Using an Untargeted Metabolomics Approach to Identify Salivary Metabolites in Women with Breast Cancer.

Daniele Xavier Assad,Helene Chardin,Audrey Combes,Elisa Cançado Porto Mascarenhas,Ana Carolina Acevedo,Valérie Pichon,Eliete Neves Silva Guerra,Ana Gabriela Costa Normando

doi:10.3390/metabo10120506

Abstract

Metabolic alterations are a hallmark of the malignant transformation in cancer cells, which is characterized by multiple changes in metabolic pathways that are linked to macromolecule synthesis. This study aimed to explore whether salivary metabolites could help discriminate between breast cancer patients and healthy controls. Saliva samples from 23 breast cancer patients and 35 healthy controls were subjected to untargeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and a bioinformatics tool (XCMS Online), which revealed 534 compounds, characterized by their retention time in reverse-phase liquid chromatography and by the m/z ratio detected, that were shared by the two groups. Using the METLIN database, 31 compounds that were upregulated in the breast cancer group (p < 0.05) were identified, including seven oligopeptides and six glycerophospholipids (PG14:2, PA32:1, PS28:0, PS40:6, PI31:1, and PI38:7). In addition, pre-treatment and post-treatment saliva samples were analyzed for 10 patients who experienced at least a partial response to their treatment. In these patients, three peptides and PG14:2 were upregulated before but not after treatment. The area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity for PG14:2 was 0.7329, 65.22%, and 77.14%, respectively. These results provide new information regarding the salivary metabolite profiles of breast cancer patients, which may be useful biomarkers.

Highlights

IntroductionMetabolic alteration is a hallmark of cancer cells and their malignant transformation is characterized by multiple changes in metabolic pathways that are linked to macromolecule synthesis [1,2]
Metabolic alteration is a hallmark of cancer cells and their malignant transformation is characterized by multiple changes in metabolic pathways that are linked to macromolecule synthesis [1,2].cancer cells have altered metabolic requirements to facilitate inappropriate proliferation and survival, and these cells must simultaneously coordinate nutrient uptake and metabolism to meet their catabolic and anabolic demands
This study explored whether salivary metabolites could be detected using an untargeted approach and help discriminate between Breast cancer (BC) patients and healthy control subjects

Summary

Introduction

Metabolic alteration is a hallmark of cancer cells and their malignant transformation is characterized by multiple changes in metabolic pathways that are linked to macromolecule synthesis [1,2]. Cancer cells have altered metabolic requirements to facilitate inappropriate proliferation and survival, and these cells must simultaneously coordinate nutrient uptake and metabolism to meet their catabolic and anabolic demands. The diagnosis of BC involves (i) identification of a suspected lesion via radiological screening and (ii) a confirmatory biopsy [5]. Conventional screenings with physical examinations and a mammography provide less-than-desirable sensitivity (54%) and specificity (77%) [6] and, despite its invasiveness and risk of morbidity, breast biopsy with histopathological evaluation remains the gold standard diagnostic method [7]. The identification of specific and sensitive BC biomarkers is an important goal to improve BC diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and patient comfort

Objectives

Results

Conclusion