Current and Emerging Biomarkers in Tumors of the Central Nervous System: Possible Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Applications

Publication date: Available online 31 July 2017 Source:Seminars in Cancer Biology Author(s): Ishaq N. Khan, Najeeb Ullah, Deema Hussein, Kulvinder S. Saini Recent investments in research associated with the discovery of specific tumor biomarkers important for efficient diagnosis and prognosis of the patients are beginning to bear fruit. Key biomarkers could potentially outweigh traditional radiological or pathological methods by enabling specificity of early detection, when coupled with tumor molecular profiling and clinical associations. Only few biomarkers are approved by regulatory authorities for Central Nervous System Tumors (CNSTs), despite the evaluation of a large number of CNST related markers during clinical trials. Traditional CNSTs biomarkers include 1p/19q co-deletion, O6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase Methylation, and mutations in IDH1/IDH2. Recently tested CNSTs biomarkers include VEGFR-2, EGFRvIII, IL2, PDGFR, MMPs, BRAF, STAT3, PTEN, TERT, AKT, NF2, and BCL2. Additional studies have highlighted new & novel MicroRNAs, circular RNAs and long non-coding RNAs as promising biomarkers. Studies on microvesicles pinpoint exosomes as promising, less invasive biomarkers that could be isolated from the serum of cancer patients. Furthermore, Cancer Stem Cells related molecules, such as- CD133, SOX2 and Nestin as CNST biomarkers might enable efficient monitoring of cancer progression, and/or surveillance of emerging drug resistant cells. Approved protoc...
Source: Seminars in Cancer Biology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research