Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers say that brain tumour cells release tiny sacs called microvesicles, which contain information that may prove helpful in developing an effective treatment for the disease.
The researchers claim that they have found tumour-associated RNA and proteins in membrane microvesicles called exosomes in blood samples from glioblastoma patients.
About Brain Tumor
Brain tumors are the abnormal growth of brain cells that may be benign or metastatic. Brain tumors account for about 2.4% of all the tumor diagnosesandare most challenging due to their critically delicate location.
Brain tumors are the abnormal growth of brain cells that may be benign or metastatic. Brain tumors account for about 2.4% of all the tumor diagnosesandare most challenging due to their critically delicate location.
"Glioblastomas release exosomes in sufficient quantities to pass the blood-brain barrier. We were able to isolate them, analyze the RNA transcripts and show how they might be used as biomarkers to guide targeted therapy and monitor treatment response," Nature Cell Biology quoted Dr. Johan Skog, who works in the laboratory of Dr. Xandra Breakefield at the MGH Neuroscience Center, as saying.
"Exosomes also may someday be used to deliver therapeutic molecules to the site of a tumour," added the study's lead author.
Top Ten Facts About Brain Tumors
Quick valuable reference that enlists interesting facts about brain tumors.
Quick valuable reference that enlists interesting facts about brain tumors.
During the study, the researchers first analysed tumour cells from three glioblastomas, and verified that the cells released exosomes containing RNA and protein molecules.
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Glioma Brain Tumor
Democrat Senator Edward Kennedy has been diagnosed with Glioma, a kind of brain tumor. Tests carried out on the 76 -year old politician revealed a tumor on his left parietal lobe.
Democrat Senator Edward Kennedy has been diagnosed with Glioma, a kind of brain tumor. Tests carried out on the 76 -year old politician revealed a tumor on his left parietal lobe.
Upon culturing glioblastoma exosomes with normal cells, they saw that tumour RNA was delivered into the normal cells and generated its encoded protein, supporting the role of exosome-delivered RNA in manipulating the cellular environment.
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Tumor Cells can Be Killed With Nanoparticles and Light Combo
University of Virginia medical physicists have come up with a new idea to kill tumour cells with the help of nanoparticles and light.
University of Virginia medical physicists have come up with a new idea to kill tumour cells with the help of nanoparticles and light.
They said that their efforts enabled them to find tumour exosomes and to identify, in some tissue samples, a mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene that characterizes a tumour subtype.
The group revealed that in two patients, an EGFR mutation that did not appear in the tumour tissue sample was identified by exosome analysis, reflecting how a surgical biopsy could miss tissue conveying critical information because of the often-chaotic diversity of cells within a tumour.
"It is known that the effects of some anticancer drugs depend on a tumor's genetic mutational profile, so our results have broad implications for personalized medicine," says Skog, who is an instructor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School.
"Detecting mutational profiles through a noninvasive blood test could allow us to monitor how a tumor's genetic makeup changes in response to therapy, which may necessitate changes in treatment strategy," he adds.
The researchers are currently researching into the role of exosomes in other solid tumours. Their aim is to find out how exosomes may help monitor additional tumour-associated mutations.
Source-ANI
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