CSF ctDNA analysis guides molecular reclassification of diffuse glioma patients
Tumor DNA in spinal fluid can reclassify brain tumors previously stuck in diagnostic limbo, guiding treatment more accurately.
Using a 600-gene NGS panel on CSF from 43 glioma patients, ctDNA analysis detected pathogenic mutations in 60% of cases and enabled WHO 2021 reclassification in 3 patients who were previously ambiguously classified. This study supports CSF ctDNA as a clinically impactful liquid biopsy approach for glioma, particularly for tumors where tissue biopsy is high-risk.
What the study was
- Study design
- Prospective cohort, CSF liquid biopsy validation
- Population
- Diffuse glioma patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Sample size
- 43
- Category
- Diagnostics
- Maturity
- Exploratory
- Journal
- J Neurooncol
Why it surfaced
CSF ctDNA for glioma reclassification addresses high clinical need (surgical biopsy risk); WHO 2021 reclassification impacted by liquid biopsy; from MD Anderson with rigorous NGS approach.
A plain-language summary of published research — not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about your own care.