Changes in Metabolism as a Diagnostic Tool for Lung Cancer: Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biochemistry
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally, with poor survival rates.
• Current diagnostic methods like PET-CT have limitations in specificity and typing.
• Early detection and accurate staging are crucial for effective lung cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review identified metabolic biomarkers for lung cancer diagnosis, staging, and typing.
• To highlight the potential of metabolomics in overcoming current diagnostic challenges.
• To emphasize the need for further research into biomarkers for prognosis and treatment monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies identifying metabolic biomarkers in lung cancer.
• Analysis of metabolite alterations associated with lung cancer detection, staging, and typing.
• Synthesis of findings on the consistency and variability of metabolic biomarkers.

Main Results:

• Over 150 metabolites have been linked to lung cancer, with some showing consistent alterations.
• Metabolomics offers potential for improved specificity compared to PET-CT.
• Variability in findings exists due to non-standardized research protocols and patient cohorts.

Conclusions:

• Metabolomics presents a promising avenue for developing novel biomarkers in lung cancer.
• Standardized approaches are needed to enhance the reliability and clinical utility of metabolic biomarkers.
• Further research is essential to establish biomarkers for predicting disease progression, survival, and treatment response.