Expression of some circulating microRNAs as predictive biomarkers for prognosis and treatment response in glioblastoma.

in Scientific reports by Elham Ali, Marwa Adel Ahmed, May A Shawki, Lobna R Ezz El Arab, Mohamed K Khalifa, Menha Swellam

TLDR

  • The study investigated the role of circulating microRNAs in predicting GBM patient treatment outcomes.
  • The study found significant differences in miR levels among participants, providing valuable insights for personalized therapeutic strategies.
  • Future studies are needed to validate the findings and explore the potential mechanisms underlying the observed associations between miRs and GBM patient outcomes.

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent, treatment-resistant, and fatal form of brain malignancy. It is characterized by genetic heterogeneity, and an infiltrative nature, and GBM treatment is highly challenging. Despite multimodal therapies, clinicians lack efficient prognostic and predictive markers. Therefore, new insights into GBM management are urgently needed to increase the chance of therapeutic success. Circulating miRNAs (miRs) are important regulators of cancer progression and are potentially useful for GBM diagnosis and treatment. This study investigated how miR-29a, miR-106a, and miR-200a affect the prognosis of GBM patients. This study was conducted on 25 GBM patients and 20 healthy volunteers as a control group. The expression levels of target miRs were analyzed pre- and post-treatment using qRT-PCR and evaluated in relation to both clinical GBM criteria and the patient's survival modes. The diagnostic efficacy of target miRs was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. MiRs levels showed significant differences among the enrolled participants. All investigated miRs were significantly elevated in GBM patients with non-frontal lesions. Only miR-200a showed a significant difference in GBM patients older than 60 years with a tumor size ≥ 5 mm. Regarding miR-106a, a significant difference was detected based on the surgical strategy and use of an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status equal to 2. For miR-29a, a significant upregulation was detected according to the surgical strategy. All post-treatment miRs levels in GBM patients were significantly downregulated. In conclusion, circulating miRs revealed a significant role in predicting GBM patient treatment outcomes providing valuable insights for personalized therapeutic strategies.

Overview

  • The study investigates the role of circulating microRNAs (miRs) in predicting the prognosis of Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients.
  • The study aims to identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of GBM, a treatment-resistant and fatal form of brain malignancy.
  • The study was conducted on 25 GBM patients and 20 healthy volunteers, analyzing the expression levels of miR-29a, miR-106a, and miR-200a pre- and post-treatment.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • The study found significant differences in miR levels among participants, with all investigated miRs elevated in GBM patients with non-frontal lesions.
  • MiR-200a was significantly elevated in GBM patients older than 60 years with a tumor size ≥ 5 mm, while miR-106a was significantly different based on surgical strategy and ECOG performance status.
  • MiR-29a was significantly upregulated according to surgical strategy, and all post-treatment miRs levels in GBM patients were significantly downregulated.

Implications and Future Directions

  • The study suggests that circulating miRs can play a key role in predicting GBM patient treatment outcomes and providing valuable insights for personalized therapeutic strategies.
  • Future studies should investigate the potential of miRs as biomarkers for diagnosing GBM and monitoring treatment response.
  • Additional research is needed to validate the findings and explore the potential mechanisms underlying the observed associations between miRs and GBM patient outcomes.
Read Full Article