Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 24, 2025
Identification and Quantification of Deranged Metabolites in Critically Ill Patients Using NMR-Based Metabolomics
Published on: November 29, 2024
Identification of novel diagnostic biomarkers in endometrial cancer using targeted metabolomic profiling
Nejc Kozar1, Kristi Kruusmaa2, Andraž Dovnik1
1Division of Gynaecology and Perinatology, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
Purpose:
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy with high disease burden especially in advanced stages of the disease. Our study investigated the metabolomic profile of EC patient's serum with the aim of identifying novel diagnostic biomarkers that could be used especially in early disease detection.
Material And Methods:
Using targeted metabolomic serum profiling based on HPLC-TQ/MS, women with EC (n = 15) and controls (n = 21) were examined for 232 endogenous metabolites.
Results:
Top performing biomarkers included ceramides, acylcarnitines and 1-methyl adenosine. Top 4 biomarkers combined achieved 94% sensitivity with 75% specificity with AUC 92.5% (CI 90.5-94.5%). Individual markers also provided significant predictive values: C16-ceramide achieved sensitivity 73%, specificity 81%, AUC 0.83, C22-ceramide sensitivity 67%, specificity 81%, AUC 0.77, hydroxyhexadecenoylcarnitine sensitivity 60%, specificity 96%, AUC 0.76 and 1-methyladenosine sensitivity 67%, specificity 81%, AUC 0.75. The individual markers, however, did not reach the high sensitivity and specificity of the 4-biomarker combination.
Conclusions:
Using mass spectrometry targeted metabolomic profiling, ceramides, acylcarnitines and 1-methyladenosine were identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers for EC. Additionally, these identified metabolites may provide additional insight into cancer cell metabolism.
