Identification of astrocytomas through serum protein fingerprint using MALDI-TOF MS and machine learning

Gliomas account for most brain malignancies, with astrocytomas being the most common subtype. Among these, glioblastoma (GBM) stands out as the most aggressive form, exhibiting a median survival time of just 15 months despite intensive therapy. Current diagnostic practices rely on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathological analysis, which often necessitate invasive surgical sampling. This underscores the need for minimally invasive diagnostic tools capable of characterizing glioma progression and guiding treatment strategies. Advances in glioma classification have integrated histological and molecular markers, notably IDH1 mutations, which are prognostically significant, particularly in low-grade gliomas and in the previously defined “secondary GBM” (IDH-mutant astrocytoma grade 4). This study aimed to explore the potential of serum proteomics as a non-invasive diagnostic tool using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) combined with machine learning techniques. We analyzed serum samples from 269 patients, employing machine learning models to differentiate between healthy individuals and astrocytoma patients. The MALDI-TOF MS approach achieved a balanced accuracy of 94.5% in distinguishing GBM patients from healthy controls. However, it showed limited efficacy in classifying tumor grades or determining IDH1 mutational status. Further investigation using bottom-up proteomics by GeLC-MS/MS identified potential biomarkers, such as transthyretin, previously associated with high-grade gliomas. These findings highlight the promise of MALDI-TOF MS in identifying serum-based biomarkers for astrocytoma diagnosis. While the results are promising, further validation in independent cohorts is essential to assess the clinical utility of these biomarkers for non-invasive glioma diagnostics and patient monitoring.