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The following is a summary of “Current status of serum metabolites biomarkers for polyps and colorectal cancer: a systematic review,” published in the December 2024 issue of Gastroenterology by Bakar et al.
Early colorectal cancer (CRC) detection is crucial for improving treatment and patient outcomes. Colonoscopy is the gold standard for CRC detection but requires trained professionals and costly equipment.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to identify serum metabolites among patients that predict polyps and CRC.
They systematically searched the Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases following PRISMA guidelines, and 10 studies (using various analytical platforms) on serum metabolites in CRC and polyps were included. Study quality was assessed using the QUADOMICS tool. Reported metabolites were analyzed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 to identify affected metabolic pathways.
The results showed that several metabolites, including tyrosine, lysine, cystine, arabinose, and lactate, were common in CRC, and lactate and glutamate were common in polyps. The most impacted pathways in CRC were the urea cycle, glutathione metabolism, purine metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and ammonia recycling. In polyps, the affected pathways were the urea cycle, glutamate metabolism, glutathione metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and carnitine synthesis.
They concluded that specific serum metabolites are potential clinical polyps and CRC detection biomarkers. However, further research is needed to understand the sensitivity, specificity, and the impact of external factors on accuracy.
Source: academic.oup.com/gastro/article/doi/10.1093/gastro/goae106/7923694
