Researchers at Pennsylvania State University in the USA have developed a blood test to detect biomarkers of the most dangerous type of brain cancer. The results of the research have been published magazine Journal of Neuro-Oncology.
Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor affecting the glial cells of the brain or spinal cord, as well as the most severe and difficult to treat. Doctors often use MRI and CT data to monitor disease progression, but it can be difficult to determine whether a patient is getting better or worse. Therefore, it is important to develop a blood test that better reflects the patient’s health status.
In their team studies, the interleukin-13 α2 antigen receptor (IL13Ra2) is elevated in tumor tissue in more than 75% of patients with glioma. The scientists examined the tumor tissue and blood plasma of 79 patients with primary glioma, as well as the blood plasma of 23 patients without cancer.
The experts studied extracellular vesicles—small vesicles secreted by cells that carry material from those cells. They found that glioma patients had significantly higher plasma levels of IL13Ra2 compared to controls.
“IL13Ra2 was probably concentrated in extracellular vesicles derived from tumor cells. Plasma IL13Ra2 levels correlate with IL13Ra2 levels in patients’ tumors. It can also be used for therapy. High IL13Ra2 levels in both plasma and tumors are predictive of longer survival. In fact, high IL13Ra2 plasma levels are predictive of survival.” “Patients had 6.5 months longer survival than those with low levels,” he said.