title: Metabolomics biomarkers of frailty in elderly breast cancer patients.
abstract: Metabolome analysis has emerged as a powerful technique for detecting and define specific physio-pathological phenotypes. In this investigation the diagnostic potential of metabolomics has been applied to better characterize the multiple biochemical alterations that concur in the definition of the frailty phenotype observed in elderly breast cancer patients. The study included 89 women with breast cancer (range 70-97 years) classified as Fit (n = 49), Unfit (n = 23), or Frail (n = 17) according to comprehensive geriatric assessment. The serum metabolomic profile was performed by tandem mass spectrometry and included different classes of metabolites such as amino acids, acylcarnitines, sphingo-, and glycerol-phospolipids. ANOVA was applied to identify the metabolites differing significantly among Fit, Unfit, and Frail patients. In patients carrying the frail phenotype, the amino acid perturbations involve serine, tryptophan, hydroxyproline, histidine, its derivate 3-methyl-hystidine, cystine, and β-aminoisobutyric acid. With regard to lipid metabolism, the frailty phenotype was characterized by a decrease of a wide number of glycerol- and sphingo-phospholipid metabolites. These metabolomics biomarkers may give a further insight into the biochemical processes involved in the development of frailty in breast cancer patients. Moreover, they might be useful to refine the comprehensive geriatric assessment model.
authors.affiliation: Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Division, Department of Translational Research, IRCCS-National Cancer Institute, Aviano, PN, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polesel
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fratino
authors.forename: Gianmaria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miolo
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rizzolio
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crivellari
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Addobbati
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cervo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toffoli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D055432:Metabolomics; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010743:Phospholipids