Researchers from MSK have studied the use of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to determine the genetic profiles of gliomas (brain tumors). This could replace brain biopsies with minimally invasive lumbar punctures. MSK’s Dr. Ingo Mellinghoff led the study, published in Nature and reported by Forbes.

Researchers found tumor-derived DNA in 42 CSF samples from the 85 adult patients diagnosed with gliomas included in the study. The use of CSF to sequence tumor DNA may someday determine treatment options for patients for whom a brain biopsy is not an option and could help track changes to tumor profiles over time. Further research will need to determine when tumor DNA becomes discoverable in CSF.