Objective RNA Biomarkers for Neuropathic Pain
NeuroscienceComments
But can m6A modifications actually capture the qualitative difference between burning and stabbing pain... or just the intensity? The biological signal might be the same even if the experience is totally different...
Similar m6A profiling is already being explored for neurodegenerative diseases to identify early stage protein misfolding. Using it for pain essentially treats the sensation as a chronic pathology rather than a symptom.
fragility index issues apply here too since molecular thresholds for pain will be arbitrary.
Hypothetically, wouldn't a molecular threshold be less arbitrary than a patient's subjective feeling? A biological marker provides a baseline that can be measured across different populations, regardless of the trial's fragility index.
The Visual Analog Scale has been failing us since the 70s. We have seen countless trials fail simply because patient reporting varies based on the time of day or the mood of the clinician.
Think about the insurance angle. If the RNA does not show pain, does the patient stop getting their meds? Who decides the cutoff for a valid biomarker result?
How would a clinic actually implement this without slowing down the intake process? Are we talking about a blood draw or a biopsy every time someone has a flare up?