Identification of Breast Cancer-Specific Signatures in Saliva Metabolites Using Capillary Electrophoresis Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Saliva is an easily accessible and informative biological fluid which has high potential for the early diagnosis of various diseases. Saliva-based diagnostics, particularly those based on metabolomics technology, offer a promising clinical strategy by characterizing the association between salivary analytes and a particular disease. The aim of this study is to identify breast cancer-specific signatures in saliva metabolites to facilitate the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods: Comprehensive metabolite analysis of saliva was conducted using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry, which can simultaneously quantify hundreds of charged metabolites. Saliva samples were obtained from 20 healthy controls and 90 breast cancer patients including 74 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), 2 invasive lobular carcinoma and 14 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Thirty-three patients were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Statistical analyses were performed by using a nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test, multiple logistic regression and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) to evaluate the predictive power of biomarkers. Results: Totally, 205 kinds of metabolites were identified and quantified. Of these metabolites, 62 metabolites demonstrated significantly higher concentrations in breast cancer patients without any treatment comparing with healthy individuals (P Conclusions: These data suggested that quantitative information for salivary metabolites and their combinations could be promising biomarkers for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.