Fatty Acid Unsaturation Degree of Plasma Exosomes in Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Promising Biomarker.

Joan Bestard-Escalas,Gerhard Liebisch,José Reyes,Paloma De La Torre,Gwendolyn Barceló-Coblijn,Rebeca Reigada

doi:10.3390/ijms22105060

Abstract

Even though colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most preventable cancers, it is currently one of the deadliest. Worryingly, incidence in people <50 years has increased unexpectedly, and for unknown causes, despite the successful implementation of screening programs in the population aged >50 years. Thus, there is a need to improve early diagnosis detection strategies by identifying more precise biomarkers. In this scenario, the analysis of exosomes is given considerable attention. Previously, we demonstrated the exosome lipidome was able to classify CRC cell lines according to their malignancy. Herein, we investigated the use of the lipidome of plasma extracellular vesicles as a potential source of non-invasive biomarkers for CRC. A plasma exosome-enriched fraction was analyzed from patients undergoing colonoscopic procedure. Patients were divided into a healthy group and four pathological groups (patients with hyperplastic polyps; adenomatous polyps; invasive neoplasia (CRC patients); or hereditary non-polyposis CRC. The results showed a shift from 34:1- to 38:4-containing species in the pathological groups. We demonstrate that the ratio Σ34:1-containing species/Σ38:4-containing species has the potential to discriminate between healthy and pathological patients. Altogether, the results reinforce the utility of plasma exosome lipid fingerprint to provide new non-invasive biomarkers in a clinical context.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilColorectal cancer (CRC) as a whole is the third-most common malignant cancer and is the fourth main cause of cancer death worldwide [1]
Plasma samples were collected from a cohort of patients undergoing colonoscopy and divided into the following groups: (1) Healthy group, including patients with no clinical discoveries during the colonoscopy; (2) Patients with hyperplastic polyps (HP); (3) patients with adenomatous polyps (AD); (4) Patients with invasive neoplasia (Neo, CRC patients); and (5) Patients diagnosed with hereditary colorectal cancer (Her), with no clinically relevant findings during the colonoscopy
Biomarkers are commonly used as a diagnostic tool, they can be used to stratify patients according to the evolution of their disease

Summary

Introduction

Introduction published maps and institutional affilColorectal cancer (CRC) as a whole is the third-most common malignant cancer and is the fourth main cause of cancer death worldwide [1]. Even though CRC is one of the most preventable cancers, it is currently one of the deadliest. It is imperative to improve early diagnosis detection strategies, as well as to monitor CRC treatment by identifying new and more precise biomarkers. While most biomarkers are based on DNA, RNA, or protein molecules, the advances in massive lipidomic analysis and the evidence that lipids can provide new and more precise biomarkers are prompting a number of studies focused on these metabolites. Differential lipidomic profiles have been identified by analyzing plasma from ovarian patients [3,4], prostate cancer [5,6], and iations

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