Identification of possible biomarkers for breast cancer from free fatty acid profiles determined by GC–MS and multivariate statistical analysis

• Published in: Clinical biochemistry Vol. 45; no. 1-2; pp. 127 - 133
• Main Authors: Lv, Wuwen, Yang, Tongshu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.01.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarker; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - blood; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Calibration; Case-Control Studies; Fatty Acids - chemistry; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - metabolism; Female; Free fatty acids; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - methods; Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Models, Statistical; Multivariate Analysis; Tumors; Biomarker; Breast cancer; Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; Free fatty acids; Breast disease; Statistical analysis; Biological marker; Exploration; Lipids; Malignant tumor; Free fatty acid; Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Multivariate analysis; Profile; Mammary gland diseases; Gas chromatography; Clinical biology; Mass spectrometry; Cancer
• ISSN: 0009-9120; 1873-2933; 1873-2933
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2011.10.011

The aim was to investigate the free fatty acid (FFA) metabolic profiles and to identify biomarkers that can be used to distinguish patients with breast cancer (BC) from benign (BE) patients or healthy controls. A total of 114 subjects were divided into the following three groups: BC patients, BE patients and controls. The FFA profiles in three groups were studied by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry coupled with multivariate statistical analysis. Three saturated fatty acids (C14:0, C16:0 and C18:0) and three unsaturated fatty acids (C18:2, C18:3 and C20:5) in BC were significantly different than controls. Palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid and total FFA were identified as potential biomarkers distinguished BC from the other groups. The alterations of FFA could reflect underlying metabolic changes in BC patients, and this study has demonstrated that FFA biomarkers might be helpful for prevention and characterization of BC patients. ▶ There were the changes of FFA profiles in BC, BE and controls. ▶ Serum FFA profiles might provide an approach to the discrimination of BC patients. ▶ Three type of FFA and total FFA were identified as biomarkers of BC.