Abstract
BackgroundEarly detection of melanoma is of great importance to reduce mortality. Discovering new melanoma biomarkers would improve early detection and diagnosis. Here, we present a novel approach to detect volatile compounds from skin.Methods and FindingsWe used Head Space Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify volatile signatures from melanoma, naevi and skin samples. We hypothesized that the metabolic state of tissue alters the profile of volatile compounds. Volatiles released from fresh biopsy tissue of melanoma and benign naevus were compared based on their difference in frequency distribution and their expression level. We also analyzed volatile profiles from frozen tissue, including skin and melanoma.ConclusionsThree volatiles, 4-methyl decane, dodecane and undecane were preferentially expressed in both fresh and frozen melanoma, indicating that they are candidate biomarkers. Twelve candidate biomarkers evaluated by fuzzy logic analysis of frozen samples distinguished melanoma from skin with 89% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Our results demonstrate proof-of-principle that there is differential expression of volatiles in melanoma. Our volatile metabolomic approach will lead to a better understanding of melanoma and can enable development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies based on altered metabolism.
Highlights
The idea that changes in tissue are an indication of disease dates back to the ancient Greeks [1], full understanding of many pathological processes at the molecular system level is still lacking
Twelve candidate biomarkers evaluated by fuzzy logic analysis of frozen samples distinguished melanoma from skin with 89% sensitivity and 90% specificity
Our results demonstrate proof-of-principle that there is differential expression of volatiles in melanoma
Summary
The idea that changes in tissue are an indication of disease dates back to the ancient Greeks [1], full understanding of many pathological processes at the molecular system level is still lacking. Systems biology approaches are being used to integrate these large data sets in an attempt to understand how macromolecular networks may control phenotype. Metabolomics, the study of small molecule metabolites is emerging. The metabolome is defined as the complete set of metabolites, low molecular weight intermediates which are context dependent, varying according to the physiological, developmental or pathological state of the cell, tissue, organ or organism [2]. Detection of melanoma is of great importance to reduce mortality. Discovering new melanoma biomarkers would improve early detection and diagnosis. We present a novel approach to detect volatile compounds from skin
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