Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42185659›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neuro-oncology2026

Clinical utility of liquid biopsy in distinguishing true progression from radiation necrosis and pseudoprogression in malignant brain tumor.

Muhammad Izhar, Yusuke S Hori, Fred C Lam, Neeraj Kalra, Nirmeen Zagzoog, Armine Tayag, Louisa Ustrzynski, Sara C Emrich, David J Park, Steven D Chang

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neuro-oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Muhammad IzharDepartment of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Yusuke S HoriDepartment of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Fred C LamDepartment of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Neeraj KalraDepartment of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Nirmeen ZagzoogDepartment of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Armine TayagDepartment of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Louisa UstrzynskiDepartment of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Sara C EmrichDepartment of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
David J ParkDepartment of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Steven D ChangDepartment of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. sdchang@stanford.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDistinguishing true tumor progression from pseudoprogression (PsP) and radiation necrosis (RN) following radiotherapy or radiosurgery for intracranial tumors remains a significant clinical challenge. Conventional imaging modalities, including MRI and PET, often lack sufficient diagnostic accuracy, while histopathological confirmation, although definitive, is invasive and not always feasible. Liquid biopsy (LB) has emerged as a promising noninvasive diagnostic approach.

methodsA systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. A total of 964 records were identified, including PubMed (n = 322), Embase (n = 280), Scopus (n = 297), and Cochrane (n = 65), along with three clinical trials identified from trial registers. After removal of 157 duplicates using Covidence, 807 studies were screened by title and abstract. Of these, 749 were excluded, and 58 articles underwent full-text review. Ultimately, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis.

resultsA diverse range of LB-based biomarkers has been investigated, including immune cell-based markers (e.g., HLA-DR

conclusionsLB-based biomarkers show promise for differentiating RN and PsP from tumor recurrence; however, current evidence is limited by small sample sizes, methodological heterogeneity, and lack of standardized diagnostic criteria. Larger prospective studies and validation of composite biomarker models are required to establish their clinical utility. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not Applicable.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorBrain NeoplasmsRadiation InjuriesRadiosurgeryDiagnosis, DifferentialDisease ProgressionHumansLiquid BiopsyNecrosisBiomarkers, TumorBiomarkersBrain metastasesGliomaLiquid biopsyPseudoprogressionRadiation necrosisRadiosurgeryRadiotherapyTrue progression

Identifiers

PMID42185659

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.