Abstract P6-02-06: Metabolomic profiling of breast cancer and adjacent tissue

Abstract

Abstract Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cause of death among women worldwide. Nowadays, research directed toward the discovery of cancer molecular characteristics has extended into various biological aspects, from early investigations of cancer genomics and proteomics to recent efforts in cancer metabolomics. We consider that breast cancer cells display significantly altered cellular processes, and thus metabolites, compared to normal cells. In this regard, the application of metabolomics towards cancer research can led to the discovery of metabolite cancer biomarkers and the identification of target therapeutics. Methods: Metabolomics signature was extracted from primary BC and adjacent tissue samples from a cohort of 182 breast cancer patients from the Institut Gustave-Roussy and Institute Curie – Paris, University of Debrecen – Hungary, and University of Tartu – Estonia. The Biocrates Life Science® company, performed the metabolomics analysis using the Absolute IDQ p180 kit. Statistical analysis was performed by MetaboAnalyst 3.0 software (p <0.05). Results: We observed 99 differential metabolites between breast tumor and adjacent tissues (p<0,05). In the tumor tissue we observed an increase of glycolysis, glutamine uptake and synthesis, glutamate production, intermediates for redox homeostasis, as well reduction in tricarboxylic acid cycle and β –oxidation impairment. Together, these pathways, favor lipogenesis with a consequent increase in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol synthesis for the formation of membranes and lipid rafts in tumors. The increase in rafts in tumors maintains proliferation signaling via membrane receptors, making them important biomarkers. Conclusion: Metabolomics analysis is useful in identifying differential metabolites between breast cancer and adjacent tissue. In this scenario, cancer cells may be dependent on some metabolites for its development, making them therapeutically valuable biomarkers. Citation Format: Santos JR, Brentanni MM, Tortelli T, Dale I, Waitzberg A, Waitzberg D, Ravacci G. Metabolomic profiling of breast cancer and adjacent tissue [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-02-06.