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Published on: April 20, 2018
Plasma Sphingolipid Profiling Predicts Radiosensitivity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Xiang Yuan1, Kai Wang2, Fengxin Chen3
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
|March 4, 2026
Summary
Plasma sphingolipids can predict hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) radiosensitivity. Lower S1P and higher ceramides indicate better response, enabling precision radiotherapy for HCC patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Metabolomics
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Radiotherapy is crucial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but limited by radioresistance.
- Sphingolipids are bioactive lipids linked to treatment resistance via metabolic reprogramming.
- Circulating sphingolipids as non-invasive biomarkers for HCC radiosensitivity are unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate circulating sphingolipids as non-invasive biomarkers for predicting radiotherapy response in HCC patients.
- To identify specific sphingolipid profiles associated with radiosensitivity in HCC.
- To develop predictive models integrating sphingolipids and clinical factors.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 61 HCC patients undergoing radiotherapy.
- LC-MS/MS analysis of pre-treatment plasma sphingolipids.
- Development and validation of predictive models using logistic regression, LASSO, and AUC analysis.
Main Results:
- Objective response rate was 54.1%.
- Responders showed lower S1P and higher ceramides (CER(d18:1/20:0), CER(d18:1/24:1)).
- Integrated models incorporating S1P, ceramides, ALP, and TBIL achieved high predictive accuracy (AUC=0.930).
Conclusions:
- Baseline plasma sphingolipid profiles predict HCC radiosensitivity.
- Findings support the 'sphingolipid rheostat' theory and guide precision radiotherapy.
- Establishes a framework for sphingolipid-guided treatment and future validation trials.
