Brain tumour blood test one step closer

The study is part of a wider Bristol-led project to develop a simple brain tumour blood test that could be administered by GPs, a ‘liquid biopsy’ capable of catching cancers at much earlier stages than is currently the norm. Its aim is to detect biomarkers for glioblastomas (GBMs) – also known as grade IV astrocytomas – the most common and aggressive form of brain tumour.

Published in the Royal Society Interface, the latest work by the Bristol team saw the development of mathematical models to assess the current use of biomarkers in the detection of GBMs and how such biomarker-based strategies can be improved. Pairing the models with experimental data, the researchers found that for the prospective GBM biomarker Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), lowering the current biomarker threshold could lead to earlier detection of GBMs. The team also used computational modelling to explore the impact of tumour characteristics and patient differences on detection and strategies for improvements.