title: Urinary metabolic profiling identifies a key role for glycocholic acid in human liver cancer by ultra-performance liquid-chromatography coupled with high-definition mass spectrometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolomics has been proposed to be a hallmark of cancer, yet a systematic characterization of a metabolite and metabolic pathways in human hepatocarcinoma (HCC) remains a challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using ultra-performance liquid-chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight coupled with high-definition mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-HDMS) in conjunction with multivariate data analysis methods, we identified and measured the metabolite profile of glycocholic acid from urine samples obtained from patients with HCC diseases. Bioinformatic tools were used to construct the metabolite network that can identify a key role for glycocholic acid in HCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biochemical analyses revealed that glycocholic acid expression was up-regulated in urine samples associated with HCC. Its pathway analysis suggested the modulation of multiple vital physiological pathways, including primary bile acid biosynthesis, secondary bile acid biosynthesis, metabolic pathways, and bile secretion. The network generation clearly enhances the interpretation and understanding of mechanisms for glycocholic acid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metabolomics can contribute to evaluating the potential of metabolites in HCC patients and may provide new insight into pathophysiologic mechanisms.
authors: National TCM Key Lab of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Key Pharmacometabolomics Platform of Chinese Medicines, Heping Road 24, Harbin 150040, China.
authors: Aihua
authors: A
authors: Zhang
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: Guangli
authors: G
authors: Yan
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Han
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Ye
authors: Xijun
authors: X
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006000:Glycocholic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D015999:Multivariate Analysis
chemical_list: D006000:Glycocholic Acid