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Investigation of urinary volatomic alterations in head and neck cancer: a non-invasive approach towards diagnosis and prognosis

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Abstract

Introduction

Head and neck cancer (HNC), like many other forms of cancer, is usually detected in advanced stages, causing poor survival outcomes. Lack of specific and sensitive screening markers for early detection of HNC has worsened the scenario for the patients as well as the clinicians. Therefore, identification of efficient, noninvasive and affordable screening marker/methodology with high specificity and sensitivity is imminent need of situation.

Objectives

This study aims to identify and characterize urinary volatomic alterations specific to HNC.

Methods

Volatomic analysis of urine samples collected from HNC patients (n = 29) and healthy controls (n = 31) was performed using headspace solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Both univariate and multivariate statistical approaches were used to investigate HNC specific volatomic alterations.

Results

Statistical analysis revealed a total of 28 metabolites with highest contribution towards discrimination of HNC patients from healthy controls (VIP >1, p < 0.05, Log2 FC ≥0.58/≤−0.57). The discrimination efficiency and accuracy of urinary VOCs was ascertained by ROC curve analysis that allowed the identification of four metabolites viz. 2,6-dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol, 1-butanol, p-xylene and 4-methyl-2-heptanone with highest sensitivity and specificity to discriminate HNC patients from healthy controls. Further, the metabolic pathway analysis identified several dysregulated pathways in HNC patients and their detailed investigations could unravel novel mechanistic insights into the disease pathophysiology.

Conclusion

Overall, this study provides valuable fingerprint of the volatile profile of HNC patients, which in turn, might help in improving the current understanding of this form of cancer and lead to the development of non-invasive approaches for HNC diagnosis.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by NEW INDIGO HCV project and Department of Biotechnology Grant No. BT/IN/NEW INDIGO/03/RS/2013. The authors are grateful to all the volunteers who participated in the study. RT, KT and RD acknowledges Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi and NEW INDIGO HCV project for research fellowship. The authors also acknowledge FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (project PEst-UID/QUI/UI0674/2013, CQM, Portuguese Government funds) and ARDITI—Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (projects M1420-01- 0145-FEDER- 000005—Centro de Química da Madeira—CQM+ (Madeira 14–20), and M1420–09-5369- FSE-000001) for the financial support and the Post-Doctoral fellowship granted to Jorge A. M. Pereira.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Proteomics Lab, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411007, India

    Ravindra Taware, Khushman Taunk & Srikanth Rapole

  2. CQM/UMa – Centro de Química da Madeira, Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada, 9000-390, Funchal, Portugal

    Jorge A. M. Pereira & José S. Câmara

  3. Laboratory of Computational Biology, Centre for DNA fingerprinting & Diagnostics (CDFD), Nampally, Hyderabad, 500001, India

    Rahul Dhakne & H. A. Nagarajaram

  4. Malignant Disease Treatment Centre, Military Hospital (Cardio Thoracic Centre), Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, 411040, India

    Narayanan Kannan & Dharmesh Soneji

  5. Faculdade de Ciências Exatas e da Engenharia, Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada, 9000-390, Funchal, Portugal

    José S. Câmara

  6. Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500 046, India

    H. A. Nagarajaram

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  1. Ravindra Taware
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  2. Khushman Taunk
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  3. Jorge A. M. Pereira
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  4. Rahul Dhakne
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  5. Narayanan Kannan
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  7. José S. Câmara
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  8. H. A. Nagarajaram
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  9. Srikanth Rapole
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Contributions

Conceived the study: JSC, HAN, SR; Designed the study: RT, KT, JSC, HAN, SR; Performed the experiments: RT, KT; Compiled and analyzed data: RT, KT, JAMP, RD, SR; Statistical analysis: RT, KT, RD, HAN, SR; Drafted the manuscript: RT, KT, JAMP, RD, NK, DS, JSC, HAN, SR; Provided clinical samples: NK, DS; Provided chemicals and reagents: SR.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Srikanth Rapole.

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Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by ethics committee of National Centre for Cell Science and Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, India.

Informed consent

Prior informed consent was obtained from all the participants in the study with institutional review approval.

Research involving human participants and/or animals

All protocols and procedures were adhered to institutional ethical standards and/or research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Taware, R., Taunk, K., Pereira, J.A.M. et al. Investigation of urinary volatomic alterations in head and neck cancer: a non-invasive approach towards diagnosis and prognosis. Metabolomics 13, 111 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-017-1251-6

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