Biomarkers in Cerebrospinal Fluid for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Gliomas

Abstract

Gliomas are the most common type of malignant brain tumor and are characterized by a plethora of heterogeneous molecular alterations. Current treatments require the emergence of reliable biomarkers that will aid personalized treatment decisions and increase life expectancy. Glioma tissues are not as easily accessible as other solid tumors; therefore, detecting prominent biomarkers in biological fluids is necessary. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulates adjacent to the cerebral parenchyma and holds promise for discovering useful prognostic, diagnostic, and predictive biomarkers. In this review, we summarize extensive research regarding the role of circulating DNA, tumor cells, proteins, microRNAs, metabolites, and extracellular vesicles as potential CSF biomarkers for glioma diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring. Future studies should address discrepancies and issues of specificity regarding CSF biomarkers, as well as the validation of candidate biomarkers.

Keywords

• biomarker
• cerebrospinal fluid
• ctDNA
• extracellular vesicle
• glioma
• miRNA