Russian researchers have demonstrated what appears to be a highly reliable method for identifying a cancerous brain tumor. This development was reported by the press service of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RNF).
The brain is built from nerve cells supported by glial tissue, which forms the environment necessary for neural activity. Yet this very glial framework can also become a fertile ground for cancer growth. Glioma, a common and dangerous brain tumor, arises when glial cells divide uncontrollably. Traditional diagnostic tools rely on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, but image interpretation remains challenging. Even seasoned clinicians can miss small tumors in the earliest stages, especially when those lesions appear subtle on scans or mimic normal tissue characteristics.
To address these diagnostic gaps, researchers from Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, together with colleagues from several other institutions, pursued a novel approach based on DNA aptamers. Aptamers are short strands of DNA that can be engineered to bind selectively to specific cell types. In this study, investigators crafted in vitro short DNA sequences that showed precise binding to human glial tumor cells. This screening produced more than twenty thousand candidates, each about one hundred nucleotides long—the fundamental building blocks of these molecular binders. With the aid of machine learning, the team then sifted and refined these candidates, employing molecular modeling tools to pinpoint the most promising sequences for sequencing and practical use in detection.
The next step involved testing how well these DNA aptamers could attach to their target tumor cells under controlled laboratory conditions. Through a rigorous selection process, researchers identified two sequence variants that proved strictly specific to glioma cells, effectively differentiating malignant glial tissue from healthy brain regions and from other tumor types. These two aptamers were designated Gli-233 and Gli-55. To validate their diagnostic potential in a living system, the scientists conducted experiments in laboratory mice that harbored human glioma cells in their brains. The Gli-233 molecules were tagged with fluorescent labels to enable visualization under a microscope. The results showed that the aptamer bound to tumor cells with exceptional precision while exhibiting no observable toxicity to the animals. This achievement suggests a promising avenue for more accurate, noninvasive detection of gliomas in patients, potentially complementing or refining existing imaging techniques.
A note of curiosity accompanies these findings: the research field continues to explore diverse biotech strategies, including the use of synthetic biology to model and test cancer therapies in controlled environments. Such explorations underscore a broader shift toward targeted, molecularly informed diagnostics that can work alongside traditional imaging to improve early detection and treatment planning for brain tumors.