Metabolomics-based liquid biopsy reflects molecular alterations induced by meningioma

Meningiomas (MGMs) account for around 36% of all primary central nervous system tumors. Currently, imaging techniques are the primary method for detecting the presence of MGM, even when it recurs. This study aimed to identify plasma metabolites related to the presence of MGM, searching for a simpler approach to detect molecular alterations in the blood linked to MGM. For that, plasma samples were evaluated through untargeted metabolomics using Mass Spectrometry. Analysis was performed on samples from 51 MGM patients and 50 healthy individuals to identify tumor-related metabolites, which were later identified through tandem mass spectrometry, database verification, and scientific literature. The selected molecules were verified for their potential as MGM biomarkers through Area Under the Curve (AUC) analyses. Three metabolites with the potential to act as MGM biomarkers were identified: hydroxymethyluracil (m/z 143; AUC = 0.93), ganglioside (m/z 1116; AUC = 0.81), and sulfatide (m/z 931; AUC = 0.682). The AUC values for hydroxymethyluracil and ganglioside suggest that these molecules have the potential to differentiate patients with MGM from healthy individuals. These results open a new possibility for identifying tumor biomarkers in the plasma of patients with MGM, especially considering the prospect of patient follow-up.