Liquid Biopsy in Glioblastoma Management: From Current Research to Future Perspectives

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary tumor of the central nervous system. Arising from neuroepithelial glial cells, GBM is characterized by invasive behavior, extensive angiogenesis, and genetic heterogeneity that contributes to poor prognosis and treatment failure. Currently, there are several molecular biomarkers available to aid in diagnosis, prognosis, and predicting treatment outcomes; however, all require the biopsy of tumor tissue. Nevertheless, a tissue sample from a single location has its own limitations, including the risk related to the procedure and the difficulty of obtaining longitudinal samples to monitor treatment response and to fully capture the intratumoral heterogeneity of GBM. To date, there are no biomarkers in blood or cerebrospinal fluid for detection, follow-up, or prognostication of GBM. Liquid biopsy offers an attractive and minimally invasive solution to support different stages of GBM management, assess the molecular biology of the tumor, identify early recurrence and longitudinal genomic evolution, predict both prognosis and potential resistance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and allow patient selection for targeted therapies. The aim of this review is to describe the current knowledge regarding the application of liquid biopsy in glioblastoma, highlighting both benefits and obstacles to translation into clinical care. Implications for Practice To translate liquid biopsy into clinical practice, further prospective studies are required with larger cohorts to increase specificity and sensitivity. With the ever-growing interest in RNA nanotechnology, microRNAs may have a therapeutic role in brain tumors.

Automated summary

Glioblastoma is the most common primary tumor of the central nervous system, characterized by challenges and limitations. Liquid biopsy offers an attractive minimally invasive solution to support glioblastoma management at different stages.