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Review
. 2020 Oct 29;11(11):1276.
doi: 10.3390/genes11111276.

DNA Associated with Circulating Exosomes as a Biomarker for Glioma

Manjusha Vaidya  1 , Kiminobu Sugaya  1
Affiliations
Review

DNA Associated with Circulating Exosomes as a Biomarker for Glioma

Manjusha Vaidya et al. Genes (Basel). .

Abstract

Cancerous and non-cancerous cells secrete exosomes, a type of nanovesicle known to carry the molecular signature of the parent for intercellular communications. Exosomes secreted by tumor cells carry abnormal DNA, RNA, and protein molecules that reflect the cancerous status. DNA is the master molecule that ultimately affects the function of RNA and proteins. Aberrations in DNA can potentially lead a cell to malignancy. Deviant quantities and the differential sequences of exosomal DNA are useful characteristics as cancer biomarkers. Since these alterations are either associated with specific stages of cancer or caused due to a clinical treatment, exosomal DNA is valuable as a diagnostic, prognostic, predictive, and therapeutic-intervention response biomarker. Notably, the exosomes can cross an intact blood-brain barrier and anatomical compartments by transcytosis. As such, the cancer-specific trademark molecules can be detected in systemic blood circulation and other body fluids, including cerebrospinal fluid, with non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures. This comprehensive review highlights the cancer-specific modulations of DNA associated with circulating exosomes that are beneficial as glioma biomarkers.

Keywords: biomarkers; cancer stem cells; cell-free DNA; exosomes; oncogenes; stemness genes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Exosomal DNA as brain cancer biomarkers. The selection of body fluids, the types of DNA and the analyses performed with the exosomal DNA to establish them as prognostic, diagnostic or therapy response biomarkers for the brain cancers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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