Digital PCR technology detects brain-tumor-associated mutation in cerebrospinal fluid

Massachusetts General Hospital researchers and their colleagues have used digital versions of a standard molecular biology tool to detect a common tumor-associated mutation in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with brain tumors. The investigators describe using advanced forms of the gene-amplification technology polymerase chain reaction to analyze bits of RNA carried in membrane-covered sacs called extracellular vesicles for the presence of a tumor-associated mutation in a gene called IDH1. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Chen WW, et al. (2013) BEAMing and Droplet Digital PCR Analysis of Mutant IDH1 mRNA in Glioma Patient Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Extracellular Vesicles. Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids. 2: e109.