Thomas Klonisch, Professor & Head, Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba

“Novel minimally invasive immune-proteome biomarker strategy for Glioblastoma”

Project Summary

There is an urgent need for the rapid identification of protein and immunological biomarkers that are indicative of brain tumours, enable early diagnosis, and allow monitoring of treatment options and responses. Ideally, such assays are minimally invasive and detect circulating oncological and immunological biomarkers from blood samples. Nowhere is this more important than in the early diagnosis and monitoring of highly malignant and rapidly growing glioblastoma (GBM), which constitute about 60% of all primary brain tumours and have one of the worst 5-year survival rates among all cancers. Currently, there is no early diagnostic test for GBM.

We have established two minimally invasive assays for identifying the plasma-based predictive and/or prognostic proteome and circulating immune cell signatures from a single patient’s blood sample. These robust high-content assays include the proteomic SOMA scan assay and multicolour flow cytometry for detecting several immune cell subtypes circulating in the blood. The combination of both assays translates into a new strategy for clinical monitoring of GBM patients.

The primary goal of our proposal is to identify plasma-derived protein and immune cell signatures that are suitable for early, non-invasive diagnosis of GBM, can serve as response predictors or differentiators between pseudo-progression and real progression, and indicate GBM recurrences.

August 2018 – Midpoint Report

Researchers analyzed blood plasma from 33 patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma (GB)—before any treatment—and compared it with samples from 16 healthy people of similar age. Using an advanced proteomics technique that measures over 1,300 proteins per sample, they identified a distinct pattern of 16 proteins that can reliably distinguish GB patients from healthy individuals. Several of these proteins are linked to brain inflammation, injury, and tumour biology, and one marker (MMP3) has already been validated with an independent test. Some proteins in the panel are known biomarkers, while others may represent new indicators of glioblastoma. The team has patented this protein signature and is now working with a diagnostics company to develop ELISA-based tests that could monitor these markers in patients over time using blood samples. In parallel, the researchers have begun immune profiling of blood cells using flow cytometry to better understand immune changes in GB patients, working with samples from a brain tumour biobank in Calgary. Together, these efforts aim to develop blood-based biomarkers and immune indicators that could help diagnose and monitor glioblastoma.