Circulating MicroRNA Expression in Glioblastoma: A Promising Diagnostic Panel

Introduction: Among malignant brain tumors, glioblastoma (GB) is one of the most common. An early diagnosis would benefit the prognosis: in this regard, the search for sensitive and specific biomarkers is particularly active. In fact, liquid biopsy has been proposed by many researchers as a valid and repeatable method of studying GB. Among the biomarkers researched in blood patients, microRNAs (miRNAs) are among the most encouraging. The aim of our research was to select blood miRNAs overexpressed in GB patients to establish a reliable biomarker panel for pathology. Methods: We studied blood expression of 14 miRNAs in 30 subjects with GB, before and after surgery, and 30 healthy controls. Results: Statistical analysis allowed us to select a panel of 3 miRNAs (miR-340-5p, miR-369-3p, miR-486-5p) that are overexpressed in GB patients. Conclusion: Our results showed that simultaneous measurement of circulating miR-340-5p, miR-369-3p, and miR-486-5p represents a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and follow-up of GB patients.