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The “Liquid Biopsy”: the Role of Circulating DNA and RNA in Central Nervous System Tumors

  • Neuro-oncology (LE Abrey, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

The detection of tumor-derived circulating nucleic acids in patients with cancer, known as the “liquid biopsy,” has expanded from use in plasma to other bodily fluids in an increasing number of malignancies. Circulating nucleic acids could be of particular use in central nervous system tumors as biopsy carries a 5-7 % risk of major morbidity. This application presents unique challenges that have limited the use of cell-free DNA and RNA in the diagnosis and monitoring of CNS tumors. Recent work suggests that cerebrospinal fluid may be a useful source of CNS tumor-derived circulating nucleic acids. In this review, we discuss the available data and future outlook on the use of the liquid biopsy for CNS tumors.

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Abbreviations

BBB:

Blood-brain barrier

miRNA:

micro RNA

GBM:

Glioblastoma

CNS:

Central nervous system

CSF:

Cerebral spinal fluid

cfDNA:

Cell-free DNA

CTCs:

Circulating tumor cells

ddPCR:

Digital droplet PCR

mtDNA:

Mitochondrial DNA

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Ian D. Connolly, Yingmei Li & Melanie Hayden Gephart

  2. Department of Neurology, Division of Neuro-oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Seema Nagpal

  3. Stanford University Medical Center, 1201 Welch Rd, MSLS P151, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Ian D. Connolly & Yingmei Li

  4. Stanford University Medical Center, 1205 Welch Rd, MSLS R307, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Melanie Hayden Gephart

  5. Stanford University Medical Center, Cancer Center, 875 Blake Wilbur Dr, CC2221, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Seema Nagpal

  6. Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA

    Ian D. Connolly

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  1. Ian D. Connolly
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Correspondence to Ian D. Connolly.

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Ian D. Connolly, Yingmei Li, Melanie Hayden Gephart, and Seema Nagpal declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Connolly, I.D., Li, Y., Gephart, M.H. et al. The “Liquid Biopsy”: the Role of Circulating DNA and RNA in Central Nervous System Tumors. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 16, 25 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-016-0629-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-016-0629-6

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