MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes and, consequently, of intracellular signalling pathways that govern cellular behaviour (Komatsu et al., 2023). They are widely implicated in oncogenesis, and in particular in mechanisms promoting cell migration, invasion and proliferation (Romano et al., 2021). Several preliminary studies have shown that serum levels of pro-oncogenic microRNAs correlate with tumor rates in gliomas (Jones et al., 2021; Levallet et al., 2022; Morokoff et al., 2020). Morokoff's study showed encouraging but insufficient results on the possibility of using microRNAs to differentiate radionecrosis versus recurrence. These results need to be consolidated prospectively, with homogeneous samples taken from all patients.
The aim of this study is to describe the evolution over time of plasma levels of pro-oncogenic microRNAs, after surgery for grade 4 glioma, in order to assess whether they can be used to identify false-positive recurrences on MRI (radionecrosis).