A study identified microRNA patterns in blood plasma that could support noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of the most aggressive form of brain cancer.
A new study published in Diagnostics has demonstrated the feasibility of detecting glioblastoma (GBM)—the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer—through a minimally invasive blood plasma test, potentially offering an alternative to surgical biopsies and costly imaging procedures.
The paper was conducted in collaboration with clinical researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and was announced jointly by Aptorum Group and DiamiR Biosciences Corp. The research identifies specific microRNA signatures in blood plasma that show promise as noninvasive biomarkers for GBM diagnosis and monitoring.
GBM carries a median survival of fewer than 15 months following diagnosis, according to the announcement. Current diagnostic approaches rely on invasive surgical biopsies or imaging procedures, making a blood-based alternative a potentially significant development for clinical laboratorians and neuro-oncology teams.
“We are proud to announce the publication of our latest peer-reviewed data demonstrating the clinical potential of microRNA biomarkers in the detection of glioblastoma,” says Alidad Mireskandari, PhD, chief executive officer of DiamiR, in a release. “This work builds on a growing body of evidence supporting the role of microRNAs in brain health and represents an important validation of our platform.”
Mireskandari noted that the publication advances a broader pipeline strategy focused on translating microRNA biology into clinically actionable diagnostic solutions. “We believe this technology has the potential to change how devastating diseases like GBM are detected and monitored, and this publication marks a meaningful step forward in bringing that vision to patients and clinicians,” he says in a release.
Platform Technology and Study Context
DiamiR’s proprietary platform is based on quantitative analysis of organ-enriched microRNA signatures in plasma, including brain-enriched and inflammation-associated markers, for screening, patient stratification, and disease progression and treatment monitoring. The platform is offered through a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-certified, College of American Pathologists-accredited laboratory and is protected by more than 50 issued patents worldwide.
The study’s senior author, Stephen Bagley, MD, section chief of neuro-oncology and hematology-oncology and associate professor of medicine (hematology-oncology) at the University of Pennsylvania, expressed optimism about the findings and their implications for future research.
“These results are exciting and set the stage for larger clinical studies, which we hope will prove the clinical utility of plasma microRNA signatures for diagnosis and monitoring of brain tumors,” says Bagley in a release. “Our patients desperately need noninvasive tests to help inform their care, and this study is a positive step in that direction.”
Merger and Next Steps
Aptorum Group and DiamiR previously announced a definitive agreement for an all-stock merger transaction in July 2025, through which DiamiR would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Aptorum Group upon consummation. The transaction remains subject to stockholder approval of both companies and other customary closing conditions, with an expected close in the first half of fiscal 2026.
