title: Analysis of Glioblastoma Patients' Plasma Revealed the Presence of MicroRNAs with a Prognostic Impact on Survival and Those of Viral Origin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the most aggressive cancers with a poor prognosis in spite of a plethora of established diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and treatment modalities. Therefore, the current goal is the detection of novel biomarkers, possibly detectable in the blood of GBM patients that may enable an early diagnosis and are potential therapeutic targets, leading to more efficient interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  MicroRNA profiling of 734 human and human-associated viral miRNAs was performed on blood plasma samples from 16 healthy individuals and 16 patients with GBM, using the nCounter miRNA Expression Assay Kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 19 miRNAs with significantly different plasma levels in GBM patients, compared to the healthy individuals group with the difference limited by a factor of 2. Additionally, 11 viral miRNAs were found differentially expressed in plasma of GBM patients and 24 miRNA levels significantly correlated with the patients' survival. Moreover, the overlap between the group of candidate miRNAs for diagnostic biomarkers and the group of miRNAs associated with survival, consisted of ten miRNAs, showing both diagnostic and prognostic potential. Among them, hsa miR 592 and hsa miR 514a 3p have not been previously described in GBM and represent novel candidates for selective biomarkers. The possible signalling, induced by the revealed miRNAs is discussed, including those of viral origin, and in particular those related to the impaired immune response in the progression of GBM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GBM burden is reflected in the alteration of the plasma miRNAs pattern, including viral miRNAs, representing the potential for future clinical application. Therefore proposed biomarker candidate miRNAs should be validated in a larger study of an independent cohort of patients.
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gruden
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blejec
authors.affiliation: Department of Knowledge Technologies, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Vid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Podpečan
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Motaln
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Primož
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rožman
authors.affiliation: BioSistemika, raziskave in razvoj d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Matjaž
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hren
authors.affiliation: BioSistemika, raziskave in razvoj d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Klemen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zupančič
authors.affiliation: Educell Ltd., Trzin, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Matija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veber
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Urška
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Verbovšek
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lah Turnšek
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ljubljana University Medical Centre, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porčnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ljubljana University Medical Centre, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koršič
authors.affiliation: Educell Ltd., Trzin, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Miomir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knežević
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Celica d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Matjaž
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeras
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs