Urinary metabolomics and prostate cancer biomarkers

Abstract

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in male worldwide. Current biomarkers for this cancer such as prostate serum antigen (PSA) have not sufficient specificity and sensitivity. So, finding novel effective biomarkers is so important. Results: Accumulating evidences have indicated the efficacy of metabolomics in identifying novel cancer biomarkers. Tumor metabolism significantly differs from normal tissue and it is extremely informative about the biological condition. Urinary metabolomics has recently appeared as a potentially accurate method to cancer biomarker discovery. Noninvasive sampling properties, less sample preparation, higher amounts of metabolites and lower protein content are advantages of this sample compared with other biological fluids. Urinary metabolomics could be analyzed via multiple technological developments in mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, gas and liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis and studies have been shown that alteration in glycolysis, amino acids, organic acids, tricarboxylic acid cycle, choline, carbohydrates and fatty acid metabolism have been observed in prostate cancer patients. Discussion: in conclusion, urinary metabolomics could be proposed as reliable and powerful tool to find novel biomarkers for prostate cancer. However, further investigations are required to identify inexpensive, noninvasive, sensible and specific biomarkers in urinary metabolomics for prostate cancer.