Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow, China , yifan.suda@vip.163.com
Abstract: (13 Views)
Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is commonly treated with radiotherapy, which can induce systemic and local metabolic changes. Saliva, as a non-invasive biofluid, provides a valuable medium for monitoring such alterations. This study aimed to investigate salivary metabolic changes in NPC patients before and after radiotherapy using an untargeted metabolomics approach. Materials and Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 23 NPC patients both prior to and following radiotherapy. An untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Multivariate statistical analysis was employed to identify differential metabolites, and pathway enrichment analysis was conducted to elucidate the affected biological processes. Key metabolic features were selected using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Results: A total of 110 differential metabolites were identified, comprising 64 in positive ion mode (30 upregulated, 34 downregulated) and 46 in negative ion mode (31 upregulated, 15 downregulated). LASSO analysis highlighted four key metabolites: L-Carnitine and Kanosamine were significantly upregulated post-radiotherapy, whereas Phloroglucinol and Dibutyl phthalate were significantly downregulated. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed five significantly affected pathways: arginine biosynthesis, central carbon metabolism in cancer, arginine and proline metabolism, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and protein digestion and absorption. Conclusion: Salivary metabolomics revealed notable metabolic adaptations in NPC patients following radiotherapy, reflecting tissue repair and compensatory responses. These findings provide new insights into the metabolic impact of radiotherapy and may help identify potential therapeutic targets for optimizing treatment outcomes.
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