Circulating MicroRNA as Novel Potential Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Highly Malignant Gliomas

Highly malignant glial tumors (highly malignant gliomas) are the most aggressive primary brain neoplasms. Understanding of the pathogenesis and development of new and effective diagnostic and therapeutic methods is therefore of great interest. MicroRNAs are short noncoding RNA molecule of length 18–22 nucleotides which have been shown to play a direct role in carcinogenesis. Circulating microRNA are released into the extracellular space and can remain stable for long periods of time in most biological fluids, including serum and plasma. Circulating microRNA are potential biomarkers for different expression profiles specific for different human diseases, including oncological diseases. Many data have been obtained showing that different circulating microRNA profiles in human biological fluids particularly in extracellular vesicles, are linked with numerous neoplastic processes, such that microRNA may constitute a new class of biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis of highly malignant gliomas.