Plasma MicroRNA-21 concentration may be a useful biomarker in glioblastoma patients.
BACKGROUND
MicroRNAs are proposed as plasma biomarkers in cancer. Glioblastoma is the most frequent primary brain tumor of adults. MicroRNA-21 was shown to induce glioblastoma growth.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the circulating microRNA-21 in glioblastoma patients.


METHODS
MicroRNA-21 copies in glioblastoma plasma (n = 10, before surgery and during/after concomitant chemoradiotherapy), control plasma (n = 10), and tissue samples were analyzed using RT-qPCR.


RESULTS
MicroRNA-21 in glioblastoma was significantly higher than controls (p = .02) and decreased significantly in 9 patients (p = .05). One patient with increasing microRNA-21 developed a histopathologically proven recurrence after the second sample collection.


CONCLUSIONS
Circulating microRNA-21 might be a useful biomarker in glioblastoma.
Department of Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumours Unit (CCC-CNS), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Aysegül
A
Ilhan-Mutlu
Ludwig
L
Wagner
Adelheid
A
Wöhrer
Julia
J
Furtner
Georg
G
Widhalm
Christine
C
Marosi
Matthias
M
Preusser
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs