if the tumors are responding to therapy and regressing or require additional treatment.
Concerns with Sampling Brain Tumor Tissue
For more detailed information about the progression of brain tumors, physicians often take a tissue biopsy from the tumor. However, this process can have risks, such as bleeding or infection, and not all tumors can be biopsied due to their location in the brain. In addition, a needle biopsy or a small sample of a GBM tumor tissue may not accurately represent the entire tumor due to its patchy distribution.
IL13Rα2 as a Promising Biomarker
The Penn State researchers investigated a particular antigen receptor, interleukin-13 receptor α2 (IL13Rα2), which is known to be elevated in the tumor tissue of more than 75% of GBM patients. The research team aimed to identify whether IL13Rα2 could potentially serve as a non-invasive biomarker for GBM that could be tracked in blood samples through a liquid biopsy.
Elevated Levels of Biomarker in Patient Plasma
The researchers examined the tumor tissue and blood plasma of 79 patients with primary GBM, along with the blood plasma of 23 control patients from two different healthcare systems. The control patients had no malignancy or chronic inflammation but had prior spinal stenosis or arteriovenous malformation diagnoses. The researchers found that patients with GBM had significantly elevated levels of IL13Rα2 in their blood plasma compared to control patients. These levels were likely concentrated on extracellular vesicles derived from tumor cells. The researchers also found that the IL13Rα2 levels in blood plasma correlated with the IL13Rα2 levels in the patient’s tumors.
Benefits of IL13Rα2 Biomarker for GBM
The researchers believe that using IL13Rα2 as a biomarker for GBM could be beneficial in several ways. For example, a liquid biopsy that includes the IL13Rα2 biomarker may help physicians diagnose and track GBM progression more accurately than current methods. They also found that elevated levels of this biomarker in patient plasma and tumors predicted longer overall survival for patients with GBM.
A Significant Finding in Brain Tumor Research
The discovery that IL13Rα2 has utility as a biomarker for glioblastoma is a significant finding in brain tumor research. The researchers believe that this biomarker has the potential as a robust diagnostic tool that can improve clinical decisions concerning GBM patients’ care. More research and clinical studies may be necessary to understand better how this biomarker will work in practice.
Conclusion
Successfully treating GBM involves accurately and quickly monitoring the tumor’s progression and treatment, and IL13Rα2 may help physicians achieve that. The study shows the potential of using liquid biopsies as an effective diagnostic tool for brain cancers like GBM. As researchers learn more, they hope to refine the biomarker and improve blood tests’ accuracy in tracking how a patient responds to treatment.
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