Work

Lipid Biomarkers in Glioma: Unveiling Molecular Heterogeneity Through Tissue and Plasma Profiling

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Gliomas are aggressive brain tumours with diverse histological and molecular features, complicating accurate diagnosis and treatment. Dysregulated lipid metabolism contributes to glioma progression, and analysing lipid profiles in plasma and tissue may enhance diagnostic and prognostic accuracy. This study investigated lipid dysregulation to identify key lipid signatures that distinguish glioma from other brain diseases and examined the associations between lipid biomarkers in glioma tissue and plasma. Biospecimens from 11 controls and 72 glioma patients of varying grades underwent lipidomic profiling using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified differentially abundant lipids, and correlation analysis evaluated the associations between tissue and plasma biomarkers. Lipidomic analysis revealed distinct lipid profiles in the tissues and plasma of glioma patients compared to those of controls. Prominent lipid metabolites in glioma tissues included LPC 21:3 (AUC = 0.925), DG 43:11 (AUC = 0.906), and PC 33:1 (AUC = 0.892), which served as effective biomarkers. Conversely, in plasma, lipid metabolites such as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE 21:3, AUC = 0.862), ceramide-1-phosphate (CerP 26:1, AUC = 0.861), and sphingomyelin (SM 24:3, AUC = 0.858) were identified as the most promising lipid biomarkers. Significant positive and negative correlations were observed between the tissue and plasma lipid biomarkers of glioma patients. Lipidomic profiling revealed aberrant lipid classes and pathways in glioma tissues and plasma, enhancing understanding of glioma heterogeneity and potential clinical applications.

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/ijms26199820

Authors: Khairunnisa Abdul Rashid, Norlisah Ramli, Kamariah Ibrahim, Vairavan Narayanan, Jeannie Hsiu Ding Wong

Institution: University of Malaya

Language: English

Topic: Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499