Surreal illustration of COL3A1 and SNAP91 pathways within a brain, representing glioblastoma biomarkers.

Unlocking Glioblastoma's Secrets: Can These Markers Improve Diagnosis and Treatment?

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Nico Varela in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research identifies COL3A1 and SNAP91 as potential biomarkers for glioblastoma, offering hope for better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies."


Glioblastoma (GBM) is a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer, marked by significant variation in patient outcomes. While the prognosis is generally poor, understanding the underlying factors that influence disease progression is crucial for developing more effective treatments. This research aims to identify novel targets for GBM diagnosis and therapy, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes.

Previous studies have explored numerous genes, including EGFR, bFGF, and VEGF, in relation to glioma progression. However, these genes haven't proven reliable in predicting patient survival or guiding therapeutic decisions. The continuous advancement of biotechnology and high-throughput technologies has shifted the focus to genome-level investigations, making gene chip technology increasingly common.

This article delves into a study analyzing three microarray gene expression profiles to pinpoint gene expression changes linked to glioma progression. The goal is to identify potential new targets for diagnosing and treating glioblastoma. By identifying 46 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) common across all three profiles, the research highlights their potential significance in glioma development.

COL3A1 and SNAP91: Promising Biomarkers for Glioblastoma

Surreal illustration of COL3A1 and SNAP91 pathways within a brain, representing glioblastoma biomarkers.

The study validated the differential expression of a subset of these genes using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Notably, RRM2 and COL3A1 were found to be upregulated and directly correlated with glioma grade, meaning their expression increased with the severity of the cancer. Conversely, SH3GL2 and SNAP91 were downregulated in GBM and inversely correlated with glioma grade, indicating lower expression in more severe cases.

Further analysis using Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed a significant correlation between COL3A1 and SNAP91 expression and patient survival. High expression levels of both COL3A1 and SNAP91 were associated with better survival outcomes, suggesting that these markers could be valuable prognostic indicators.

The study's key findings suggest that:
  • RRM2 and COL3A1 expression increases with glioma grade.
  • SH3GL2 and SNAP91 expression decreases with glioma grade.
  • High COL3A1 and SNAP91 expression correlates with improved survival.
These results indicate that COL3A1 and SNAP91 may serve as suitable biomarkers for diagnostic or therapeutic strategies in GBM. Early detection and targeted therapies based on these markers could potentially improve patient outcomes.

Implications and Future Directions

These findings open new avenues for glioblastoma research and treatment. Identifying genes differentially expressed in GBM compared to lower-grade gliomas can greatly facilitate prognostication and the development of more effective treatment protocols. The study validated several DEGs, including COL3A1, SNAP91, RRM2, and SH3GL2, using real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR (qPCR).

While RRM2 and SH3GL2 were differentially expressed in GBM, their expression did not correlate with patient survival, suggesting they are tumor-specific but not GBM-specific. In contrast, COL3A1 and SNAP91 show promise as prognostic markers, warranting further investigation to fully characterize their functional significance in glioma progression.

Future studies should focus on elucidating the precise roles of COL3A1 and SNAP91 in glioblastoma development. Understanding how these genes influence tumor growth, invasion, and response to therapy could lead to the development of targeted therapies that improve patient outcomes. Further research into their potential as diagnostic tools is also warranted, potentially enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis of GBM.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.18632/oncotarget.12038, Alternate LINK

Title: Col3A1 And Snap91: Novel Glioblastoma Markers With Diagnostic And Prognostic Value

Subject: Oncology

Journal: Oncotarget

Publisher: Impact Journals, LLC

Authors: Yuan-Feng Gao, Xiao-Yuan Mao, Tao Zhu, Chen-Xue Mao, Zhi-Xiong Liu, Zhi-Bin Wang, Ling Li, Xi Li, Ji-Ye Yin, Wei Zhang, Hong-Hao Zhou, Zhao-Qian Liu

Published: 2016-09-15

Everything You Need To Know

1

What is Glioblastoma, and why is it a focus of this research?

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer with a poor prognosis. The article highlights the challenges in diagnosing and treating GBM, emphasizing the need for new strategies to improve patient outcomes. The article focuses on identifying biomarkers like COL3A1 and SNAP91 to help with earlier detection and more effective therapies.

2

What are COL3A1 and SNAP91, and what role do they play in this context?

COL3A1 and SNAP91 are potential biomarkers for glioblastoma. The research found that COL3A1 expression increases with the severity of the cancer, while SNAP91 expression decreases. The article also reveals that high expression levels of both COL3A1 and SNAP91 correlate with better survival outcomes for patients. These findings suggest these markers could be valuable for predicting how a patient might fare.

3

Why is the identification of COL3A1 and SNAP91 as potential biomarkers important?

The identification of COL3A1 and SNAP91 as potential biomarkers is significant because they offer new possibilities for GBM management. They could be used for earlier and more accurate diagnosis, allowing for quicker intervention. Also, therapies could be developed that specifically target these markers, potentially leading to more effective treatments and improved patient survival rates. The article discusses how these markers could improve treatment outcomes.

4

What are the potential implications of using COL3A1 and SNAP91 as biomarkers?

The implications include the potential for earlier detection of Glioblastoma, which could lead to quicker treatment interventions and better outcomes for patients. Additionally, the discovery of COL3A1 and SNAP91 as biomarkers opens doors for the development of targeted therapies. Understanding the role of these biomarkers could lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies. The article hopes these markers will lead to the development of more effective treatments.

5

How was the study conducted to identify these biomarkers, like COL3A1 and SNAP91?

The study used microarray gene expression profiles to pinpoint gene expression changes linked to glioma progression, identifying 46 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) common across all three profiles. The validation of the differential expression of genes like COL3A1 and SNAP91 was done using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). The article highlights the significance of this technology for identifying potential new targets for diagnosing and treating Glioblastoma.

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