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Van Der Schueren C, Decruyenaere P, Avila Cobos F, Bult J, Deleu J, Dipalo LL, Helsmoortel HH, Hulstaert E, Morlion A, Ramos Varas E, Schoofs K, Trypsteen W, Vanden Eynde E, Van Droogenbroeck H, Verniers K, Vandesompele J, Decock A. Subpar reporting of pre-analytical variables in RNA-focused blood plasma studies. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38564603 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular RNA (cell-free RNA; exRNA) from blood-derived liquid biopsies is an appealing, minimally invasive source of disease biomarkers. As pre-analytical variables strongly influence exRNA measurements, their reporting is essential for meaningful interpretation and replication of results. The aim of this review was to chart to what extent pre-analytical variables are documented, to pinpoint shortcomings and to improve future reporting. In total, 200 blood plasma exRNA studies published in 2018 or 2023 were reviewed for annotation of 22 variables associated with blood collection, plasma preparation, and RNA purification. Our results show that pre-analytical variables are poorly documented, with only three out of 22 variables described in over half of the publications. The percentage of variables reported ranged from 4.6% to 54.6% (mean 24.84%) in 2023 and from 4.6% to 57.1% (mean 28.60%) in 2018. Recommendations and guidelines (i.e., BRISQ, ASCO-CAP, BloodPAC, PPMPT, and CEN standards) have currently not resulted in improved reporting. In conclusion, our results highlight the lack of reporting pre-analytical variables in exRNA studies and advocate for a consistent use of available standards, endorsed by funders and journals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philippe Decruyenaere
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- Department of Hematology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
| | - Francisco Avila Cobos
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Johanna Bult
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jill Deleu
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Laudonia Lidia Dipalo
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Hetty Hilde Helsmoortel
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Eva Hulstaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
- Department of Dermatology, AZ Sint-Blasius, Belgium
| | - Annelien Morlion
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Elena Ramos Varas
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Kathleen Schoofs
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
- Translational Oncogenomics and Bioinformatics Lab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
- Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB-UGent, Belgium
| | - Wim Trypsteen
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Eveline Vanden Eynde
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Hanne Van Droogenbroeck
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Kimberly Verniers
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Jo Vandesompele
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
- CellCarta, Belgium
| | - Anneleen Decock
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
- OncoRNALab, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
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