Translational research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine
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Ewing sarcoma was first described in 1921 in the Proceedings of the New York Pathological Society by an eminent American pathologist from Cornell named James R. Ewing as a "diffuse endothelioma of bone." Since this initial description, more has been discovered regarding Ewing sarcoma and in the 1980's both Ewing sarcoma and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors due to their similar features and shared identical genetic abnormality were grouped into a class of cancers entitled Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs). Ewing sarcoma is the second most common pediatric osseous malignancy followed by osteosarcoma, with highest incidence among 10-20 years old. ⋯ Within the past decade, liquid biopsies including extracellular vesicles (EVs), have emerged as a promising alternative and/or complimentary approach to standard tumor biopsies. It was recently reported that fusion mRNAs from tumor-specific chromosome translocations can be detected in Ewing sarcoma cell-derived exosomes. Within this review, we overview the current advances in Ewing sarcoma and the opportunities and challenges in exploiting circulating exosomes, primarily small bioactive EVs (30-180 nm), as developing sources of biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic response monitoring in children and young adult patients with ESFT.
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Pancreatic cancer is one of the main causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is asymptomatic at an early stage, and most diagnosis occurs when the disease is already at a late stage, by which time the tumor is nonresectable. In order to increase the overall survival of patients with pancreatic cancer, as well as to decrease the cancer burden, it is necessary to perform early diagnosis, prognosis stratifications and cancer monitoring using accurate, minimally invasive, and cost-effective methods. ⋯ In patients with pancreatic cancer, tumor-derived materials, primarily circulating tumor DNA, circulating tumor cells and exosomes, are being studied for inclusion in the management of the disease. This review focuses on describing the biology of these biomarkers, methods for their enrichment and detection, as well as their potential for clinical application. Moreover, we discuss the future direction of liquid biopsies and introduce how they can be exploited toward point of care personalized medicine for the management of pancreatic cancer.
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Despite decades of investigation, we cannot predict, prevent, or adequately treat the most common and deadly complications of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension). The current working hypothesis for the repeated failures of several multicenter studies that measured a wide variety of biomarkers is common pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia are most likely heterogeneous syndromes with various etiologies; therefore, no combination of blood-based biomarkers will provide predictive power. Although the clinical syndrome of pre-eclampsia may have various causes, the current dogma is most cases share similar placental pathology, including accelerated chorionic villous maturation and an increased frequency of malperfusion-related infarctions. ⋯ A major obstacle to advancement in this field has been the lack of EV imaging and isolation assays that can provide both cell- and size-specificity. Nanoscale multiplex high-resolution flow cytometry being developed in a number of laboratories may provide a solution. It is a potential means to quantitate both cell- and size-specific EVs from various cell sources, including the placenta.
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Liquid biopsies examine tumor cells or tumor genomic content in circulating fluids. In advanced prostate cancer which metastasizes frequently to the bone, it is difficult to evaluate underlying and evolving genomic heterogeneity of skeletal metastases for effecting clinical care for which reason liquid biopsies offer an alternate approach. In this review, we will summarize the current state of a wide variety of liquid biopsy-based biomarker assays currently being investigated and developed for managing prostate cancer. We will also highlight technical and clinical challenges and opportunities for translating liquid biopsies into clinical applications.
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Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus frequently develop lupus nephritis (LN), a condition that can lead to end-stage kidney disease. Multiple serum and urine biomarkers for LN have been proposed in recent years, yet none have become incorporated into clinical use. ⋯ A more likely scenario is a panel of urine, serum, tissue, and genetic biomarkers. In this review, we summarize traditional and novel biomarkers and discuss how they may be utilized in order to bring precision medicine to clinical practice in LN.