Plasma free amino acid profiling as metabolomic diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in paediatric cancer patients: a follow-up study

• Published in: Amino acids Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 133 - 138
• Main Authors: Synakiewicz, Anna, Stanislawska-Sachadyn, Anna, Sawicka-Zukowska, Malgorzata, Galezowska, Grazyna, Ratajczyk, Joanna, Owczarzak, Anna, Skuza, Malgorzata, Wolska, Lidia, Stachowicz-Stencel, Teresa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01-01-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Amino acids; Amino Acids - blood; Analytical Chemistry; Biochemical Engineering; Biochemistry; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cancer; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnostic systems; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glutamic acid; Glutamine; Humans; Infant; Leucine; Life Sciences; Male; Metabolomics; Neoplasms - blood; Neoplasms - diagnosis; Neoplasms - therapy; Neurobiology; Patients; Pediatrics; Prognosis; Proteomics; Short Communication; Tryptophan; Metabolomics; Amino acid profile; Tumor biomarkers; Cancer
• ISSN: 0939-4451; 1438-2199
• DOI: 10.1007/s00726-020-02910-8

Amino acids (AAs) play a crucial role in cancer cell metabolism. Levels of 22 plasma AAs at the time of diagnosis and after treatment were established among 39 pediatric cancer patients and 33 healthy children. Glutamic acid levels decreased and tryptophan levels increased during treatment. Cancer patients presented significantly lower levels of glutamine and leucine post-treatment while levels of 12 other AAs were higher comparing to controls. Results suggest that plasma free AA profile may serve as a prognostic biomarker.